Welcome, Coaches to the Tuesday Night #swarmfbchat Tonight we continue our discussion on DBs focusing on skill development and drills. Glad you are here - tag a friend and let's share freely tonight! #getbetter
We will use the Q1/A1 format - Questions will start at 8:05 and be posted every 7 minutes (roughly). Please feel free to have side conversations and respond to as much as you want. Like/RT as much as you want for max exposure. Use #swarmfbchat in all responses!
I am really looking forward to learning tonight - I will be coaching the secondary for the first time in 20 years....need to brush up on new skills/drills/technique. #swarmfbchat
Q1: What are the coaching points and drill work for either backpedal and/or shuffle technique? Do you allow your kids to choose based on comfort level? #swarmfbchat
We use shuffle/half run and we teach it to the kids like dancing. You don't want your feet to touch or you'll fall. We don't allow the kids to pick. Would be too difficult trying to teach 8 different things. #swarmfbchat
Q1: What are the coaching points and drill work for either backpedal and/or shuffle technique? Do you allow your kids to choose based on comfort level? #swarmfbchat
Personally with Q1 I'm looking for ways to teach the shuffle tech without my kids drifting off a line and where eyes should be. I need good drills for hips as well. #swarmfbchat
Q1: What are the coaching points and drill work for either backpedal and/or shuffle technique? Do you allow your kids to choose based on comfort level? #swarmfbchat
A1.) Whatever benefits the kid first. But soft feet. Stay on the balls of your feet. Flat footed and your toast. Hips low. Eyes on thighs during back pedal. #swarmfbchat
A1: We will teach both techniques and allow the kid to play to his strength. Pre-snap alignment and what we ask them to do scheme wise is not an option. #swarmfbchat
A1: try to teach as much tempo out as possible. Want to have feet underneath you to break on 3 step. Try to keep as consistent as possible. Pedal tends to get feet out of Hip circle for young players. #swarmfbchat
A1: I think coaching both techs w/in same position group can take away from both in terms of attention to detail as the coach..we’ve done both, but backpedal only now..we work on vertical lines everyday to work breaks from every angle from diff phases/positioning #swarmfbchat
A1: Learned from Jim Salgado, currently the Bills DB’s coach, to “tuck the toe” when opening your hips from a full turn. Just turn your toe towards the way you want to open to. Makes the process smoother. #swarmfbchat
A1: We do “stamina” pedals. Sideline to Sideline to get their legs in shape, we also do W-Drills working different breaks (Buzz, 2-Step, T-Step) to get comfortable with what works best for them #swarmfbchat
A1: We have taught both shuffle and pedal. Both require clean feet/light feet, shoulders over toes, and most importantly keeping the feet within the framework of the body #swarmfbchat
A1: Spent too much time teaching pedal. Changed to shuffle in 2015. Fits our kids better. If a kid naturally pedals, we can work with that if he can make plays. #swarmfbchat
A1. Shuffle - always about comfort. If struggling try to use other sport movements , if baseball kid tell him it’s a secondary lead technique If b-ball kid defensive position. Active feet in contact with ground as long as possible. Relax. #swarmfbchat
A1: We work W drills with emphasis on “T step” line drills with emphasis on 180 degree turns, 45 degree breaks. Never cross your feet! Shuffle - more geared toward keeping feet within cylinder, and route recognition #swarmfbchat
A2: We have our corners head up our receivers, making first contact with our outside hand, and taking our first step with our outside foot #swarmfbchat
Always liked using the sideline for all shuffle, crossover run and transition drills. “Pin the chin” is a constant CP I stress for getting eyes back to man #swarmfbchat
Shuffle, we call slide. This is deliberate. Don’t want kids to hop or click heels together. Want feet underneath. We teach no more than 3 slide steps, then if WR is still vertical transition into crossover run #swarmfbchat
Q1: What are the coaching points and drill work for either backpedal and/or shuffle technique? Do you allow your kids to choose based on comfort level? #swarmfbchat
Outside foot lined up with belly button of WR. First move we use outside hand to punch and push WR to sideline (all this is outside man). We practice it everyday. If out of phase we try to bring our hands up through the hands of WR to make them drop the pass #swarmfbchat
Inside leverage, split receivers near leg. Fast feet, be physical (off hand jam), no lunging.
