What makes a good defensive back

This enables a quicker change of direction. Remember, the goal of the wide receiver is to get head-up with the defender as quickly as possible and make him turn and run in the shortest amount of time. Figure that the backpedal will work for about 12 yards. Within three yards of the receiver, the defender will have to turn and run with the receiver.

Again, always maintain a three-yard cushion if possible. To avoid the deep passes, DBs may want to try and jam the receivers with a "bump and run". This technique must be done within five yards of the line of scrimmage. It's designed to disrupt the receiver's route and mess up the timing of the play. The actual jam used in the "bump and run" can be as simple as striking the center of the receiver's chest with the hand nearest the receiver.

Or, it could be the hand shiver--delivering a hit with the palms open and thumbs up. The blow should be struck low in the numbers and go "through" the receiver.

Finally, stay positive. As you may know if you checked out CoachT. Next to teaching the fundamentals and having fun in a team environment, instilling confidence in your youth student-athlete is probably the most important thing you can do. Don't spend all your time on points of improvement.

Rather, tell them the five things they did right before getting to the things they could improve upon. Defenders must turn quickly and run to ensure they are not beaten deep. Execution: A defensive back aligns approximately six to eight yards off the line of scrimmage and two yards inside of a receiver who is on the line of scrimmage.

On command, the defender will execute the zone flip. His eyes must see everything, meaning he must see the release of the receiver as well as the quarterback. The purpose of the zone flip is to give the quarterback a false read.

The passer will not know whether the defender is playing loose zone or man-to-man. A coach can incorporate a throw into the drill to allow the defender to get comfortable breaking on the ball. Execution: To begin the drill, a defensive back will line up in a press position against a wide receiver. The defender will align with inside leverage and force the receiver to take an outside release.

When the receiver works his release, the defensive back will transition into his trail technique working to press the receiver into the sideline. Knowing he has safety help, the defensive back can be more flexible with his trail technique. Coaches should ensure that defenders never allow an inside release. The drill can progress to having a passer involved as well as a deep safety providing help. Execute: Using a 10 x 10 box, two defensive backs will align directly in the middle.

To begin the drill, defenders will fire their feet. Players will then be given a series of commands that force them to change direction frequently. The coach can have the players backpedal, turn at a degree angle and run, break to the line of scrimmage, or turn and run to a given cone.

The ideal NFL defensive back will be like a quarterback in his approach to film, game preparation and game-planning. And that's why Earl Thomas is the head of our defensive back. Thomas is the game's best safety, arguably the best defensive back and maybe the best overall player in the league right now.

He's savvy, smart, smooth and always in the right place at the right time. No player is better at sinking into a zone, reading the quarterback's eyes and making a jump on the ball. Put Thomas' eyes and football IQ on the body of our ideal defensive back, and no quarterback is making a play on him. Richard Sherman could be on this list for a lot of traits, but it's his freakishly long arms and excellent ball skills that put him as the best option for arms among defensive backs.

The first thing a player should learn at any position is a proper stance. For a DB, the proper stance will put them in a good position to react. The DB should have his feet shoulder width apart with his outside foot slightly back. He should be bent forward slightly at the waist hiding the numbers on his chest with his eyes up facing the WR.

His arms should be slightly bent, allowing him to be in a good backpedal position sooner. The key point for the DB is to always keep his feet moving, never allowing both feet to be planted in the ground at the same time. When a DB establishes a good pre-snap rhythm, they'll be better prepared to backpedal and open their hips in either direction. The key to making contact on the WR is to not reach but to let them release into you. Try focusing on their numbers and step to meet the WR after they have declared the route direction.

Trail technique also puts the DB in a good position to take away the underneath routes and force the QB to throw the ball over the top where the back has a safety to help them.