Football 101: DB's...

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OrangeElvis151

< 25 Posts
I thought here in the wastland of time between spring training and fall practices, we might coax some of our more knowlegeble posters to give all of us a little UT Football 101.

This is the second installment of fundamental position roles and responsibilities. The first (LB's)was one week before "Bensongate", and I thought I'd let all that water flow under the dam, as Stoops might say, before setting out on any further editions...

Today's topic is Defensive Backs. Most of us know what they are, but do we truly know what they do? What are their respective responsibilities? What are the differences between the free safety and strong safety? How are responsibilities changed when we go out of our base 4-3-4, into our "nickle package" or "dime package"... what does "nickle package" and "dime package" mean? Do all "nickle & dime" packages look the same - or are there variations? What (realistic) physical attributes are ideal for each position? Is there a difference between right and left corner? Do our corners switch sides, so our best cover guy can cover the opposing teams best reciever - no matter where he is (a-la Deon Sanders?)

There are many of us who know the answers to some of these questions. Speak up.

If you have a question that isn't listed - or you know something about the position that hasn't been addressed - add it. The more interaction, the better.
 
Some of the topics are pretty simple, but I will do my best not to insult anyone's intellegence. Welcome to DB 101

The role of a Defensive Back is extremely complex, and pages can be written on the fundamentals and strategy involved in playing the position and employing your DB's effectively in your defence. There is much more to the job than the explanation that you will hear at the Women's Coaching Clinic ("We keep the other team from catching the ball.") The modern DB is used not only to cover, but tackle in the run game, confuse the quarterback, blitz, and cause turnovers.

There are 3 basic DB positions: Cornerback, Strong and Weak Safety.

The Cornerback is the player who lines up opposite the widereciever and/or on the outside of the formation. The location of the corner will often depend on the formation that they have to cover, and the defence that is called. If the WIdeouts are in a twins formation (both wideouts on 1 side of the formation) and both corners are on that side, the D is most likley in a man 2 man coverage. If they are still in halves with the corner spun down the defence is most likley in a zone. Physically, your cornerbacks need to be some of the fastest guys on the team. They need to have a good speed burst that will allow them to close on a ball or reciever after he makes his break. He needs to be smart, because 1 mental error by a DB will result in an easy TD. They also need to be tough physical tackelers. The term "1 stepper" is used for quality DB's that can change direction from a full speed backpedal to full speed forward run in 1 step. Corners need to be 1 steppers.

Contrary to myth, there is very little difference between the postions of strong and weak safety. A good DB can learn and play both positions equally. A "Strong Safety" does not necessarily bench press more than a "Free" or "Weak" safety, they simply line up on the strong side of the formation. This formation strength is usually called depending on the side where the Tight End is located, but any tendancy can be used to call formation strength (i.e. wide side of the field, backfield shift, or dominant reciever). It is common for a safety to be bigger than your corners, but that has not really been the case at Texas since we stress speed so much. We have also been blessed with guys like Brooks, Vasher, and Pearson who can play either safey postion, come up tough against the run, and are still athletic enough to cover a wideout 1 on 1.

Here are a few examples of terms:

4-3-4: This is a base defence with 4 linemen, 3 linebackers, and 4 DB's.

Nickel: An extra DB replaces a linebacker. This is a useful formation for pass heavy formations but can be used in regular situations and DB blitzes. When you blitz out of the nickel you can get a blitzer from a location that is not expected while not losing a guy from your cover scheme.

Dime: this means 6 DB's. There are other names that defences use to determine if the extra DB replaces a LB or one of the D-Linemen. This is good for max-coverage, and you can also blitz from it. Your nickel back is usually your 3rd corner, and the dime can be a corner or safety depending on your personnel and the formation.

There was a thread about a week ago that discussed all kinds of cover strategy, so I don't think that there is much use to repeat it. only 2 and a half months until 2-a-days.

Hookem
 
A few quick points:

1) One of the main differences between the free safety and the strong safety is noticeable in cover 3. In cover 3, the free safety will generally be responsible for the middle third of the field, while the strong safety has come up to a rover or monster back position on the strong side of the formation. For simple purposes, if the free safety is in the middle of the field, the defense is playing cover 3, man free, or some hybrid coverage similar to cov. 3.

Some teams flip-flop their DBs to constantly put their best defender on the other team's best receiver. Some team's have a corner that jam's better on the line, so he may go the WR side instead of the flanker side. Some corners may play to the strength side of the formation only, because they jam the run back to the inside better. Some corners play the wide side of the field only, because they have better tackling/playmaking skills.

In Reese's defensive packages, you will see a lot of man. Therefore, you will probably see Vasher/Babers on a certain receiver for most of the afternoon.

2) Since (as noted above) different defenses call for different skills. Therefore, there is not prototypical corner. However, if you can find one who can do them all, you are much better off. I guess speed with a lean, muscular body, and some height would be nice.

3. Not all nickel and dime packages look the same. Their seems to be an endless number of permutations of coverage with 6 DBs and 3 LBs. Also, with zone blitzes in favor, it seems that 5 or 6 DBs may be on the field, but one of them is probably blitzing, turning a nickel into a base package and a dime into a nickel.

I'm in the middle of studying for my CFA exam, so if you have some specific questions, post them, and I will get back to you ASAP.
 
