Coverage Technique Breakdown: Tyrek Hill vs. Sam Shields

Sometimes I don’t get to say everything I need to say when editing a video so kudos to one of our members who gave me the idea to turn the videos into blog posts so I can support the video with additional information when necessary.

In this video, I breakdown this rep from a game that happened last month in the NFL between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Rams.  It was the highest scoring regulation game in NFL history so defense was not a strong point in the contest.

The Rams decided to match speed with speed when they put Sam Shields on Tyrek Hill.  Few players in the NFL can run with Tyrek Hill but Sam Shields is one of them.  However,  this matchup showed you that speed is great but technique is better and Shields is not long on technique.  Earlier in the year,  Jacksonville’s Jalen Ramsey who is about 2 tenths slower than Shields, feared better against Hill just by having better technique.

Anyway,  in this particular rep,  Hill has a tight split and runs an out, up and stop.  Yes,  that sounds like something made up at a Thanksgiving family football game doesn’t it?  Well,  it’s a real route and Hill ran it for a completion.

The major reason that it was completed was because Shields did not utilize a backpedal at all.  It’s a growing trend in the NFL and it’s getting guys in trouble.  As you will see and hear in the video,  had Shields elected to use a pedal and weave he could been over the top and in a much better position vs. this route than he ended up being.

Shields should have pedaled then weaved on Hills out cut.  When Hill turned the route back up the field,  Shields could have straightened up his back pedal and most likely could have still been in the pedal when Hill broke the route off as he had not sufficiently broken his cushion.

Even if,  Shields wanted to come out of the pedal out of respect for Hill’s speed,  he could have done so after he weaved on the initial out cut by going into a shuffle then a crossover run if needed.  For more on weaving, go to the main member’s area and view the Masters of the Basics Drill Tape Part I.  For more on using the pedal – shuffle – crossover technique – Go to the main member’s area and view the video titled “Back Pedal, Shuffle, Crossover Drill”.

Enjoy this video and as always if you have any questions of comments about the video,  send me an email to: cwilson@alleyesdbcamp.com

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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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