In phase near hand to near thigh.
Out of phase we’re running eyes on WR near neck #swarmfbchat
A2: i love teaching man coverage with the idea of man to man basketball defense. A lot of us grew up playing basketball. Don’t let him break your face, shuffle - move your feet! #swarmfbchat
As Saban once said, backpedaling is one of the most overrated DB techniques. I agree. Teach a slide (shuffle) technique. I still work backpedaling because you need it in the toolbox. I like the slide because you can transition easier, especially if open (zone turn). #swarmfbchat
Q1: What are the coaching points and drill work for either backpedal and/or shuffle technique? Do you allow your kids to choose based on comfort level? #swarmfbchat
A2: We are a press Cover 2 team, so it is a natural transition to our press man. We take away inside release. We want to stay over top the WR. Don't step towards the WR or open up the gate. We try to step flat down LOS to flatten release then work to get over. #swarmfbchat
A2 We play lots of man so start with inching our feet lateral drill & progress to as I say dribble your feet back kinda same thing .Being relax & never panicked. Don’t reach for WR control your hands . We don’t think physicality in man but control of feet then hands #swarmfbchat
A2) patience, movement, you win with feet, laser focus. No drill will every replace competitive reps.
They have to learn, see feel the space and timing so it has to be at speed, even if just 5yd release #swarmfbchat
A2. I Love the @CoachChrisAsh old stuff from Iowa state. Progressively taught easy to understand. Really good. And out of phase drills are THE MOST IMPORTANT drills in my opinion. If they get good at these they’ll rarely get beaten deep. #swarmfbchat
A2: Feet = Jab-Motor-Go, jab step to start feet, motor til WR declares, go with him when he does.
Hands = 2-1-None. BE PATIENT! We do lots of one-on-ones to work these. #swarmfbchat
A2: teach man in reverse. Start with man finish. In trail tech teaching ears, eyes,hands. Atttack the basket - always preach “when the ball is in the air we are all in man!” #swarmfbchat
A2: Outside foot on inside foot. Patience at LOS. Much State calls is shadow press. Not really focused on keeping the WR at the line, but denying vertical access and forcing them to declare their routes by the stem. #swarmfbchat
Always ISL. Rare Situations we are OSL. We teach inch back/scooch and kick slide. Different situations to use each, and also gives kids tools to use in their toolbox. Biggest thing we do is teaching press 1st w/o using hands. Press is a PATIENT technique #swarmfbchat
A2: Mirror Shuffle w/no hands, mirror shuffle w/ hands teaching off hand jam basics..preaching to stay square as long as possible and use arm length to keep distance..those drills then progress to next phase of turning n running and recognizing what phase you are in #swarmfbchat
Q3: How much time and what drills/coaching points do you emphasize with SS/WS who take on TE/FB/OL during the run game – particularly at the LOS? #swarmfbchat
We work a 1st step drill to feather out w/o reacting to the jab or foot-fire from the WR. Most WRs will jab opposite the way they are going. This conditions the DB to not react until the WRs hips mark his route. Also work an off-hand jam & "hook" drill (in-phase). #swarmfbchat
A2: Just like most I used basketball as my reference points. I usually focused on one component of man during the off season and that taking our read step and working on collision and getting on the hip pocket. Control chaos not overly chaos. Controlled Chaos #swarmfbchat
A2: Outside foot on inside foot. Patience at LOS. Much State calls is shadow press. Not really focused on keeping the WR at the line, but denying vertical access and forcing them to declare their routes by the stem. #swarmfbchat
BP points: pad level low, stay square to LOS, ready to break at any point, know and keep leverage on WR. For me, depends on coverage—1/3 is shuffle, crossover run, zone eyes. 2/4 I like backpedal. Basic drills like weave, backpedal, C.O.D. Hammer the basics. #swarmfbchat
A1. We back pedal at two speeds slowing kids to dictate their cushion. We shuffle based or corners techniques and what defense we are playing. #swarmfbchat
Mirror drill or "Sword Fighting" as was taught to me with no hands really effective getting kids to realize the key to stopping a WR release is the feet. Then their hands become weapons, not crutches! #swarmfbchat
A3: Safeties in the run game on the LOS we work keeping outside arm and leg free while not running themselves out of the play by going beyond the depth of the ball carrier #swarmfbchat
