When it Comes to Playing DB…. Smooth is Fast

One of the most important yet difficult concepts to teach young defensive backs is that efficiency of movement is key. The major component of that efficiency comes not from brute force, but from proper application.

The game of football is violent, and because of that, the prevailing idea on the grass is that “Force is King.” While this may be true when making contact with an opponent, it is not true when it comes to moving with speed.

Playing defensive back involves moves that are unnatural. If we aren’t going backward, we’re running sideways. One moment we are flipping our hips, and the next, we’re spinning 180 degrees. To execute these moves with elite speed, our eyes, feet, and upper body must work in total harmony. For these elements to sync up, your mindset must be focused on being smooth, not necessarily fast.

When an athlete “thinks fast,” the natural tendency is to get tight. This hyper-focus causes you to skip vital steps in the process. However, when you “think smooth,” your mind works correctly. You follow the necessary steps: your eyes find the right key, your feet strike in the correct areas, and your upper body stays in sync with the movement. This efficiency is what actually generates speed. Your eyes put you in the right direction, your foot strike generates power through proper leverage, and correct body placement allows you to accelerate with ease.

The problem is that, in the beginning, thinking “smooth” can make you feel like you are moving slow. You have to trust the process. Over time, you will realize that doing things the right way is far better than doing them fast the wrong way. If you have ever observed Olympic sprinters like Usain Bolt, you may have noticed they often look like they aren’t even straining. It is the smoothness of their movements that allows their legs to move through the full cycle and strike the ground at the optimal point.

Straining does not help. Tightening your face, grunting, and tensing your muscles won’t make you faster—in fact, it does the opposite. The best way to move fast is to see the right things, strike in the right places, and flow through your movements with ease.

The next time you head out to train, give this a try: Before every drill, say to yourself, “Smooth is fast.” If necessary, get a song in your head that keeps you calm. I’m not talking about high-intensity hip-hop or heavy metal—those will raise your heart rate and speed up your thoughts too much. Think of something with a melody that makes you feel like you’re floating.

DBs, when we float, that’s all she wrote. The ball is in our hands and going the other way.

If you want more helpful tips like this to improve your training and boost your performance, check out my top-selling book, 101 DB Tips. It’s the ultimate defensive back reference guide – click here for more.

• 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)

• The Alien Era: How Defensive Backs Can Win vs Athletic Tight Ends - March 4, 2026
• 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