Possessing a secondary unit that’s filled with defensive backs who are fundamentally sound, athletic, smart and who utilize high-level coverage technique with solid tackling skills is a real advantage for any football defense.
When a defense features a defensive position group loaded with dependable corners and safeties, it opens a myriad of options for defensive coordinators to become more aggressive and confident in their calls, fronts, blitzes and cover packages.
On the other side of the ball, today’s offensive skill-position players are bigger, faster, stronger, explosive and more prolific in their play-making ability than ever before in football. Making matters even more daunting, on the perimeter, defenses now regularly see three or four wide receivers, each possessing good size, lined up together on one side of the formation.
On top of that, today’s offenses are becoming increasing more adept at utilizing pre-snap motion, mixing in a variety of snap counts and incorporating an up-tempo, no-huddle approach in an attempt confuse defenses and make their overall pre-snap communication at every level of the defense, more difficult.
This means that the overall development and training regimen for secondary units, as well as the need to cultivate depth at the defensive back position is more important than ever before.
Often more-undersized than their counterparts on the field, DBs need to not only rely on their athleticism, but also continuously work to improve their coverage techniques, in-game communication skills, tackling abilities and the development of their football IQ – a trait critically important in recognizing the wide array of deception techniques that offenses incorporate while trying to keep defenses hesitating and on their heels.
To arm football coaches with some of the best defensive back development information, the following clips featured below shine a spotlight on valuable secondary drills, coverage tactics and defensive back teaching methods used by some of the best secondary coaches in the game today – culled together from Championship Productions’ vast library of high-quality football coaching videos.
Secrets to Great Man Coverage By Ron Cooper
Ron Cooper, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Assistant Coach / Defensive Backs and former LSU Defensive Backs Coach.
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Michigan Football Series: Cornerback Man Coverage By Michael Zordich
Michael Zordich is Defensive Backs Coach at Central Michigan and former University of Michigan Secondary/Special Teams Coach (from 2015-2020).
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‘Sideline Pursuit’ Defensive Back Drill By Mark Stoops
Mark Stoops, the Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Backs Coach at Florida State University, gives us a sneak-peek look at a terrific sideline-pursuit drill he uses with his secondary players and LBs.
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Press-Release Drill Work For Defensive Backs (Man Technique) By Mickey O’Rourke
In this clip, Mickey O’Rourke, the Defensive Backs Coach for Keiser University, the 2023 NAIA National Champions, shows off his favorite drill to work on press release technique.
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Dynamic Defensive Back Drills & Skill Work to Improve Coverage Skills & Technique By Anthony Barese
Anthony Barese is Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator for Bryant University.
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Position Techniques and Drills for Defensive Back Play By Sean Beckton
Sean Beckton, currently the University of Nebraska Tight Ends Coach and former University of Central Florida Wide Receivers Coach (former UCF Defensive Backs Coach).
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20 Championship Defensive Back Drills By Chris Merritt
Chris Merritt is the Head Football Coach at Christopher Columbus High School, (FL) and also serves as the
USA Football Junior National Team Defensive Backs Coach.
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4-2-5 ‘Gang Green’ Multiple Defense: Pattern Reads & Base Cover-3 Robber Coverage By Rick Stewart
Showcasing his Base Cover-3, Rick Stewart, the former Head Football Coach at Porterville (CA) High School, provides coaching tips on his 4-2-5 Defense’s Robber Coverage scheme.
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Developing Cornerbacks to Play Multiple Coverage Techniques By Aaron Henry
Aaron Henry, Vanderbilt University Assistant Coach/Cornerbacks and former NC State Safeties/Cornerback Coach.
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Cover 3 Match: Teaching Progression and Implementation By Jason Burianek
Jason Burianek is the Head Football Coach at Missouri Baptist University.
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Teaching Aggressive Man Defense to Your Secondary By Robert Tucker
Robert Tucker, the Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Backs Coach at University of Sioux Falls shares his teaching method for Shake Technique.
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