THE FOLLOWING DRILLS will help develop the players in your defensive secondary. All relatively simple to do, each drill focuses on proper fundamentals and skill development for a particular aspect of the defensive back position.

4-Cones Agility Drill

This drill emphasizes the proper fundamentals and techniques for backpedaling, establishing quick feet and breaking down. The only equipment that’s needed for this drill is four cones and a few footballs.

DIAGRAM 1: 4-Cones Drill.

Align the four cones 5 yards apart and in a square as shown in the diagram. Position all DBs in a straight line behind one of the cones. On the coach’s signal, the first DB in line starts at the first cone and backpedals to the second cone. He then plants on the outside foot and starts a quick carioca to the third cone.

    After reaching the third cone, he’ll sprint to the fourth cone and return to the end of the line.
Run this drill for a predetermined set time or until each player has completed a certain number of repetitions around the course.

After the first few repetitions, run the DBs counterclockwise around the cone square. This gives them practice at planting and cutting off their outside foot from both the left and right.

Insist that all DBs run this drill at full speed and come under control approximately 2 1/2 yards from the third cone.

Defensive-Wave Drill
The purpose of this drill is to improve an individual DB’s ability to be in proper position at all times, to increase the distance he’ll need to make interceptions and to play the football after it’s been thrown.

Line up your DBs in groups of the three. The first group of three DBs comes out and stands in front of a coach who’s holding a football. From a good defensive football position, the three DBs must react on the first arm motion of the coach. The defenders use a crossover step and move at a diagonal angle backward. When the coach signals a change in direction, the DBs plant the outside far foot and push off toward the inside, using a crossover step to go in the direction indicated.

After four or five change of directions, the coach throws the ball and the defenders sprint to the interception point. The DB who makes the interception will head upfield while the other two players lead interference back to the line of scrimmage. Once they reach the LOS, the ball is returned to the coach and the next group of three DBs line up in front of the coach.

3-Cone Drill
This is a great drill to teach your DBs proper backpedaling and change-of-direction techniques, as well as helping to develop foot and hip quickness.

DIAGRAM 2: 3-Cone Drill.

Align three cones in a straight line and space them 2 1/2 yards apart. The DBs line up in a straight line by the first cone.

On the coach’s command, the first DB in line runs through the cones in a figure-8 pattern. When he reaches the last cone, he should drop his butt low and weave back through the cones in a full-sprint backpedal. After the DB gets back to the first cone, he’ll get back in line and the second DB runs through the course.

Emphasize that they run and move with proper stance — chin over toes, eyes up, butt down, jersey numbers up — as well as maintaining a good base, a natural stride and pumping the arms.

Backpedal-Plant-And-Drive Drill
This drill is similar to the 3-cone drill except that the DB adds a hard plant-and-drive sprint back to the last cone after completing the backpedal.

DIAGRAM 3: Backpedal-Plant-And-Drive Drill.

The players form a new line at the end of the last cone. After the last DB has run through the cones, they’ll run it again, only this time going the other direction.

Score-Tackle Drill
This is a good drill to reinforce the fundamentals and techniques of proper tackling with an emphasis on footwork, rolling the hips and wrapping up the with the arms.

DIAGRAM 4: Score-Tackle Drill.

Align two cones parallel with one another and set them 5 yards apart. The line between the two cones represents the goal line. Divide your DBs into two groups — tacklers and ball carriers — and have each group form a line on each side of the goal line. Each DB in the ball carrier line should be holding a football.

The first DB in the tackler line should align himself with his heels on the goal line, at the midpoint between the two cones. The first DB in the ball carrier line should set up 4 yards off the goal line and be facing the tackler.

On the coach’s command, the ball carrier runs full speed toward the inside of either cone and the first DB in the tackler line must execute a proper form tackle and try to stop the ball carrier from crossing the goal line.
Emphasis should be on the tackler being in a good defensive position, with head up and establishing an aiming point of the nose of the football. The DB rolls his hips and wraps up the ball carriers.

Back-And-Break Drill
The main purpose of this drill is to improve a DB’s speed and drive toward a receiver. Players form a single line and proceed one at a time through the drill. A coach lines up in the middle of the field with a football, simulating a QB. The first DB in line sets up on a field number and begins to backpedal on a visual command from the coach.
When a coach indicates a throwing direction (the coach will intentionally telegraph his throw), the DB will snap his head to locate the receiver. Once the receiver is located, the DB drops his head and sprints toward the interception point, looking back for the ball and trying to make an interception. On all interception attempts, the DB must concentrate on keeping his hands up, and thumbs together.

Dog-Fight Drill
This drill helps your DBs learn to maintain proper body position when driving to the interception point. It’s also a good drill for teaching strip technique.

Align two DBs side by side, about 1 yard apart and 15 yards from the coach. On a visual command from the coach, both DBs will backpedal until the coach indicates the direction that he’ll throw. Once the direction is indicated and the ball is thrown, both DBs sprint toward the interception point and fight with one another to make the pick.
The DB who secures the interception sprints back toward the coach at the LOS, while the other DB races from behind and tries to strip the ball.

Emphasize that all interceptions be made with both hands and thumbs together.

Ball Drill
This drill helps DBs learn the proper fundamentals and techniques for catching the football with a special emphasis on concentration.

DIAGRAM 5: Ball Drill.

Align a DB facing the sideline at the junction of a selected yard line and the sideline. A coach with a ball stands 10 yards behind the DB. Three other DBs stand adjacent to the designated drill area, spaced equally across the field.

The coach passes the football to either the left or right of one of the DBs at an arm’s length away. As the ball is in flight, the coach yells “Ball — right!” or “Ball — left!” and the defender turns in the designated direction, locates the ball and tries to intercept or deflect the pass. Instruct the DBs to turn their heads first, then the rest of their body and try to make the catch with both hands, and thumbs together.

The drill continues until all DBs have had sufficient repetitions turning both left and right.

Build-Up Drill
This is a great drill for teaching and practicing the proper fundamentals of cushioning a wide receiver and making the interception.

DIAGRAM 6: Build-Up Drill.

Position a row of receivers perpendicular to a selected LOS. Align a DB in his normal position across from the first WR. The other DBs form a line off to the side, while the coach lines up at the QB position and has a football.

On the coach’s command, the WR runs at half- to three-quarters speed straight down the field. The DB backpedals, keeping a cushion of 2 yards vertically and 1 yard horizontally to either the inside or outside of the WR. If the WR breaks the designated cushion distance, the DB must turn out of his backpedal and run with the receiver. The coach throws a pass to the WR and the DB reacts and tries to intercept or deflect the pass. The drill continues until all DBs have had a sufficient number of repetitions to the inside and outside of the receiver. You can also run this drill from both the left and right sides and from various positions on the field.

Make sure that the DBs are aligned correctly, are maintaining a proper stance, are backpedaling correctly, are keeping both the WRs and QB in their field of vision, remain in their proper pass-coverage zones and try to intercept the ball at its highest point.

Break-Off-And-Intercept Drill
This is a super drill to help a DB develop reaction time, footwork and agility, while running straight ahead and breaking to make an interception.

The DB lines up 20 yards away from the coach and, on the coach’s signal, begins to run directly at him at full speed and with his body under control. The coach throws a pass to the right or left of the DB, who must quickly break off at a sharp angle and intercept the pass.