Man To Man Coverage Tips For Drills 1

1. Total concentration must be on the man you are covering.

2. Always keep the receiver in front of you - Don't get beat deep.

3. Never align or be driven to a head up position.

4. Route recognition - A receiver who is going to run an outside route will generally reduce his split. A receiver who is
going to run a route inside will widen his split.

5. When Working drills that talk about stance, always mention butt up and chin in line with the toes. The best possible
situation is for the defender to stay in his backpedal as long as possible or until the receiver breaks the cushion which puts
him within 3 yards of the defenders, when this happens turn and run with receiver.

6. A receiver who is bent over and running with his head down cannot make a sharp cut, until he raises his shoulders and
gathers himself under control. Therefore the defender should focus his attention on the receivers belt buckle and his
shoulders.

7. Playing bump and run - Never allow an inside release by the receiver, make the quarterback make the long throw.
Don't get your feet crossed over.

8. lf a pass is thrown to your receiver in front of you make all drills attack the up field shoulder. Never go in front of a
receiver unless you think you can get both hands on the ball.

9. lf the defender gets beat deep, tell him to put his head down and sprint to catch the receiver. Do not look back at the
quarterback until you have caught the receiver.

10. As long as the ball is behind the L.O.S. and receivers are downfield, always maintain tight coverage.

Playing Zone Coverage

When playing zone coverage your players must know their area of responsibility, where the help is coming from, if any,
field position, strength of offensive formation, etc. Pass drops should always be controlled by the secondary personnel, so
they can read patterns and be ready to break and drive on the ball. Secondly, when the quarterback sets up and is ready
to throw, the secondary player should set and be ready to react. Always be under control, so that you can move to the ball
when it is thrown. Defender should try and work to keep his shoulders square when reading the quarterback's eyes,
shoulders, and arm motion, you then can tell the direction the ball is being thrown.

Reaction to the ball is the ability to move at the proper angle in order to break up the pass. Don't round corners and
angles. Your secondary drills must emphasize the ability to go to the ball and intercept it. Make the interception at the balls
highest point. After making the interception return the ball to the nearest sideline, and if in traffic cover up the football. lf a
teammate intercepts the football, block the intended receiver if you are close enough.

lf your secondary player has underneath zone coverage, then try and get a piece of the receiver as he travels through his
zone.
While bumping the receiver, the defender gets turned around, be quick to get vision back on the quarterback and squared
up to play the football. Keep shoulders square to the line of scrimmage.

Press Drill
Goal: Teach foot movement, lateral movement, quick reaction and proper positioning on the receiver...

Description: The drill takes place in a 5 yard wide area where the sideline and yard line intersect. Two players line up
about one yard apart while facing each other. The designated receiver moves laterally and quickly back and forth
occasionally making a jab step up field, then hustles back to continue the lateral movement. The receiver makes two
moves up field. The defender simply mirrors the receiver's movements by shuffling; each time the receiver moves up field
the defender moves their body in front of the receiver. The defender keeps his hands behind his back and simply stays in
position. The coach allows 6-8 seconds to complete each part of Drill. The defenders can re-route receiver with their lower
 2
body, shuffle laterally without bringing the feet together and realize their hands are secondary in using press technique...
Equipment: None."

Learning The Zone Drill

Goal: Teach the DB to mentally recognize their zone and physically move to their designated zones...

Description: lnitially, the coach uses markers to signify the various zones on the field. On command, the players move to
their assigned zone, depending upon the defense called by the coach. The players begin this drill individually, then all the
DB's line up and move as a unit to their zones... Equipment: Markers (when needed)"

Pass Plays - At The Snap

The Defensive Back must take the proper first two steps to instantly get into a backpedal position. The Defensive
Back is beaten more often than not, within the first two steps after the snap. Feet - push off with the front
foot while taking a short step back with the rear foot... Shoulders - slowly rise while always staying in front of
the hips... Eyes - centered on the receiver... Body - always between the receiver and the goal line. After contact,
the defensive back runs with the receiver to the center of the field...

lnside Release - (As the receiver runs in front of the defensive back.) Feet - the defensive back steps back with
the inside foot... Hands - the inside palm slams into the receiver's sternum...
Outside Release - (No contact is made with the receiver when the receiver releases to the outside.) Feet - step
back with the outside foot moving out of the back pedal as soon as the receiver's pattern is recognized... Eyes -
focused on the Receivers jersey."

Intercept and Score Drill

Purpose:
Defensive Backs Interception Drill to work on catching the ball at the highest point while running full speed into the
flight path of the football, and then score by breaking through would be tacklers and still maintaining balance to
continue to run and score.

Description:

Setup:
Put a stand up dummy about 2-3 yards to the side of the Defensive Backs starting point and about 1-2 yards into the field.

From the hash marks about 4-5 yards next to the coach (to the same side as the dummy) lay out 4-5 square bags towards
the sideline.

Put 2 players with hand shields about 1 yard in front of the first square bag.

