Article

Discuss

Edit

History

Bookmark

• Email
• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Facebook
• Blogger
• Google Bookmarks
• Yahoo MyWeb

Show Ads

[edit] Steps

1. Get in position, with knees slightly bent.
2. Watch the play, if it's a run, stay there, but if it's a long pass, drop back.
3. Move left to right, predicting which way the ball will go.
4. Follow a player if they're going long.
5. Tackle the running back if they're coming. If you don't, nobody else will, so then they'll be home free.

If your covering a receiver man to man and you don't have time to look into the backfield, look at the receivers eyes, most receiver's eyes widen at the sight of the spiral

[edit] Tips

• Watch the quarterback's eyes. Some of them will tell you where the pass is going to go.

• Make sure you know your responsibility:

If you are filling a run lane then never leave your gap on a run play until you are sure the ball is not going through it. On a pass play do not get beaten deep. Particularly if you are in cover 1 when you are the only help. Get back as quickly as possible, even if it means turning your hips and running backwards.

• Keep your feet moving at all times, even if moving on the spot. If you start standing still, not only will you not be able to move to the ball carrier but you won't be able to get out of the way so easily when someone tries to come and hit you.

• While tackling and moving is important, don't get blinkered into doing no practice on anything but tackling. Ball skills are just as important, particularly when it's you who's going to sweep in from the back field to make interceptions. Practice throwing and catching a much smaller ball (like a tennis ball or golf ball) to get your hand/eye co-ordination working.

• Communicate, communicate, communicate. You have one of the best views of the field. Providing your coach is happy for you to talk (some are funny and want the middle LB to be the only one who says a word) make sure everyone knows the pass strength, the run strength, the play, what the other cornerback is doing, the strong arm of the quarterback, whether the tight end just pulled his socks up, the favourite breakfast cereal of the running back...... anything at all gets relayed to everyone. There are 11 men on a D and if one of them misses a thing it can be exploited.

• Have the attitude that you are the best player on the field. If you aren't then you need to practice and improve. If you are then you need to practice to stay there. Make sure you have practiced against everything an offense could throw at you and you are comfortable with what you have to do. When you stop thinking what you have to do (because you have practiced it so much it's just second nature) you can get on and play the game, move to where you need to be and tackle the ball carrier or make the interception without having to work out each step.

Embed this: Republish this entire article on your blog or website.

Was this article accurate? Yes No