Great Cornerback IQ

One of the traits of a great DB is football intelligence, or what I like to call your Cornerback I.Q.

This encompasses knowing your opponents' down-and-distance tendencies, reading offensive formations and anticipating their plays, and reacting to receivers' routes based on their alignment and individual tendencies.

Not only must you learn how to do these things but also incorporate your Cornerback I.Q. into how you play.

For example, some players know their opponents so well (after film study) that they can gamble in certain game situations, and, more often than not, make a great play.

Are you a soldier or a Field General?

Football is a mental game, like chess. There are pieces that do their part and then there are pieces that impose their will on the board.

Which one do you want to be?

These next few pages will focus on how you can increase your Cornerback IQ and impose your will on unsuspecting offenses.

Defensive Back Coverages

Any Great Cornerback knows that while he may be a key factor in the outcome of a game, he is still only one of eleven other guys out there, with his own part to play. He also knows that the success of the defense depends on everyone of those guys knowing their assignments and executing them correctly.

When it comes to executing your assignment, you have to have a good grasp of defensive coverages. So I am going to explain the basic man and zone coverages defenses use to stop the opposing team.

I'm also going to give some tips on ways you can use these to your advantage and make plays on the ball.

Man Coverages

When a man coverage is called, you're locked up with a designated receiver for that play.

Man coverage is often called when coaches want linebackers or safeties to blitz, which leaves the middle of the field open.

This means you have to stay with your receiver, wary of any inside routes, and not let him catch the ball.

Press is called when receivers can definitely NOT be allowed inside.

Cover 0

Cover 0 is a coverage in which there is either no safety, because he's locked up with a WR/TE, or the safety is blitzing. The number 0 means there are zerosafeties on the field. Man coverage across the board.

In either case the field is left open, which means defensive backs have to lock up and not give it up. In this situation most of the time you'll be in press, but you can play off-man as long as you play hard on inside routes.

Cover 1

In Cover 1, there is one safety, who most times plays the deep middle of the field.

Every one else is locked up with a man. Just like Cover 0, you can press to stop the inside release or play off and play hard on any inside routes.

Cover 2 Man

Cover 2 Man is played with two safeties both covering a deep half of the field, and the two cornerbacks playing man, or a press-trail technique.

Linebackers can either play zone, or man coverage.

In this press-trail you do not allow the receivers to get an inside release. Instead you jam them, and then trail slightly behind them, baiting the quarterback to throw it in between you and the safety.

Because the quarterback has to throw a very accurate pass to get the ball to drop in there, there is a very good chance either you or the safety on your side can pick it off.

Zone Coverages

Cover 2

As a cornerback in Cover 2, it's your job to cover the flat (the blue oval).

If the offense decides to run your way in Cover 2, its your job to either blow up the ball carrier or force the play back in.

This is why a cornerback in Cover 2 is also called the "force" corner.

Because you're covering the flat, the saftey on your side has a wide area to cover behind you. This is why it is often up to you to funnel the receiver to the inside just in case the offense decides to throw the ball.

This gives the safety time to come over and make the play.

Instead of lining up in press, you can also disguise this coverage by lining up at about 10 yards and sitting there. It makes the offense think you may be playing a deep zone.

Because you don't have to worry about the deep ball you can jump any short routes they throw.

Cover 3

In Cover 3 you're playing the deep third of the field, along with the other corner and the free safety.

Unless a team is desperate, they won't try to throw deep. Instead they'll try to use the coverage to their advantage by exploiting the weaknesses in the zone.

In this example the slot receiver on the left runs a wheel route, assuming that he'll be covered by the strong, or "Sam", linebacker. The QB sees this mismatch and tries to throw the ball as soon as he sees seperation.

The cornerback is supposed to be deep, and not be able to get over in time. But, because there is no action coming to your zone, you can hover over top a bit instead of dropping too deep.

Pick.

Any time you're in a deep coverage like Cover 3 or 4, and two receivers are in your zone, you have to play the middle of them, but a bit closer to the inside guy.

This is because that is the easier throw for the quarterback. If he throws it to the outside receiver, however, you have speed turn to the outside and go make the play.

Cover 4

Cover 4 is the same idea as Cover 3, but there are four DBs deep instead of three. So in Cover 4 you play the deep 1/4 of the field on your side.

The same basic principles apply when it comes to making it work for you.

Remember that if the offense senses a deep coverage, they'll try to beat it with short, underneath passes. Use this to your advantage by not playing too deep if you don't have too.

Playmaking Principles of Zone Coverages

Always Remember to Look for Receivers Coming Into Your Zone From Across the Field.

Never just sit in a zone. Always find work. You won't know if there is a receiver open behind you unless you look.

Don't Overpursue and Leave Your Zone Open

This is probably the way offenses get most of their completions. Remember you have a zone for a reason....To Cover it. So don't get over excited and pursue a guy you're not supposed to.

Unless there is no one else around, play your zone, and transfer receivers to your teammates.

That leads into the next principle....

Make Sure You Communicate With Your Teammates

Give the "in" and "out" calls when receivers run in and out of your zone. Let your teammates know when work is coming so they can get ready to make a play on the ball.

Reading Offenses

As a Great Cornerback, your athletic and cornerback-specific skills will get you far. But what will put you head and shoulders above your peers and opponents is your capacity for reading offenses and picking them apart in your head.

