Tackling and Pursuit Drills for Championship Defense

Creating a defensive system where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts is the Holy Grail for every Defensive Coordinator. Rick Stewart has found it. Using practice footage and a PowerPoint presentation, Coach Stewart takes you through a complete defensive system build up. He loads it with Every Day Drills that are position-specific and essential for developing champions.

In each drill he shows you how to develop a technically superior player while instilling a reflex knowledge in that player that applies to the overall defensive scheme.

Coach Stewart outlines an annual installation schedule. Monthly and daily practice plans are derived from the annual plan. Stewart explains how he breaks down his daily practice schedule into five-minute segments.

After the practice plans are complete, Stewart explains the drills and techniques needed for each position:

Defensive Line
Coach Stewart breaks down the defensive line position and has his players demonstrate the STING progression that he uses to improve defensive line play. Coach Stewart also shows how to improve attacking angles to the ball by reading the offensive line's steps and blocks. The Nose, Tackle, and End will see different kinds of blocks, so they need position specific drills for what they will see on game day.

Linebackers
Coach Stewart shows how he classifies the different blocks that an inside linebacker and outside linebacker will face, how to fit into the proper gaps, and how to make tackles at multiple angles of attack.

Defensive Backs
Coach Stewart breaks down and demonstrates drills that will help any defensive back learn to shed blocks, pursue the ball and make tackles. Coach Stewart also gives instruction on the different coverages that he utilizes in his defense.

Team Tackling
You will see various team tackling and pursuit drills and a tackling station circuit you can use to put a whole defensive unit through tackling drills. He ends the video with several different pursuit drills that are very effective and will help improve any defense.

This two-plus hour video is a great value and is packed with drills, coaching insights and information that will help transform any defense!

131 minutes. 2013.