Drills Report: Defensive Backs: Footwork, Block Protection, Tackling, and Ball Skills

Our focus on drill work for defensive backs has played a role in our success and paid dividends in the fall. At Villanova, our base defensive front is a 3-3 stack. With five defensive backs on the field in varying roles, we focus our teaching on a select number of skills to best prepare the entire group within our time constraints. Our goal is to spend at least five minutes each practice developing four specific skill categories: footwork, block protection, tackling, and ball skills.FOOTWORK: REACTIVE TRANSITION (Diagram 1) Diagram 1: Reactive TransitionThe Reactive Transition Drill, which takes place coming out from the sideline, requires three cones. Start by placing two cones on the sideline, five yards apart, and the third cone two yards from the sideline, halfway between the other two. The coach stands on the sideline facing the defensive back. On the coach’s command, the