Chad Wilson
June 11, 2025
If you do or watch something long enough, you get really good at predicting the future. Needless to say, I’ve been playing, coaching, and training football for quite some time. The majority of that time has been spent on the defensive side of the ball, primarily teaching defensive backs how to cover wide receivers. That experience has allowed me to recognize when a player is in trouble before the ball is even snapped.
A good start really helps you finish strong. So in this article, I’m outlining four press man mistakes that you need to avoid to win your one-on-ones.
1. Base is Too Wide
You might feel more comfortable with your feet far apart. That’s fine—to a point. Many young DBs sacrifice bending at the knees to get low, instead widening their feet for balance. That’s gonna be a no from me, dawg.
Your lateral power comes from pushing your feet into the ground under your center of gravity. The further your feet move from that point, the less explosive you become—and eventually, balance becomes a problem too.
Your feet should be shoulder-width apart or close to it. While each player will have their own stance, staying near this ideal is in your best interest. You want to react efficiently when the receiver comes off the line of scrimmage.
2. Too High in Your Stance
Closely related to mistake #1 is being too upright in your stance. As the receiver gets off the line, you’ll need to move—forward, backward, or laterally. All those movements begin with your knees. If you wait to bend your knees until after the receiver moves, you’ll always be playing catch-up.
With your feet placed near shoulder-width, there should be a bend in your knees. Some players bend more than others, but you must bend. Your quads need to be loaded so you can push in any direction at the start of the rep. For that to happen, your knees must be bent. You can experiment with the amount, but make no mistake—knee bend is necessary.
3. You Don’t Know Your First Step
Receivers come to the line of scrimmage with a plan. Doesn’t it make sense for you to have one too?
As a DB in press man, you should know what technique you plan to use. Each technique—whether it’s hard press, inch, or motor mirror—requires a specific first step. That step should not be based on what the receiver does.
Most DBs don’t have the ability to remain frozen while the receiver moves. So develop the ability to take your first step within your technique, regardless of the receiver’s initial move. You can adjust to his release afterward.
4. Eyes Move Up on the Snap
This one is common. A DB starts with his eyes in the right place (on the waist), but the moment the ball is snapped, his eyes shoot up. That’s a major problem.
Now you’re looking at what I call the lie zone: the shoulders and eyes of the receiver. These areas can be deceptive. As pop singer Shakira once said, “Hips don’t lie.” And that’s exactly where your focus needs to stay.
Since this is hard to self-evaluate, have a coach or friend observe you—or film yourself during one-on-ones. If your eyes drift up at the snap, here’s a hack: Start your eyes on the receiver’s feet. That impulse to look up at the snap will take your eyes to the hips, where they need to be. Try it out. Fix this issue, and your press man consistency will improve dramatically.
Conclusion
Don’t kill your press man reps before they even begin. Fixing these four issues—base too wide, stance too high, no first step, and eyes rising at the snap—will instantly improve your starts. And better starts lead to better finishes.
I’ve got a ton of tips like these in my best-selling book 101 DB Tips. Every defensive back and DB coach should have it in their library. Grab your copy at https://101dbtips.com.
Chad Wilson is the owner of All Eyes DB Camp and author of "101 DB Tips". He played college football at the University of Miami and briefly in the NFL for the Seattle Seahawks. Over his 15 year high school football coaching career, he tutored over a dozen Division I defensive backs and as a trainer has worked with NFL All Pros, first round draft picks, college football All Americans and Top 10 ranked high school football prospects.
