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Defensive Backfield
Positioning, Alignment, and Intercept

Van Malone, Western Michigan University
Former Texas Longhorn Defensive Back (1990-1994)
Former Detroit Lions Defensive Back (1994-1998).

There are several key points that must be emphasized to develop your Defensive Backs. These must be points
carefully studied and continually practiced in order for them to be mastered.

1. Stance-
Bump Alignment- Feet should be parallel. The feet should be no more than shoulder width apart. Knees
should be bent with hands above the knees at a ready position. The chin should be over the knees The.
feeling should be much like sitting in a chair. Be alert to maintain a narrow base. This narrow base allows
for better movement. .
Normal (Off) Alignment-Feet should be shoulder width apart. Inside foot should be placed on the heel of .
the outside foot with the hips slightly pointed toward the sideline. Knees should be bent with hands above.
the knees at a ready position. The chin should be over the knees. The feeling should be like sitting in a chair.
Be alert to maintain a narrow base

2. Alignment/Position-
Bump Alignment-Most of the time it is best to bump from inside position. The DB should allow the receiver’s
inside leg (leg closest to the QB) to split his crotch. When using the Outside Bump Technique, the DB should
align on the receiver’s outside leg. Hands should be up near the DB’s chest area. It is crucial that the DB
crowds the line of scrimmage. The DB should be no more than two yards from the Offensive receiver. He is
attempting to align as close as he can without being offside.
Normal Alignment-It is essential to understand that you can align in either inside or outside position.
Inside position tells you that the DB will shade the inside shoulder of the receiver.
Outside position says that he will shade the receiver’s outside shoulder. Normally, if you have
Safety help (Safety in the middle of the field). It is better to align with inside positioning.
This alignmen puts the DB in better position on the quick inside routes by the Receiver.
There are cases where you can alter this alignment to confuse the offense (for example, have the DB start outside
and move inside on the snap of the ball). The DB will align from six to seven yards away from the receiver…not the
line of scrimmage. His hips will angle toward the sideline so that he can see the Formation/QB and his coverage
responsibility/Receiver. The DB will angle his hips the same way for both inside and outside positions.
Coverage is strong against inside routes when the DB aligns inside. Coverage is also strongest against outside
routes when we align in outside position.

3. Backpedal-
The most important point of the backpedal is to be ready to play before the snap of the ball. The DB must get into
position to for his coverage so that when the ball is snapped he are ready to act as well as react.
Inside foot should be placed on the heel of the outside foot with the hips slightly pointed toward the sideline.
Toes should be slightly turned in as if he, the DB was pigeon-toed. The DB should be on his toes. Eyes should be
on the receiver. On his movement DB should lift his inside foot and step back while pushing his body backward with
his outside foot. This gives the DB the ability to run in reverse. Which, simply stated, is what backpedaling is.
This movement should be done at slower paces at first until it is well coordinated. Some players will have quick
choppy steps and others with have a slower paced backpedal. Neither one is better than the other is. What is
important is the amount of distance covered in the shortest time. It is important to realize that this movement
requires the DB to keep his chin over his knees. He must have a slight lean forward. DB must maintain low
center of gravity. If the DB feel himself starting to fall backwards in his pedal it maybe because he is too high.
Bend the knees more. Make sure the chin is over the knees. Pay close attention to the movement of
the arms…Just as in forward running the arms help us to increase our speed in the backpedal.

4. Drive-
Drive is the transition from backpedal to forward motion. It is crucial for the DB to accomplish this movement
in the most efficient manner possible. It must be understood that the offensive players know the routes. The
success of the defensive back is dependent on his ability to react to these routes as quickly as possible. Careful
film study of your opponent will enable the DB learn his movements, therefore allowing the DB to gain an
advantage on him because you will be able to react quickly to his routes. When driving on an outside route
the defender will plant on his inside foot, point outside foot toward the intercept point and explode to this point.
The opposite is true when driving on inside routes, plant on outside foot point with inside foot and drive
to intercept point. It should be noted that the DB should not look back at the QB until he has reached the
Intercept Point.

5. Interception Point-
The DB must be sure to break to the point where the ball and the receiver will meet. This point is called the
Intercept Point. He must be sure not to overrun the ball. He must also make sure that he does not break
behind the ball also. In his drive to the ball the Defensive Back must be sure to move in straight lines. Never
make rounded breaks and drives. The ball should always be caught at the highest point. Defensive Backs
must be adept at judging angles so that they are able to meet the ball at the highest point before the opponent
is able to retrieve it. Remember that if the DB gets to the interception point and is not able to make the pick,
he must secure the tackle.

The standard that DB’s are measured by is the Interception. "Pick" is the common term used by today’s
secondary. Many people feel that the defensive backs’ number one job is to stop the long pass and to make
sure tackles on long runs. These are both true to a certain extent. The most important job of any defensive
player is to get the ball back for the offense…Period. Defensive Linemen and Linebackers are near the ball all
the time but normally there are offensive linemen protecting the ball carrier. Not to mention the fact that the ball
carrier is taught to grip the ball so as not to allow a defender to cause a turnover. Defensive backs have the
best chance to do this because when the QB releases the ball on a pass it belongs to no one. Great Defensive
Backs have the mindset that the ball belongs to them. That they have just as much right to the ball
as the receiver does.

6. Coaching Points for Defensive Backs-
Know your assignments. Know where you play and your responsibilities on all coverages.

Be ready to go before the snap of the ball. When the offense is at the line of scrimmage we must be
prepared for play to begin.

Learn to recognize formations. Learn what it means when the offense sets the backs to the TE and
what to expect at the snap. Your knowledge of little bits of information about your opponent can only make
you a better player.

The secondary is made up of people who are not afraid to be vocal. Talk. If you are wrong, at least
everyone is on the same page.

When things go wrong, the real men pick up the pieces, put what they can together,
and keep fighting. Losers stand around and complain about all that has gone wrong.
They never move forward. DB’s must always move forward.

Defensive Backs must be players who will lay it on the line. Players who will compete and challenge.
You will not always be 100% successful but your effort and your will must never waver.

It is your coach’s job to give you all the tools that you need to be successful. Once you have those tools
YOU GOTTA WANT TO......... EVERYDAY

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