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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7 Must-Read Books to Elevate Your Defensive Back Skills and Football IQ

1. 101 DB Tips by Chad Wilson Why It’s Great: A complete guide specifically for defensive backs, written by a seasoned coach and trainer. It covers stance, press technique, footwork, backpedal, alignment, and ball skills. Where to Find It: 101 DB Tips Who It’s For:...

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Why Ball Skills Are the Most Important DB Skill in Today’s Game

In today’s pass-heavy era of football, defensive backs face more pressure than ever to be playmakers. Offenses are spreading the field, quarterbacks are more accurate, and receivers are faster and more skilled. As a DB, being “in position” is no longer good e...

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A Complete DB: What I Look For

With camp season upon us, I want to take a moment to let my readers know what impresses coaches and can catch their attention as you hit the circuit. Part of my coaching experience involved attending many camps where I evaluated athletes for advancement or MVP opportunities. H...

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Understanding Zone Coverage: How to Defend Your Space Effectively

Zone coverage is one of the most fundamental concepts in football, especially for defensive backs. Unlike man-to-man coverage, where each defender is responsible for covering a specific player, zone coverage requires defenders to cover designated areas of the field. This appro...

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You Keep Getting Pass Interference Penalties, and Here’s Why

Sure, if you’ve been following me for any amount of time, you’ve seen me occasionally criticize referees for pass interference calls. No doubt, the game is changing, and what you are allowed to do as a DB in coverage is shrinking. However, some of you are racking u...

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The Role of the DB in Complex Blitz Packages

In today’s fast-paced and high-powered football, the role of the defensive back (DB) has evolved far beyond traditional coverage responsibilities. One area where DBs are increasingly making a significant impact is within complex blitz packages. These schemes require defe...

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Leveraging Split-Field Coverages: A Guide for Defensive Backs

In modern football, offenses have become increasingly adept at exploiting defensive weaknesses, particularly when it comes to coverage schemes. To counteract this, many defenses have turned to split-field coverages as a way to balance the need for versatility and adaptability....

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This Undertrained Skill by DBs is Costing Them Big

Training in the offseason as a defensive back can be intense and involves a lot of elements. From foot placement, getting out of breaks, changing directions, backpedaling, and training eyes, the tasks can be plentiful. However, there is one element that is often undertrained, ...

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