Defensive backs coach

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A defensive backs coach is a coach in charge of the safeties and cornerbacks in American football. This position is very common in the NFL and college football programs. Some common titles are: safeties coach, cornerbacks coach, secondary coach, secondary/safeties coach, secondary/cornerbacks coach and cornerbacks/safeties coach.

Fundamental principles must be stressed when coaching the defensive secondary. You must be able to cover receivers with your feet first, eyes second;hands are just supplemental. Therefore, in every drill you must emphasize your foot work, with eyes on your key.

The secondary coach must also stress mental discipline and technique are consistent on every play. A Single mistake can lead to a score. The secondary coach must help train that disciplined competitive nature, in which any defensive back must have in order to be successful.^[1]

[edit] Usefull characteristics of Defensive back Coach

• Humility- Coachs must be humbleand remember how much work it takes to build success.
• Patience- Building a program take's time and patience as doe's teaching skills, communicating ideas, and dealing with personal problems. Lack of patience creates frustration and lost of confident.
• Determination- Is critical for success. Coaches must have a burning desire to win and pursue hig ecpectations from his player's.
• Sense of Humor- Allows a coach to have a good player coach relationship and can ease tense situations.
• A mature outlook and Demeanor- Allows the coach to be a strong leader who can guide his players.
• Self-confident- Leadership is essential for a coach to organize and direct his group towards the team goals. Coaches must have an unshakeable belief in their program and player's if they hope to make other's belive in them as well.
• Businesslike approach to daily practice of game preparation- If the coach take's his preparation take's seriously that philosophy tends to rub of on the players.
• Commonsense and level headedness- Are traits that allow coaches to takle problems and make good decisions.^[2]

[edit] Drills And Techniques

One of the primary responsibilities of a defensive back Coach is to teach fundementals and proper techniques needed for effective defense of back performance.

FOOTWORK DRILLS

Line Drills. Have your DBs run the following line drills. Make the drills competitive by rewarding the first player to finish. Make sure the coaches are closely watching the players as they run, monitoring technique for a variety of factors including footwork, body positioning, pivoting and head/eye positioning.

• Line Drill A: Backpedal 5 yards, turn and run 5 yards.

• Line Drill B: Backpedal 5 yards, plant and run 5 yards in a straight line. Run one rep to the left and one to the right side.

• Line Drill C: Backpedal 5 yards, turn and run 5 yards. Backpedal another 10 yards, turn and run 10 yards.

Cone Drills We utilize cone drills to practice breaking on out and hitch patterns.

• DIAGRAM 1: Cone Drill No. 1 "W-Drill."

• DIAGRAM 2: Cone Drill No. 2 "Sideline Retreat."

COMMUNICATION, MAKING-THE-INTERCEPTION DRILLS The following 1-line and 2-line drills help DBs better learn to communicate with their teammates during fast-paced live-action situations, while reinforcing proper techniques to create turnovers. During the line drills all DBs must yell out things such as "Pass!" "Ball!" or "Bingo!" to get them into the habit of communicating while on the fly.

• DIAGRAM 3: 1-Line Ball Drills. From this 1-line alignment you can run three types of drills, the "High-Ball, Low-Ball Drill," the "Duck Drill" and the "Tip Drill."

• DIAGRAM 4: 1-Line Drill "Step-In-Front Drill."

• DIAGRAM 5: 2-Line Ball Drills "45-Degree Break Drill."

• DIAGRAM 6: 2-Line Ball Drills "Turn-And-Run Drill."

• DIAGRAM 7: 2-Line Ball Drills "Turn-And-Run, 45-Degree Drill."

• DIAGRAM 8: 2-Line Ball Drills " Centerfield-Turn Drill."

PARTNER DRILLS The following partner drills reinforce various DB techniques and fundamentals.

• DIAGRAM 9: "Dog-Fight Drill." In this drill, 2 players align 1 yard apart and get into their backpedal. The coach signals the direction and the player closest to the pointed direction becomes the WR, while the other player becomes the DB and makes a proper break on the ball.

• DIAGRAM 10: "Fade Drill." In this drill, the DB lines up slightly behind the WR. The WR sprints into a fade and the DB tries to catch up him and break up the pass.

• DIAGRAM 11: "Strip Drill With No Ball." The DB works on numerous techniques from this alignment, including collision, interceptions, strips, knockdowns and point of delivery.

• DIAGRAM 12: "Range Drill." This an effective zone drill in which the DB works on QB delivery keys.^[3]

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Coaches Learning Network - Coaching the Defensive Secondary
2. ^ Warren,William.Coaching And Winning.Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall,1988.p 65-71
3. ^ Lessiter Publications