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How to Effectively Coach Safeties on Route Combinations and Pattern Reading

In today’s spread-heavy game, safeties must be more than just the last line of defense. They need to diagnose route combinations, anticipate concepts, and match patterns to shut down passing attacks. Here’s how to coach your safeties at the high school and college ...

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How Safeties Can Identify Run vs. Pass in Under 1 Second

One of the most overlooked skills in safety play is diagnosing run vs. pass — fast. A delay in reading the play can pull you out of position or get you beat over the top. Great safeties don’t just react — they anticipate. This guide gives both players and coa...

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How to Improve Your Open-Field Tackling as a Safety

Open-field tackling is one of the most challenging — and most critical — skills a safety must master. Whether you’re the last line of defense or filling the alley in run support, your ability to get a ball carrier on the ground often makes the difference betw...

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Biggest DB Draft Misses and What Went Wrong

Every year, talented defensive backs get picked early in the NFL Draft with sky-high expectations—only to struggle or flame out after a season or two. These draft misses aren’t just cautionary tales; they’re valuable case studies in what not to do. Here are a...

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How NFL Draft Evaluations Can Help You Improve Your Game as a DB

Every year, NFL teams invest millions into evaluating college defensive backs ahead of the draft. They analyze film, interview players, review testing numbers, and dig deep into football IQ and character. As a high school or college DB trying to level up, you can use the same ...

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The Key to Using Your Hands in Press Man Coverage

The idea of press man coverage is to disrupt the timing and route of the wide receiver. To do this, your hands will often come into play, as they help redirect the receiver. However, many young DBs use their hands incorrectly. In this article, we’ll fix that. It’s ...

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How to Read a Wide Receiver’s Body Language to Anticipate Routes

One of the biggest advantages a defensive back can have is the ability to read a wide receiver’s body language. Being able to anticipate where the receiver is going before they make their move can help you stay in phase, break on the ball faster, and make more plays. Wid...

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These 3 Things Are Killing Your Off Man Reps

Have you ever been in this position before? You went to a camp, and you were all geared up to do one-on-ones because you wanted to crush the receivers with your press man skills, only to have the coach tell you that you aren’t allowed to play press. It felt like he told ...

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Defensive Back in Football: The Ultimate Guide to Excelling at the Position

When it comes to playing defensive back in football, mastering the fundamentals, understanding the game, and refining technique are essential. Whether you’re a cornerback or a safety, your role in the secondary is crucial in shutting down opposing offenses and making gam...

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