In many defenses there is a difference between the Strong Safety and the Free Safety (some call this the weak safety). Again, this is with most defenses.

The Free Safety is in charge of calling the coverage and has the responsibility of being the last line of defense on passing plays. The zone rule for the FS is to stay as deep as the deepest receiver and split the difference between the width of the widest men in the offensive set.
The Strong Safety is usually in a coverage that takes the TE or the slot and has more run support responsibilities than any of the other DB's.
 
With Lee Jackson at LB, will there be a difference between our standard set and the nickle package? In other words, it doesn't seem like we will need to change personnel when we change schemes. What do you think?
 
I imagine that there will be some change when we go to a nickel package, but that also depends somewhat on three things:

1. Lee Jackson's size
2. How the guys are doing at ACC
3. Skill levels of redshirts and true freshmen

If Lee Jackson can play the hybrid type safety, then I probably say their won't be a change, because experience was lost in the secondary through graduation. Also, the experience we had coming back may be depleted due to grades.

On the other hand, Lee Jackson hasn't played much LB, so Reese may spend most of Lee's time teaching him to play LB, and not worry about nickel packages.

My final answer...everyone at ACC is OK, and Lee concentrates on LB.
 
What about technique? About all I really know is looking back for the ball is good. Not getting burned is good. Tackling ability is good.
 
The technique for each position in the defensive backfield is a little different. I'll start with the "cover" corner position.

1. The main objective of a cover corner is to not let the receiver have a clean release inside off the LOS. This is the case most of the time, especially man2man. You want to jam the receiver to the outside. This accomplishes two goals: it makes the throw from the quarterback more difficult, and it uses the boundary as an extra defender.

2. If the defense is a cover 2 or cover 2 hybrid, the corner may want to direct the traffic to the middle of the field where is safety help is. However, this is pretty rare.

3. The stance of a cover corner should be with his big toes slightly outside his armpits. (Feet a little more than shoulder width apart.) Things to concentrate on are staying on the toes, with arms in a position to "jam" the receiver at the line.

4. As CaptainAmerica said, looking back for the ball is an important lesson to learn. However, looking back at the wrong time could cost a DB. Many times receivers run double routes: an out-and-up, a stop-and-go, etc. If receivers look back at the qb and get hung up on the fake they are burnt. One of the best lessons to learn is to let the receiver "tell" you when to look back. When the receivers eyes get big focusing on a rapidly approaching object, it is time to turn and find the ball. As the DB turns back inside, his outside arm should try to find the chest of the other player. Some coaches call this a "feeler". It is used to keep contact with the receiver and used for positioning.

5. Another key lesson to learn is when to turn and run instead of back-pedaling. The longer a player can backpedal, the better. Many timing routes and cuts are determined by the DB turning his hips. When is the proper time to turn? I don't know. You will have to find that answer from someone else.

Well, I'm off to study derivatives. I hope this helped. Keep this going.
 
Other than speed, what is the most important component of a good DB? That is, if speed is the most important thing like I think it is.

What is the difference between the truly great DBs and the mediocre ones? Some just seem to be gamers while others are physical specimens that never get burnt in practice.
 
It may sound cliche, but instincts are very important.

I guess if you wanted to put a scientific definition on instincts it would be an acute ability to pick up on the spatial relationships regarding the offensive (and defensive) players. Instincts can be improved with knowledge of the opponent's tendencies (through film work/scouting report).

Let me explain...

The free safety stands ready for the play to begin. He sees that the TE is a foot farther out than normal. This could mean that he wants extra space to gain an inside release. It could mean that the TE wants to increase his split to widen the hole for the RB. If the DB knows that the down is second and 7, he may know from their scouting report that it is highly likely to be a pass-play. So, the FS starts watching the TE on an inside release. At the snap of the ball, the FS realizes that it is a pass play. He watches the movement of the QB's eyes as he moves to his zone. The TE that wanted an inside release is running a post pattern. Due to the FS spatial abilities, he is able to time the hit perfectly.

Now, speed will help him get their faster. But as you can see, "instincts" can play a huge role. However, if you have no instincts (spatial recognition and are stupid) you better have some jets.

Also, the hitting ability of DBs (especially safeties) and their reputation, can do much to disrupt an offense.
 
it's impossible to sum up a position in a few short posts. I'll just touch on an area that has been somewhat neglected in the coversation so far.

Footwoork. Obviously, it's important to be fast if you want to play defensive back... but all the speed in the world won't do you any good if you don't have the footwork to go with it. Precise, controlled placement of the feet. Good footwork equals good adjustment equals good positioning, then it depends on the indivual playmaking ability of the player. The reality is that some guys are just more coordinated with their feet than others... having good footwork requires exact coordination and a ton of discipline. The reason that footwork is so key, is because a defensive back has to constantly adjust himself to another players movements... it is a reaction.
 
It seems to me that eth refs are allowing a hell of a lot of contact by teh DNs against eth WRs the last couple fo years.

Someone mentioned the "feeler." What is the difference between that and defensive holding or PI?
 
This is a good post.
Is the reaction-business the reason that the defense seems to tire faster than the offense? I've never quite understood that.
 
This is a good thread.
Is the reaction-business the reason that the defense seems to tire faster than the offense? I've never quite understood that.
 
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