Defensive Drills of the Week

• By Keith Grabowski

Finding new ways to teach the skills, fundamentals and decision making on defense can help your players continue to develop over the course of a season.

We’ve put together drills that some of the best coaches believe make a difference for their position players. Here are skills and drills for every defensive position.  

Linebackers

When playing their 3-4 front Andy Buh, LB coach at Illinois loves using the “difference drill.” It simulates the tackle or the tight end to the bubble coming back on the linebacker.  He needs to strike the blocker and get a release to the ball carrier.

In the passing game Stony Brook DC/LB coach Matt Hachmann likes to work the point, drive drill to teach his LB to take a straight line to the break point on their pass drops, not wasting motion and driving on the ball. He explains here:

Defensive Line

DC/DL Coach at James Madison Corey Hetherman certainly sees a lot of outside zone.  His linemen need to be good at defeating reach blocks.  With the popularity of reach type schemes, this is a skill every lineman should work, and to do this Coach Hetherman utilizes the “Giants Drill with hands” to teach this:

When teaching pass rush moves, one of the favorites of Duke Co-DC/DL Coach Ben Albert is the “Keith Millard Drill.” The drill is used to teach the defensive linemen to create radical angles which make it difficult for the offensive line to execute their blocks.  Coach Albert takes you through the drill here:

Cornerbacks

Louisiana defensive coordinator Patrick Toney likes to use the inch back technique in press man. It allows his corners to stay in a good position and give ground grudgingly as they cover the receiver tightly.  He explains the drill here:

Safeties

Ohio Northern defensive backs coach Austin Cordova has a drill progression which he uses to teach his safeties to reroute and match receivers while staying in good position.  He explains the progression here:

We will continue to share drills throughout the season to help you keep your practice sessions fresh and your players developing.