Defensive Backs line up in one line at the sideline

The coach throws the ball in an arc towards the standup dummy
When the coach throws the ball the Defensive Back starts to intercept the pass then the Defensive Back sprints to the
square bags, breaks through between the players with the shields (who will jam the ball carrier) And high steps over the
square bags to score.

Coaching Points:
1. Move forward at full speed

2. Time your jump

3. Be under control

4. Catch the ball at the highest point

5, Don't lean into the contact, or you will fall if you dont make contact.
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Running Drills

1 - Decide what front and coverage the defense aligns in primarily. Incorporate the spacing and alignment for the
defensive backs so that they know the proper angles to attack the ball carrier in all of the drills. Make sure the drills
replicate the action the players can expect to see during a game.

2 - Assess the athletic ability of the defensive backs. The better athletes can play tighter coverage and the lesser athletes
need to back away from the offensive players. By understanding the abilities of the defensive backs, you can decide how
best to teach the defensive backs to break to the football during a running play.

3 - Choose the best backpedal and break technique. Some coaches prefer to use the T-step while others use the foot
chop. Utilize both techniques to redirect and break to the football, but keep in mind that some athletes are better at one
than the other. Teach both techniques and have the individual player use the technique that allows him to support against
the run the fastest.

4 - Simulate the backpedal and break into the practice drills. Set two cones 5 yards on either side of the coach. Have the
defensive back stand in front of the coach and perform a quality backpedal. Make sure the defensive back stays in a
straight line. On a command, the defensive back performs the T-step or foot chop technique and breaks to the cone that
the coach directs.

5 - Focus on the footwork of the break technique and the acceleration out of the cut. At the breaking point of the t-step, the
back foot looks like the crossing of the letter T. This foot plant stops the momentum of the defensive back and allows him
to redirect to the football. With the foot chop technique, the player quickly chops his feet at the top of his break and then
accelerates to the football. Start slow with both of these techniques and work up to full speed when the player masters the
proper break technique.

6 - Incorporate the tackle after the break technique progression. In this version of the drill, add a ball carrier behind the
coach. After the defensive back backpedals several yards, the ball carrier breaks on an angle to the right or left. The
defensive back executes his break technique and attacks the ball carrier. Stress proper tackling technique once the
defensive back makes contact.

The Bomb Drill

The purpose of this drill is to develop control and awareness of the receiver's movements and to learn proper
body control. It also teaches safeties how to deal with a bomb throw (a deep, high throw downfield) and to make
interceptions. The safety lines up at the line of scrimmage, backpedals 5 yards, goes outside for 10 yards, and
turns around at the command of the coach and sprints downfield while the quarterback throws a deep ball. The
safety should catch the ball at the highest point, and then return it to the line of scrimmage.

Intercept

Drive

Safety X Weave

BP
Coach
X Corners

4
Backpedal Drill
The purpose of this drill is to improve backpedaling technique and reaction time. The safety will start at the line of
scrimmage, backpedal 5 yards; drive for ball at 45 degree angle coming back toward the LOS. Coaches should
stress that the safety places his chin over his toes while backpedaling in order to retain more control, to use their
arms, and to keep their head up while sprinting forward.
Description
Defenders assume stance 10 yards away from coach.
On command, he drives straight back, executing proper technique.
Reads coachs eyes and shoulders and attempts to get a jump on the ball.
When the ball is released, he calls out Ball, driving toward the football and intercepts at its highest point.
Calls out Bingo on interception and sprints back to LOS.

Coaching Point: Stress proper body position during backpedal and drive for ball.

90 90

DB DB

C C

Drive Layout Drill

The purpose of this drill is to improve acceleration and to drive at the ball. Two DBs will line up 5 yards from the
coach and 5 yards apart from each other. On command, the backs will sprint laterally and plant on outside foot
and sprint in opposite directions. When the coach throws the ball in between the one back will call "ball" and drive
to intercept it at the highest point before it hits the ground. Ball will be chest high and backs must dive and layout
to get it.

X X

5
Interception Drill

The purpose of this drill is to decrease reaction time and to develop interception abilities. Two safeties line
up 10 yards apart. One receiver is lined up in between the safeties and runs a route. The safeties follow,
backpedaling and breaking when the receiver breaks. The coach or quarterback will throw give the receiver
a pass route and the closest safety will attempt to intercept the pass.

Safety WR Safety

Coach/QB

Funnel and Cushion

This drill is designed to help the strong safety and cornerback work in tandem on passing plays, especially in a
cover-2 zone.

Mark a line of scrimmage and have the following players line up: strong safety, one cornerback, two receivers.
Label one receiver as primary and one as secondary. The primary receiver will run either a corner route or post
route. If the receiver releases inside, the corner will redirect the receiver into the safety's zone before the receiver
passes the 5-yard mark and then pick up the secondary receiver. If the primary receiver releases outside, the
safety will immediately pursue him and the cornerback will immediately pursue the secondary receiver.

