What’d He Do Wrong: Safety Open Up Get Routed Up

Justin Jefferson has quickly developed into one of the premier wide receivers in the NFL.  Wide receiver lovers and the media alike have fawned over his route running ability that has allowed him to get open on a regular basis over the last couple of seasons.

No doubt,  Jefferson is a tactical player with skills but as defenders we must be careful to not make things easy for him.  In the clip for this What Did He Do Wrong segment,  I highlight how the lack of a back pedal caused a a safety to be victimized in a play while covering Jefferson.

There has been this movement in recent years where DB coaches have determined that back pedaling is not so important.  I am not in that camp.  This rep that I highlight will definitely demonstrate why.  If you are a safety that doesn’t think back pedaling is all too important,  get ready to be a victim quite a bit while you are in coverage.  Perhaps you think back pedaling is old school.  That’s fine but realize that some things never change and the need to stay square in coverage vs. a wide receiver is not going to change any time soon.   The only way to do that when you are playing off of a wide receiver from depth is to be able to back pedal.

I go more in-depth on that topic and on what the safety in this play should have done on the video below.  Check it out and as always,  if you have any questions,  feel free to reach out to me via email at: cwilson@alleyesdbcamp.com – Thank you for being a member.

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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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