How to Be a Good Defensive Back

High quality defensive backs are pivotal for any football team. One must be good at numerous skills in order to play the position. For that very reason, many believe that defensive back is the hardest position to play on the football field. Athleticism alone will not help you track down wide receivers or make game-saving plays. Hard work, determination and intelligence must be added along with God-given talent in order to play in the secondary. Here is how to be a good defensive back.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Practice your back pedal and make it as good as humanly possible. When a defensive back is burned by a wide receiver, it is usually because that defensive back either doesn't have a good back pedal or he messed up and slipped while in his back pedal. Remember that, while back pedaling, you should stay on the balls of your feet. If your heels touch the ground during a back pedal, you're doing it incorrectly. It's also important that you turn with your hips when re-positioning from your back pedal to a normal stance and sprint. This will enable you to keep your speed and thus keep up with the wide receivers.
2. Use strength training and other exercises to increase your speed and leaping ability as well as your upper body strength. A defensive back must be able to keep up with wide receivers. He must also be able to either break up plays or make a tackle. Squats and leg raises are two simple exercises which increase speed. It's also a good idea to hit the track (at least) a few times a week. Perform sprints and time yourself each time you go to the track. Try to beat your time from the previous trip. You can also either begin or end your workout with a mile run around the track. Use free weights and machines to strengthen your arms, chest and back. This will come in handy when you have to tackle big wide receivers and tight ends.
3. Be able to read wide receivers. Athleticism means nothing if you don't know what to do with it while on the playing field. A key to being a good defensive back is to know which direction a wide receiver is going to turn or when the ball is coming his way. The only way to do this is to watch tapes of different wide-outs and to play in games. It may be a cliché to say, but you will have to learn this by doing. Once you can read a wide receiver's eyes regarding an incoming pass, though, you will be a much better defensive back.
4. Watch tapes of yourself while playing defensive back and be honest about your play on the field. Many coaches, and even teammates, will be willing to offer advice on your defensive back skills. However, it's also important that you be honest with yourself regarding your play on the field. Critique tapes of your play and take plenty of notes while watching the tapes. Make a point to re-watch any plays where you were beaten and what you could have done differently. This will be of great help to you the next time you step out onto the field.
5. Work on both catching and deflecting the football. The most important role of a defensive back is breaking up potentially big offensive plays. To do this, you must be able to get your hands on the ball. Practice simply catching the football in drills similar to those of a wide receiver. Also, work on deflecting the ball away from other players. You can do this while playing one-on-one against a wide receiver or by taking part in a team or one-man “tip drill.”
6. Learn when to call for help. No matter how good you are, there will come a time as a defensive back when you are beaten on a play. It's important that you know how and when to motion to your safety that you need backup. A quick hand gesture to your teammate can be the difference between a down field tackle or six points for the opposing teams.
7. Watch other great defensive backs on tape and mimic their moves on the field. Champ Bailey is a defensive back that anybody could learn from. Find game film of some of Bailey's best work and take plenty of notes. Watching those who are better than you will both enable and encourage you to up your performance while out on the football field.