Do you want to be a great defensive back? Whether it’s youth tackle, flag or NFL, these are the 7 Key Skills for Defensive Backs that separate the good from the great.

1. FOOTWORK & AGILITY
Quick feet are everything. A defensive back must be able to react instantly and move and change direction quickly.

•Backpedal technique – Stay low, quick steps, no wasted motion, work to keep your knees over your toes and your chest over your knees.
•Breaks on the ball – A good DB has to be able to get out of his backpedal and transition to running quickly. Work full speed backpedal, breakdown and quickly run forward at full speed run.
•Change of direction – Quick hips and fluid turns to react to routes. Good DB’s have to be able to pivot and “flip” your hips from one direction to another.
*Jump rope is an excellent training device for agility and quick feet.

2. SPEED & EXPLOSIVENESS
Speed can be the difference between a good DB and a great one.
•First-step quickness – Reaction time is critical, DBs have to work on their first few back pedal steps. Get in a good athletic stance, work a quick start.
•Burst acceleration – Sprint drills to keep up with WRs.
•Recovery speed – All DB’s are going to get beat, it’s part of the job. Good DB’s work hard on recovering from getting beat. Work on getting your eyes to the WR’s hips, sprint to the hips, watch the WR hands, they won’t go up until the ball is coming.
*With caution, try overspeed training such as downhill sprints.

4. HIP FLEXIBILITY & TRANSITION MOVEMENT
Loose hips allow for quick transitions in coverage. To be great you have to be able to flip those hips.
•Backpedal-to-sprint transitions – Work backpedal and ripping the elbow to turn your shoulders and flip the hips.
•Mirror technique – Work staying in your backpedal as long as possible while matching the WR’s release from line of scrimmage.
*Stretching you legs, hamstrings, calves and hip flexors is a essential.

4. HAND-EYE COORDINATION & BALL SKILLS
DB’s have to be able to track the ball and turn into a receiver.
•High-pointing the ball – DB’s have every right to the ball, work on going and getting the ball at it’s highest point. Think rebound in basketball.
•Knocking Balls Down. A knockdown is a win for a DB, work on reaching across the body with the opposite had to knock balls down.
•Reading the QB’s eyes – Most youth QB’s will tell you where they are throwing the ball with their eye’s. Track their eyes to make quick breaks on the ball.

5. PRESS COVERAGE TECHNIQUE
The best DB’s can eliminate a WR at the line of scrimmage. Get good at press man coverage.
•Strong hands – Getting your hands on a WR does 2 things. It slows them down, and it controls the direction they are going.
•Balance– Stay balanced so you don’t get beat off the line, don’t lunge at the WR, the second you lunge your beat.
•Inside leverage – Force WR’s to the outside, that always puts you between the QB and the WR.

6. OFF-COVERAGE TECHNIQUE
Not every play is press-man. Good DB’s have to be great in Zone coverage as well.
•Keep cushion distance – The WR is going to cut the distance down quickly, work hard to maintain your cushion.
•Read the WR’s movements – Most young wr give away where they are going, get good at reading their eyes.
•Stay disciplined – Don’t bite on double moves. Keep your eyes on the WR’s hips.

7. FOR YOUTH TACKLE: TACKLING & PHYSICALITY
DBs must be able to tackle and more importantly tackle in space.
•Break down & wrap up – No diving or arm tackles!
•Angle tackling – Take the right pursuit path to cut off the ball carrier.
•Make the Tackle- A good “open field” tackle is literally one that happens. No matter what or how, get the ball carrier to the ground.

8. COMPETITIVENESS & CONFIDENCE
DBs must have confidence. You’ll get beat sometimes, but how you respond matters.
•Short memory – Forget the last play it’s over, make the next play.
•Relentless mindset – Every play is a battle—win your rep.
•Be the aggressor – Make the WR react to you, not the other way around.

In conclusion, at every NFL Alumni Youth Football Camp, we start every day with agility, speed, running form and follow that with lots of passes to catch and defend. Join us this summer and become a shutdown DB for your youth tackle or flag football team.