Description

Kyle Barnes, Nickels Coach, James Madison
The full video is available inside Glazier Drive: DB Run Support Technique 

SUMMARY

Four progressive drills designed to improve defensive backs' run support techniques, focusing on body control, tracking, and tackling fundamentals.

SPRINT ALLEY DRILL

The first drill emphasizes getting downhill quickly with two lines of DBs starting on the hashes. Players must maintain tight feet while moving through cones, then respond to a coach's direction (using a donut) to either make the tackle or play the cutback. This creates a "vice tackle" situation where the ball is leveraged from both sides.

TRACKING & BODY CONTROL DRILL

The second drill adds an angle component while still focusing on tracking and body control. Defenders practice matching the ball carrier's footwork - long striding when the opponent is long striding, chopping feet when the opponent chops, maintaining proper angles throughout the approach before executing a proper tackle.

FOUR CONE DRILL

This drill emphasizes leverage and strain. Using four cones, defenders practice both outside-in and inside-out tackles. The key coaching point is for players to strain to maintain their leverage (keeping the ball on the appropriate shoulder) while closing space quickly and finishing with a "big surface" tackle.

GAME APPLICATION

The video concludes with multiple game examples showing these techniques in action:

• Middle safety making an open-field tackle on a quarterback scramble
• Boundary safety using proper leverage and closing space "like a bat out of hell"
• Defensive backs maintaining leverage while matching footwork
• Players straining to keep proper leverage when challenged
• Examples of finishing with "big surface" tackles

The consistent emphasis throughout all drills is on defining leverage, closing space rapidly, matching footwork, and finishing with powerful, effective tackles.

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