Changing this one thing turned me into a playmaking DB overnight

Tip number 9 in my book 101 DB Tips talks about trusting what you see when you’re out on the field. There are a number of stages to becoming a consistent playmaker as a defensive back. The final stage is that very tip—trusting what you see—and I’ll expand on that in this article.

The Paradox of Preparation

I was always a player looking for an edge. Maybe it was because I started playing the game late, or because I had convinced myself that physically I wasn’t enough. Whatever the case, I made it a point to try and know what plays were coming before the ball was snapped.

Understandably, doing this gave me a certain peace when game day came around. My most nervous times were always when I hadn’t put enough study in. I suppose it’s the same feeling you’d get if you never cracked open the science book before the exam. But that peace didn’t always translate into making plays—and there was one major reason why.

The Mental Roadblock: Second-Guessing the Answer

Have you ever taken a multiple-choice test where you were fairly certain you knew the answer, but more than one option seemed right? That’s your mind playing tricks on you. For whatever reason, you don’t trust your preparation enough to choose the answer that’s right in front of your face. That doubt can come from past mistakes and fear of being wrong. Early in my defensive back career, I was stuck in that exact place, and I had to fix it.

My hours of film study were more than most, and I would go into games loaded with information. But when the on-field “test questions” showed up, I’d convince myself the answer in front of me was too easy. “There’s no way they’re running exactly what I saw on film,” I’d think. With football being a fast-moving game, that split-second hesitation was enough to make me late. Football is an exam with a very short time limit.

The “To Hell With It” Mindset Shift

In my development as a DB, this was one of the most frustrating problems. I was doing all the things you’re supposed to do to be great: the running, the lifting, the film study. But that little voice in my head on game day was blocking me from making plays.

It felt like it went on forever, but in reality it was about one season. I was new to being out there full-time and afraid to make a mistake. Once I recognized that, I started changing my mindset. As we approached the playoffs, I developed a “to hell with it” attitude in practice. When I felt I knew the play, I trusted it and went with it full speed. I’d love to say I was right 100% of the time but I wasn’t. However, I was right a strong majority of the time.

The Power of Aggression: Big Plays Cancel Mistakes

What I discovered was that I was making more big plays—and those big plays canceled out the mistakes. On top of that, being aggressive and sometimes wrong gave me film to learn from. Every error became a coaching point for me and my coaches. None of that growth would’ve happened if I kept hesitating.

By the time we reached the championship game my junior year of high school, that “to hell with it” confidence was fully developed. It led to an interception (called back by a penalty) and to me jumping in front of an option pitch and taking it 90 yards the other way. Do you know how much guts it takes to undercut a triple-option pitch? By then, I had them—and it turned into the biggest defensive play of the game.

From that shift in mindset and performance, I developed one of the most important parts of my game as a defensive back: confidence.

The Confidence Payoff

I carried that confidence into my senior year and became a monster on the field. Interceptions, pick-sixes, big tackles, kick return touchdowns, and more became part of my final season. I owe it to recognizing the paralysis-by-analysis problem and doing something about it.

If you’re in that same spot, know you’re not alone. Follow the path I took, and you can experience a real turnaround in your play. It’s a mental exercise, not something you build in the squat rack or under a bar with 45 lb. plates on it. But the strength it produces will rival anything you do in the weight room.

I hope this article helped you. If it did—and you’re looking for 100 more tips to take your game to an elite level—pick up a copy of my book 101 DB Tips. It’s chock-full of information from over 20 years of playing, coaching, and training defensive backs at all levels across the country. Click here to get your copy.

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alleyesdbcamp

Owner at All Eyes DB Camp

Chad Wilson is the founder of All Eyes DB Camp and a former standout defensive back for the Miami Hurricanes. After an elite collegiate career, Wilson spent a season with the Seattle Seahawks before transitioning into coaching. A 3-time Florida state champion defensive coordinator, he has spent over 20 years developing the "All Eyes" blueprint that has produced NFL All-Pros and stars like Xavien Howard, Patrick Surtain II, Tyson Campbell, Minkah Fitzpatrick and more. His coaching system is proven at the highest levels—his own sons, Quincy and Marco Wilson, both excelled as starters in the SEC before being drafted into the NFL.

Chad is the author of "101 DB Tips"—The Ultimate DB Reference Guide. You can find more information on the manual and how to order your copy in the sidebar and footer of this page.

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