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Photo by Otto Greule Jr Getty Images |
The defensive back's shoulders should slowly and naturally come up, always staying slightly in front of the player's hips. The most common mistake for a young defensive back is to try to start by leaning back with his shoulders, causing him to step up with the back foot rather than taking a step backwards. This mistake results in the defensive back having poor balance and occasionally even falling backwards. It also forces him to take two steps, while never moving from his original alignment, as the offensive player sprints two steps closer to him.
"Play Football The NFL Way" is the first Instructional Manual for Football Players and Coaches ever published by the NFL. It is the ultimate position-by-position guide of techniques and drills for Offense, Defense and Special Teams. Author Tom Bass is a former NFL coach with more than 20 years of experience with the Cincinnati Bengals, San Diego Chargers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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When teaching this technique, the coach should line up the players five yards away from him, check their stances, then, on the command "Hit," have each of them push off the front foot and take a step backwards with the rear foot.
Copyright © Thomas L. Bass 2006. All rights reserved.
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Most defensive backs are beaten in the first two steps of a play rather than at some other time in their coverage. Realizing this, it is imperative that a defensive back gets a proper start on every play. A defensive back cannot have a good start unless he first has lined up in a correct stance. By having his weight on his front foot prior to the start of the play, a defensive back is now in position to push off the front foot, while simultaneously taking a short step backward with his back foot. This explosive push and step motion is similar to the initial movement that a shot-putter uses in his explosive move across the ring.
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