Our safeties are either “extra fitters” or FORCE players. We teach ALL DB’s how to hard joint and set the edge. We have a drill called hard joint drill just for this. Teaches them to set the edge or be there for CCR. #swarmfbchat
Q3: How much time and what drills/coaching points do you emphasize with SS/WS who take on TE/FB/OL during the run game – particularly at the LOS? #swarmfbchat
I stand where number 2 would be and have them shuffle and read my hips breakdown when I breakdown than brings eyes on my hand to see where I’m pointing to, to transition to that area. Try put landmark at in, post, dig, corner and etc. #swarmfbchat
I make sure to work our sink technique w/ my Safeties & the pin-n-spin if the TE goes vert. It fits w/ our Sky coverage. At the HS level you know if a TE can catch or is a glorified OT. That's a factor during the week & if we need to practice another technique. #swarmfbchat
Q3: How much time and what drills/coaching points do you emphasize with SS/WS who take on TE/FB/OL during the run game – particularly at the LOS? #swarmfbchat
... Also use a "Travel" technique that was featured in an @XandOLabs article this month. That needs to be rep'd in inside hull + in Indy to make sure it's perfected. #swarmfbchat
A2: Feet, Eyes, Hands... Mirror drill, kick step, off hand jam, key near hip. If beat play through WR hands. Those are our main coaching points. #swarmfbchat
A2. We teach or man techniques based on where we want to route the offender to go. We rarely leave a guy 1 on 1 so we always want to funnel him to his help or the boundary. #swarmfbchat
Q3: How much time and what drills/coaching points do you emphasize with SS/WS who take on TE/FB/OL during the run game – particularly at the LOS? #swarmfbchat
Stay square, be patient, key the hips, know your leverage and where help might be. Helps with In-phase with leverage, keying hip, and knowing where help is. Out of phase is attempting to close the gap...NOW!! #swarmfbchat
Mirror progression off sideline is something do everyday bc we play a lot of press man. We’ll start with hands behind and progress to off hand use. We’ll work in different wr releases. In phase out of phase usually do as separate drill working straight off sideline. #swarmfbchat
A3: i think you have to take them down and work punch, step and punch, then put it all together with a hook or a drive block. Similar to what you teach an OLB. Have to get O guy off his tracks. Use your quickness off the ball to get into him before he gets into you! #Swarmfbchat
Q3: How much time and what drills/coaching points do you emphasize with SS/WS who take on TE/FB/OL during the run game – particularly at the LOS? #swarmfbchat
#swarmfbchat we preached pretty much thee same thing... “break on every ball thrown” was our mantra for back 7... we tried to start break on “long arm” motion from the QB rather then when ball was in air
We teach to react and mirror them. We are square at LOS so if they move outside, we step outside, if they step to cross our face, we step inside to keep ISL. We punch same arm to shoulder. Good WR will clear that arm so we can get our off hand to their core or hip. #swarmfbchat
A3) we play a 3-4 so for us it has to be pretty equal . The Olb’s can be a dlinemen one play and the next play they will be a S.C.I.F. on a wr. Our olb are our best players on our defense because we ask to much out of them #swarmfbchat
Q3: How much time and what drills/coaching points do you emphasize with SS/WS who take on TE/FB/OL during the run game – particularly at the LOS? #swarmfbchat
Q3. I love this work because it is taught the same way you would a stand up end or OLB. Keep outside arm free, squeeze, be able to make the tackle if ball bounces. #swarmfbchat
A3.I call the technique where they’re on the LOS the BFF technique.They Bang the Emol/Force the run and Fly to the Flat on pass. It’s an everyday drill that week if we are a facing a team that utilizes those guys. Any drill we do to work that tech it’s BFF drill . #swarmfbchat
Only do backpedaling in Daily Musts. Everything else is slide or a variation of off it. That's how I find time to keep it in the mix. I'm a slide guy. Whole heatedly believe in it. Had one kid, Demitri Goodson @ Baylor that just pedaled. I'm open if the kid needs it. #swarmfbchat
A3: 4-2-5 our Hybrids work as force players and will play Spartan Tech keeping their outside free. Safety is a alley fitter, banana to near hip. We do a lot of 2 on 1 leverage fits for this along with our inside run periods. #swarmfbchat
Q4: We get a LOT of questions that ask about how to play Palms/2-Read/Combo. What is your base alignment and how do you practice communication and alignment with your players? Is there a rule about going from 2-read to Man or Zone based on spacing? #swarmfbchat
A3. At least once a week. More of we will see a lot of TE or Dbl TE sets.
