For DBs, Your Path to Rapid Improvement Starts With This

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We’re in an era where everyone wants everything fast, and I don’t blame you. You can get the answers to a question within seconds by using Google or ChatGPT. You can get food delivered to your house in just moments with DoorDash or Uber Eats. Virtually everything we want nowadays is right there at our fingertips. As such, when it comes to improving in sports, people have the same mindset. While athletic improvement will not arrive as fast as your burrito bowl order on DoorDash, in this article, I will tell you the quickest way for you to improve as a defensive back.

That rapid improvement is going to come from a part of practice that you likely don’t take very seriously. If there was one thing a lot of players hated when I was playing the game, it was the individual period, also known as “Indy.” Indy was typically the first thing that came after special teams once you were done stretching. So, if you weren’t dialed in and fired up for practice, Indy might be a problem for you. Also, a lot of DB coaches love Indy, and they’re trying to do a lot in that period. This means you’re going to be moving fast, and you’re likely going to get tired.

All of those factors lead to a lot of guys just going through the motions and trying to “get through” this part of practice. I will tell you right now that the great ones don’t do this. If you want to see rapid improvement in your game, always take individual drills seriously. This is where you sharpen the tools you’re going to use to build your game. Or, there’s another way you can look at this: Your individual drills are where you sharpen the weapon you’re going to use to go hunt. I’m pretty sure if you had to hunt for your food, you wouldn’t want to be out there with a dull weapon. When you just go through the motions on your individual drills, you’re failing to sharpen your weapon, and there’s a chance you won’t catch your prey. Every game day is the hunt, and I’m pretty sure you don’t want to go hungry.

Individual drills are your opportunity to automate your processes during competition. The reason you do many of the same drills every day is because you’re trying to rep them to a point where you don’t have to think about them in a high-pace situation. The more you do something in practice, the more likely you will subconsciously do it on game day when the situation arises. If you’re looking to rapidly elevate your game, you must use compounding. What is compounding? Compounding is when you build on each good session. The word is typically used in banking. For instance, if you open a bank account that pays you 5% interest and you deposit $1,000, after that first period, you will have $1,050. Now, in the next period, you will earn 5% on $1,050 instead of $1,000. So, after the second period, you will now have $1,102.50 instead of just $1,100. Over time, this rapidly increases the amount of money you have. This works the same way when you’re out on the field. Every great practice starts with a good individual period. A good practice today means you are better when you come to practice tomorrow, so you are starting from a higher place. You compound through good practices, and good practices start with the individual period.

The final reason you would want to do well and take the individual period seriously is because your defensive back coach takes it seriously. This is his one-on-one time with you. This is his chance to affect how you play. The scheme you run and the coverages that are called are controlled by the head coach and the defensive coordinator. However, the techniques you use are usually devised by your defensive back coach. This is what he’s going to take pride in. If you treat it like it does not matter, he will take a negative mindset toward you. If it’s important to your coach, then it had better be important to you. As you go through that individual period, your coach is evaluating you. What do you want him to see?

So, if you’re heading into spring ball or your fall practices, give this a try: Always go through the individual drills with a purpose. You can even go so far as to set a goal for each day. Pick a drill that you absolutely want to improve on. You also want to make sure you do all of the drills to the best of your ability and try to perfect them. This is, undoubtedly, a really good way for you to speed up your improvement as a defensive back. Don’t be surprised when you end up becoming an unbelievable playmaker.

For more information on drills and player mindset, check out the All Eyes DB Camp Member’s Area. I have over 300 posts in there on all types of defensive back topics like coverage, techniques, mindset strategy, and more. Earn your PhD in DBology. Click here.

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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.