#2 #2

#1 Receiver #1 Receiver

Safety reads outside release by Corner reads inside

Coach # 1 receiver and # 2 flows away. release trying to funnel
receiver to safety. As Coach
SS this takes place he C
keys the number two
receiver or back. If
number two receiver goes
away, cushion and play
 number one.Funnel Drill
6

Open side Corner or Strong Safety you want to work parallel, getting your body In front of the receiver and not to reach
for him. Initially, you do not want to play the receivers as tough but want to absorb the receiver. All of the movement
should be parallel. You dont want to step up or strike out as this causes you to miss the receiver, get off balance and not
be able to cover your zone. You must keep your feet moving; do not reach out but get your body in front of the receiver.
When this position is gained, then you will take him on tough. Whenever you get an outside release, force the receiver
wide and look for Next or number two receiver coming out. Make the qb throw the ball to the flat receiver. When an inside
release is used, close but do not get hung up and get caught inside. Movement should always be lateral.

Coach/QB Coach/QB
WR WR
Force receiver
Make QB throw to wide, look for next Movement should
the flat receiver receiver coming out be laterally, dont
strike out

SS C

OUTSIDE RELEASE OUTSIDE RELEASE

Coach/QB WR WR

C
Close but dont Movement should
get hung up and be laterally,
get caught inside dont strike out
SS C

INSIDE RELEASE INSIDE RELEASE

Funnel technique is usually used vs any type of cover two coverage. This means that if the corner has flat
responsibility, he should force any type of inside release to the safety. If you get an outside release, make the
receiver run the sideline, forcing the qb to make the long throw. This will give the safety time to get over top.
 Funnel and Flat Drill 7

Funnel and flat drill will help the corner and strong safety to collision an inside release and then get back outside when the
second or number two receiver threatens the flat area.

#2
# 1 Receiver

# 2 Tight End
# 1 Receiver

SS C
Coach Coach

C
SS

Stretcher Drill

Purpose:
To develop ball reaction
To increase interception distance

Description:
1. Two defenders are aligned 10 yards apart, away from the coach.
2. The defenders backpedal and react to the coachs shoulders.
3. When the coach turns to throw to one receiver, the defender breaks.
4. Force the defender to reach for the ball. Make him center it in his hands.

Coaching Point: To start, designate one defender as the receiver. Later, have them react to your direction. Increase
interception distance by placing defenders wider and deeper (hash to 20 yards deep.) Rotate players through all positions
and reverse when all have had two reps each.

X Step 3

Hash Hash
Step 2 X

Step 1 X

C WR
Deflection Drill 8

Purpose
Defensive Back drill to work on good technique to deflect the ball while securing to make a safe tackle in case the ball
cannot be deflected.

Description
1. Put a heavy, stand up dummy about 4 yards to the side of the DBs and about 1 yard into the field.
2. The first DB lines up about 4 yards into the field.
3. Upon command he backpedals about 6-8 yards.
4. The coach throws a strike to the dummy.
5. The DB plants his foot and breaks forward to deflect the pass and tackle the dummy.

Coaching Point: Deflect the pass with the near arm; club with the outside arm. Ensure the tackle if no deflection.

Hash
Hash

Bag

X
Back
Pedal

Coach

Post and Break Drill

Post and break drill teaches driving on the ball and

closing the cushion on the post route. Be sure the
DB doesnt anticipate the throw.

Stay on the back pedal until the receiver breaks and

Back the QB or Coach throws the ball.
Pedal

DB

WR

QB
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Stretch and Break Drill

Purpose
Develops stretch and break vs cover 3 zone with 2 receivers running vertical routes.

Description
1. Line up two receivers just outside the hash about 10 yards apart.
2. Position a DB about 10 yards up field from the coach/qb.
3. On the coachs command, the receivers each run a vertical route about 15 yards deep. The DB will start his back pedal
when the receivers close within three yards and continue until the coach/qb opens his shoulders left or right.
4. As soon as the ball is released, the DB will break 90 degrees to the ball side of the field and close on the ball.
5. The DB will intercept the ball at its highest point and return it to the coach.

Coaching Points: Rotate players through all positions, ensuring all get at least two reps each at each position. Keep the
drill moving. Since this is a defensive drill, the coach should throw the ball so that the DBs have a chance to pick it off.
Vary the direction of the pass to ensure DBs react to the coachs movements and not just guess which side he is going to,
and to get repetitions to both sides. Look off the DBs from time to time to keep them honest.

Back
Pedal

DB

WR WR
Hash Hash

Coach

M Drill

Back
Pedal 5 yards

Start Coach

The M drill teaches breaking toward the LOS from a back pedal. Form a single line. The first player begins the drill by
back pedaling to the next 5 yard line and then planting the foot away from the direction they were going to break at a 45
degree angle back toward the original line. Repeat the procedure, reversing the direction. The coach will throw a ball to
each player as he breaks back toward the line.
Coaching Point: Ensure that players stay low in the backpedal. Make sure the toe is turned at a 45 degree angle away
from the way they are going to break.