Eye discipline, hands on, aggressive fits without getting reached. #swarmfbchat
A3: our Safeties go to inside run period and get coach up on it. We also can have a blitz on barrels period or bring the bags out and walk thru responsibility #swarmfbchat
A3: We work crease-alley-outside fits. LB/S/CB. Also do inside run session. He is either crease or alley player depending on where the OLB is aligned. Depend on coverage our SS will be in 2 deep, man, or flats. Work each scenario (team specific) in 7 on 7 and team. #swarmfbchat
Any time we can get safeties down for inside run to see and feel their fit the better. Takes some time for young safeties to understand their critical in run game. Indy time with them keying TE/OT/FB with bags then transferring to big picture in team is huge. #swarmfbchat
CB and Safety are reading 2 for 3 read steps. CB will shuffle/slide for 3 steps, safety will slow pedal for 3 steps. If 2 is out before the 3 read steps CB will buy 2 and safety will work over top of 1. If 2 is negative NOW, CB will drive outside of 1 #swarmfbchat
Q4: We get a LOT of questions that ask about how to play Palms/2-Read/Combo. What is your base alignment and how do you practice communication and alignment with your players? Is there a rule about going from 2-read to Man or Zone based on spacing? #swarmfbchat
A) we always figured in those matchups we would have the more athletic player... practiced and used “wiggle” technique to avoid blocker and get to ball carrier... typically feinted inside then wiggled outside to keep leverage #swarmfbchat
A3: We do a V drill. Start defeating WR blocks. Then can progress by adding a TE of FB. Basis of the drill is there is less space closer to LOS so don't spend time on WR and keep your leverage as you get to LOS. #swarmfbchat
A3: we drill the safeties during inside run. We also try to define their fit. Force/fold and have that definition be implicit to the coverage they play. That way our safeties can have freedom to play without a bunch of “if thens”. #swarmfbchat
A2: maintain and keep inside leverage. Drills are focused on maintaining inside leverage. Very rare to see HS QB throw fade ball consistent #swarmfbchat
A4: We play our safeties 10 yards off the ball over # 2, and our corners head up the receivers on the LOS. We get that jam, trying to force the receivers inside funneling to the safeties. If there is no flat threat, we sink vertical, treating it like quarters #swarmfbchat
I’ll give you a crazy one here. I hate coach forced alignment. Align for the job! If you can do it tighter/wider/insider take that freedom. It gives ‘false looks’. Give player as much freedom as possible and still get the job done. #swarmfbchat
CBs are 1x7 OSL and Safeties are 2x12 ISL. If 1 is outside the numbers then he will be 1x7 ISL. We tell the safety to LOCK it if he feels he CANNOT get over 1. We drill this DAILY! #Swarmfbchat
Q4: We get a LOT of questions that ask about how to play Palms/2-Read/Combo. What is your base alignment and how do you practice communication and alignment with your players? Is there a rule about going from 2-read to Man or Zone based on spacing? #swarmfbchat
A3: Usually in pre practice. Teaching them to help make OLB right no matter what. Keep pounding leverage concept. If you are outside stay outside...inside stay inside. #swarmfbchat
A3: We teach hand placement on 1/2 man like we would our DL at LOS...when literally on the LOS covering up a TE, we spill kick outs just like our DEs would...DB behind them will force...this keeps our run fit philosophy consistent regardless of who is where really #swarmfbchat
Q4. When any coverage the free safety’s communication is imperative. When we combo the coverage the weak safety must equally communicate his coverage to his side to avoid confusion on drips and zones. #Swarmfbchat
A4: we are working on improving our communication we have our different calls. But we want to make sure our guys understand when to do what so more visuals are coming #swarmfbchat
I know there is a big debate about the 5 yard rule and my 3 read step answers. I’ve been running palms for a while and we encountered teams who would mess with the 5yd rule , so the 3 read step timing works out better #swarmfbchat
Q4: We get a LOT of questions that ask about how to play Palms/2-Read/Combo. What is your base alignment and how do you practice communication and alignment with your players? Is there a rule about going from 2-read to Man or Zone based on spacing? #swarmfbchat
If we see a hitch/corner we teach C to float in middle to take away corner route & make a play on hitch. Currently reading this to learn more! #swarmfbchat
Q4: We get a LOT of questions that ask about how to play Palms/2-Read/Combo. What is your base alignment and how do you practice communication and alignment with your players? Is there a rule about going from 2-read to Man or Zone based on spacing? #swarmfbchat
A4: 4-2-5 and if we get tight spacing particularly stack, bunch, or cut splits we will make a simple bingo call. Press the point and take them as they finish, CB-1 Hybrid-2 Safety/ILB 3 #swarmfbchat
Personal feeling. Pedal and shuffle are most over coached aspect of the game! It’s not normally the pedal that let them down, its reading the play while pedaling. They react slow, get run by, we blame pedal, it’s usually not. #swarmfbchat
I also have a video of my Read Drill on my DB Resource Page:
https://t.co/NmRXZAuUzk
... Tons of info on there. Including my 2-Read (Cloud) pedagogy article.
