It’s Called Press for a Reason

By: Chad Wilson
All Eyes DB Camp

I recently posted on Twitter about an epidemic I see in young defensive backs at the high-school level: a refusal to use their hands at the line of scrimmage in press coverage. It’s called press for a reason, and we’ll discuss why in this article.

As the offensive game has evolved over the last decade, receiver knowledge about releases has expanded. Anyone with eyes can see that receivers today are cleaner exiting the line of scrimmage than in prior eras. Instagram is full of wide-receiver coaches teaching a wide array of releases. Receivers now come with what are called “release packages.”

This increased emphasis on releases by receivers has forced defensive backs to sharpen their techniques at the line to combat a new era of “release gods.” In response, new techniques have emerged. As I watch young defensive backs at camps and 7-on-7s, I’ve become concerned with a current trend: an over-focus on foot movement and a devaluing of the use of hands at the line. In other words, DBs are becoming more focused on mirroring releases than on disrupting the timing and spacing of routes.

Don’t misunderstand me—pressing a wide receiver has always and will always require disciplined eyes and good foot movement. Where this new generation of young DBs misses the mark is in their unwillingness to use their hands at the line. What I’m noticing more is a willingness to use hands later in the route to grab and hook receivers once they’ve already released however they choose. Those hooks, holds, and grabs lead to penalties which is free yardage for the offense.

Most of the foot movement I’m seeing at the line is designed to give the receiver space—lots of it. Receivers today are learning to attack space aggressively. Defensive backs hell bent on giving receivers space are getting shocked by how fast receivers close that space, step on their toes, and explode beyond them. A person running forward will always generate momentum faster than one going backward. As a result, many defensive backs who concede space are surprised by how quickly receivers gain separation, which leads to grabs, holds, and pulls.

I understand that one-on-ones at camps and 7-on7s don’t fully reflect the reality of an 11-on-11, padded situation. With that said, defensive backs and their coaches must be careful not to overvalue the outcomes of these reps. One-on-ones and 7-on7s are for development, but these drills get very competitive—especially at camps offering MVPs, clout and scholarship offers on college campuses. For that reason, it’s vital that training emphasize disciplined technique at the line.

There are multiple valid techniques available to DBs. Some coaches prefer soft-press methods like inch and motor. Even so, there’s such a thing as giving a wide receiver too much space. Essentially, that’s the growing trend I’m witnessing: young DBs are essentially playing off-man from a press-man position. When receivers explode into that space and exit the defender’s frame, DBs go into panic mode. That leads to three things: erratic running form, poor eyes, which is the first thing to break under pressure; and, finally, the combination of those two leads to grabbing and pulling.

Whether you’re running hard-press, inch, or motor techniques, your aim is still to disrupt the receiver and change the shape of the route. When you give excessive space and allow the receiver to attack aggressively, you achieve neither of those objectives. You should work to widen a receiver’s release to delay his exit and change the route’s location. Lateral movement is key to this; when executed well, it provides opportunities to use the hands in your press technique.

The objective should be to use the hands to obstruct the route. To achieve this, proper lateral movement must be executed. In the pursuit of the jam, lateral movement kicks in. What appears to be happening is zero emphasis on jams at or near the line of scrimmage, so the lateral movement never activates. Most of what I’m seeing is vertical movement—which pleases the receiver. All they want to do is explode forward off the line, get into their route, and hit their landmark as quickly as possible. When a DB’s technique is to step straight back, give space, and only go lateral once the receiver has gained separation, the results will not go in your favor.

In a nutshell: defensive backs must be taught the importance of getting the jam, the steps needed to achieve it, and then practice its execution. Lateral movement is not natural; it requires time to master. When mastered, the athlete will feel comfortable using it in competition. Furthermore, when receivers run directly forward into a DB’s space, the DB must greet that movement with controlled aggression. A jam needs to be deployed to discourage the receiver from getting up on his toes before he exits the defender’s frame. Failure to do so will put the DB into chase mode for most reps—and chase mode is not where a defensive back should live.

In conclusion, as you practice your techniques—including the soft ones like inch and motor—don’t forget to implement getting hands on the wide receiver when he enters your space. Protecting your buffer zone is important. Failing to do so will put you on the losing end of more reps than not.

I have a full breakdown of various press-man techniques, complete with video illustrations, in the All Eyes DB Camp members area. That includes the drill work necessary to master these techniques. You can join the All Eyes DB Camp members area by clicking 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.

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