The defense in football is charged with stopping offensive players from scoring by tackling them or trying to intercept passes and recover fumbles. Teaching players the basics of football defense takes time and patience, but one of the most effective methods involves using drills. Drills use repetitive actions to reinforce the fundamentals of football defense and help players learn the skills they need to succeed on the field.
Backpedal Drill
One of the hardest parts about playing at the defensive back position is having to run backward to cover an opponent. To help players hone this skill, run them through a simple backpedal drill. Line up three or four wide receivers on the line of scrimmage, paired with a defensive back for each. At the whistle, have the wide receivers sprint toward the end zone. The defensive backs must backpedal until they can't keep up with the wide receivers, then immediately turn and sprint along with the offensive player the rest of the way to the end zone. Instruct the defensive players to keep their eyes on the center of the field, where the quarterback would be, instead of watching their opponent.
Mirror Drill
Linebackers are responsible for picking up running backs who make it past the line of scrimmage and stopping them before they get out in the open field. To help linebackers practice this, set up five cones spaced 10 yards apart. Have a running back stand near the first cone on one side, and a linebacker on the other side. On the whistle, the running back begins a slow jog toward the next cone. The linebacker must mirror the running back, facing him and shuffling his feet side to side to keep up with him. At the second cone, the running back begins to sprint. The linebacker must turn and run to mirror the actions of the running back. Have the running back alternate between jogging and running between each cone, as the linebacker mirrors the running back by shuffling and running. At the last cone, the running back makes a break downfield as the linebacker attempts to tackle him.
Four-Man Tackle Drill
The four-man tackle drill helps players react to a running back's or wide receiver's movements even with blockers in front of them. Have a running back line up with a ball behind a blocker. On the opposite side, line up a defensive lineman in front of a defensive back or linebacker. The running back and blocker should communicate before each play which way the running back will run. On the whistle, the running back and blocker head for the end zone as the blocker blocks the defensive lineman. The linebacker or defensive back must avoid the blocker and tackle the running back before he reaches a certain point, such as the end zone.