#ArtofX | #swarmfbchat
A4: haven’t played it in a couple years, but base rule for CB is 5x1 outside #1. OLB apex EMOL #2 S is apex 1-2. If we get a split of 5-6 yards we would go 1/4s to 2 read. Lot of “IN/OUT” “YOU” calls. Takes lots of reps! Very effective coverage! #swarmfbchat
Biggest coaching point is matching foot fire of the WR, maintaining leverage, and GIVING GROUND to make WR release. Then we off-hand jam. Biggest mistake kids make is lunging at WR and/or losing leverage. #swarmfbchat
A3: do a lot of fit drills on air followed by run pods and half line skell constantly working fit and angles. Get them to see the fit for all supports #swarmfbchat
Coach sets the structure, but the players play. I make sure the understand the function of each coverage & let them play. In practice give structured info & let them react. Later we come back & talk about why it worked or failed. #swarmfbchat
I’ll give you a crazy one here. I hate coach forced alignment. Align for the job! If you can do it tighter/wider/insider take that freedom. It gives ‘false looks’. Give player as much freedom as possible and still get the job done. #swarmfbchat
Our corners ALWAYS fit outside of #1. Never drive down until CONTACT is made. Same with safeties. If the guy you are reading makes CONTACT it’s time to come down and fit the alley. Never COME DOWN UNTIL CONTACT IS MADE!!! #Swarmfbchat
All 5 Questions are out there - you guys made me work tonight! What a night of sharing - some really good stuff out there. This has been fantastic - can't wait to go through it all. #swarmfbchat
A5: This is the V Drill I mentioned. We attack our leverage side and with outside arm-strike to break his elbow, then punch or rip through. He doesn't have ball so don't spend time on him, but you can't just go around. Gotta be violent. #swarmfbchat
Do not let them get into your chest/pads. Very similar to deal in that aspect. We can use a swim or rip to get past or just be stronger. We try to force the run back inside where our other players are. Stay low & have violent hands the 2 main things! #swarmfbchat
If we see a hitch/corner we teach C to float in middle to take away corner route & make a play on hitch. Currently reading this to learn more! #swarmfbchat
A5: We emphasize getting our pad level lower than the receiver, and making first contact at the breastplate. Then we shed the blocker toward the sideline. “Shock and shed” #swarmfbchat
A5: Maintain outside leverage. Need to stay disciplined and trust safety will fill inside. Shed block drill is amazing. Check out Nick Saban DB drills at Bama #swarmfbchat
A5: From a contain standpoint we teach to attack the outside leg of the receiver. From there you need to fight to get hip to hip(WR outside hip) / slide butt to butt and replace him. #swarmfbchat
A5: Stole this from @JnashCoach . We shock with violent intentions. We want to create space through collision with the WR. Eliminates double moves. Tests their ‘want to’ and creates the leverage we want. Most have longe limbs and we don’t want to hand fight. #swarmfbchat
Leverage & the runner's shoulders. Must keep outside arm free unless the runner's shoulders are N-S & can cut in. Also alignment. Wider you can cut in sometimes but when WRs get close set the edge & vice. Also need to butt-n-press or dip-n-rip. Need tools in toolbox. #swarmfbchat
A4: For me the easiest way to master 2-Read is to run 2on2 half field route combos over n over n over forcing the safety n corner to communicate and utilize our buy line rules correctly...more reps, better it all gets...dam near an everyday drill throughout the year #swarmfbchat
A4 $ is 1x11 and CB is 6x2 depending on split of #1 skate by CB reading #2 to #1 while forcing inside release of #1 Once #2 WR clears 5 yds eyes go to 1 combo off = play MOD. If splits tight or wide we zorro (zone off routes) also will game plan combo off tendencies #swarmfbchat
A5: honestly this might make me sound like a simpleton, BUT just get your hands on the outside wing tip and just bench press that guy like your life depends on it. Make sure you’re on the outer half and pump those feet like pistons! Beat him up! So all 3? #Swarmfbchat
My sincere thanks to all of you on here tonight. This has been very educational - lots of solid minds sharing best practices! As always, it's my pleasure to bring the #swarmfbchat to you each Tuesday night.
