Read 3 Step Drill | DB Drills

Reading the 3 step.  Perhaps you have heard of it.  Perhaps you have not.  Whether you have or not,  I am here to tell you that it is a great way to make big time plays at defensive back and in particular cornerback.

I am not going to go into a total explanation and history of reading the 3 step in this short post.  Perhaps I will do so in depth in a later post coming soon.  What I am merely going to do here really quickly is explain this drill that does a great job of drilling you on the technical elements of executing a 3 step drop read and reacting to it.

In this drill,  the defensive back stands off to the side of the goal which can be either a lacrosse goal or a soccer goal.  On the coach or training partner’s command,  the DB starts pedaling and upon the cue (which can be the movement the hand holding the ball or the turning of the QBs shoulder) the defensive back does 4 things:

(1) Plants his back foot (could be left or right)
(2) Turns his eyes immediately to the intended receiver
(3) Takes 1-3 strides looking at WR depending on how far WR is from QB
(4) Looks back for ball to make the interception

Those four elements are needed to complete the perfect 3 step read and reaction.  This drill in the video,  trains those elements quite nicely.

In this video,  I am using a lacrosse goal and a lacrosse ball.  The DB is moving off of my hand movement as that signals that I am going to release the ball to the net.  As the coach / partner,  I am trying to fire that ball into the net.  As the DB,  you are trying to intercept that ball before I get it into the net.

Enjoy the video,  as always if you have any questions or feedback,  feel free to reach out to me via email: cwilson@alleyesdbcamp.com – Thank you for being a member.

• Author
• Recent Posts

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.

Latest posts by alleyesdbcamp (see all)

• These 4 Drills Will Drastically Improve Your Off Man Coverage - February 25, 2026
• How Elite DBs Read Route Concepts Before the Snap - February 25, 2026
• When it Comes to Playing DB…. Smooth is Fast - February 18, 2026