A5: HAVE to maintain outside leverage. Inside hand on outside number of WR. Keep outside half free. Get your butt to the sideline. If WR worth a shit for blocking we focus on these during week- Push, pull, rip or push, pull, swim. #swarmfbchat
Must shoot your hands and get separation, find the ball. Then what to do depends on how far you are from the ball. Can push-pull or rip if you have time/space, or if too close to ball stalemate him, keeping outside leverage and wait for help. #swarmfbchat
Splits & runner's shoulders. Wide splits = you can cut inside, tight = hold the edge. Outside arm free & vice if shoulders are square. They must know leverage & how that effects ability. Actually went over that today! 🤣
#swarmfbchat
We’ll only play 2 read to boundary and that is a check made by safety. Don’t over coach alignment. If they understand the concept, they should be able to align for success. Team alignment period everyday to work on this and communication. #swarmfbchat
Dan Owen DC Keiser U
A5: we teach strike points across our whole defense, pic attached, we emphasize the 33 strike more than anything all 5 fingers up to a pull arm over or push pull technique to disengage #swarmfbchat
A5. After teaching basics have them “cross train” with other groups likeOLBsDEs. similar to force drills OLBs do and similar to pass rush drills DEs do.was reading @XandOLabs article on Dave Arandas simulated pressures and either he or nother coach mentioned that. #Swarmfbchat
A5. We want to stack, exaggerate the rip and attack our fit. For corner that is usually outside of the defender if the ball is to. If the ball is away we are usually in a trail position. #swarmfbchat
I get punch pads (boxing) & will use them to give the kids an aiming point. Raise it up to my neck & the kids punch w/ off hand (butt of palm). Has really helped us. #swarmfbchat
A5) understand run fit first and then attack half man, be physical, stay low, stay square to LOS, keep arm/leg free and ready to shed. Teaching it against air, wall through, bags, and then eventually full speed. #swarmfbchat
I never teach a hard ceiling. Always react to what you see. Even a 10 yd Sail route is an out cut. We play that. Rep the 3/5/10 yd outs in half-line. CBs learn to read route depths & where to expect cuts. #swarmfbchat
A5: With AGGRESSION..teach how to “wax” the arms of the WRs down to beat him w/out fully engaging w/ him in open field..also hav to teach simple push/pull block destruction if they do get fully engaged...when in doubt, solve problems w/ aggression, WRs dont like that #swarmfbchat
A1: backpedal is part of the weekly profession focus on 1 line drills tempo
Pace
Speed
Back n breaks
Transitions out
2 line drills
Tite weave
Weave
Weave CF turn
Weave fish tail
#swarmfbchat
The way it was explained to me by Phil Bennett was it allows the DB to track the ball (zone turn) & is an easier transition for the hips (already open). I've found this to be true. I'm actually in the minority on using it in off man. I think it's much more efficient. #swarmfbchat
I watch games at every level and nobody backpedals anymore I would love to breakdown. Interceptions in college and the NFL and chart pedal vs bail on those plays
All you #swarmfbchat guys let's keep talking! We've got another chat at 8:30 CST. Go check out @NoFlyZoneChat1 it will be our first ever chat! #NFZCHAT