Developing this skill can not only increase your awareness, but it allows you to have more control in a game situations.

Knowing Offensive Tendencies

Most four-year college football programs give their players a run-down of what their opponents do in certain down-and-distance situations. Here is an example of what this might look like for a particular team:

Down & Distance

Run% Pass%

Short1st & Short 75% 25%

2nd & Short*

30% 70%

3rd & Short 55% 45%4th & Short 6% 6%

Medium1st Med 60% 40%

2nd & Med 55% 45%3rd & Med 35% 65%4th & Med 3% 4%

Long1st Long 45% 55%

2nd & Long 40% 60%3rd & Long 20% 80%4th & Long 2% 4%

*Because a team still has 3rd down to get the short yards, they will sometimes use the 2nd and short situation to go for a big play, so watch out!

Another dimension to reading offenses is using the offense' position on the field to further analyze what they might do. So not only can you know their down-and-distance tendencies, but you can also know their tendencies for each zone of the field.

For example:

Down&Distance

Own Red Endzone-20 Own Orange 20-40Midfield 40-40 Orange 40-20 Red Zone 20-

Endzone

Run% Pass% Run% Pass% Run% Pass% Run% Pass% Run% Pass%

Short (1-4yds)1st & Short 70% 30% 65% 35% 65% 35% 60% 40% 65% 35%2nd & Short 60% 40% 30% 70% 55% 45% 30% 70% 40% 60%3rd & Short 55% 45% 45% 55% 40% 60% 45% 55% 75% 25%4th & Short 8% 4 % 6% 4% 6% 8% 10% 5% 5% 4%

Medium (5-7yds)1st Med 30% 70% 65% 35% 45% 55% 60% 40% 45% 55%

2nd & Med 55% 45% 45% 55% 55% 45% 65% 35% 55% 45%3rd & Med 40% 60% 33% 66% 33% 66% 35% 65% 60% 40%4th & Med 5% 2% 5% 3% 3% 6% 3% 2% 4% 3%

Long (7+yds)1st & Long 60% 40% 70% 30% 40% 60% 70% 30% 60% 40%2nd & Long 60% 40% 45% 55% 55% 45% 0% 100% 55% 45%3rd & Long 25% 75% 30% 70% 20% 80% 0% 100% 25% 75%4th & Long 2% 4% 3% 5% 4% 6% 15% 8% 3% 4%

Goal (1-10yds)1st and G N/A N/A N/A N/A 85% 15%2nd and G N/A N/A N/A N/A 80% 20%3rd and G N/A N/A N/A N/A 70% 30%4th and G N/A N/A N/A N/A 5% 5%

Anybody can create (and study) these charts on any team by watching film on them and recording what they do. (Actually, you can copy and paste this table if you want. Just clear the table and fill it in with your opponent's info).

You're probably asking yourself, "Do I have to remember that whole chart?", and the answer is no.

Reading offenses is not rocket science.

You want to look at places where there are definite patterns and use those patterns to read your opponent.

For example, there are certain situations in which this team's plays are very predictable. Like on 3rd and Long, you can pretty much bet on a pass and--about eight times out of ten--you'll be right!

Of course, it also helps to have more specific info on your opponent than their run/pass tendencies. Knowing what those run/pass plays are gives you more insight into what they might do.

For example, you could fill those run/pass gaps with a tailback sweep or a post to the X wideout.

But before you you can read your opponent's plays, you have to know their formations.

(Besides, you don't want to rely solely on tendencies when reading offenses because some coaches deliberately change up their tendencies to throw their opponents off.)

Reading Offensive Formations

Remember that just like chess, playing cornerback is not all about reacting to your opponents' moves. You have to position yourself for victory.

In addition to reading offenses using down-and-distance, you can also get a pretty good bead on them by reading their formations.

Before you read formations, you have to know formations, so I am going to briefly go over basic formations you may see in a game, along with the purpose of them and what you should do when you encounter them.

A reminder: as defensive backs, our primary job is to stop the pass. So as I go through these formations, keep in mind that you are looking for ways teams might throw out of them.

In running situations-even though we are great tacklers-our job is mostly outside contain, safety net, and support. Besides, if the secondary is making all the tackles, something is very wrong.

3-Back Set

The 3-back set is rare nowadays. The two most popular 3-back formations are the wishbone and the wing-t. You don't really see this in the pros or college, but some high schools still run these formations, so I will explain them.

They are obviously geared toward the run, especially the wishbone, which puts a tailback behind two larger backs for added blocking.

Another advantage of these formations is the added pass protection, which gives the QB more time in the pocket, and means more cover time for the defensive secondary.

The wing-t relies heavily on misdirections, QB bootlegs, and traps to move the ball. So for the most part, cornerbacks will have outside containment responsibilities on the run. In some of these situations, the cornerback on the play side will have to take on pulling guards to force the play inside, which is called playing the "force" corner.

    

When playing against the 3-back set, or any set for that matter, defensive backs are always looking for ways in which the team is gonna throw out of it. In Wing-T 2, the receivers are spread out. So while the formation is obviously geared toward running, it is still suitable for an air attack.

In 3-back sets, there are a only two receivers/tight ends that are eligible to catch the ball (not including the backs, who can catch out of the backfield), so defensive backs won't have to read much.

In this case, most coaches go with more size and put more beef in the box, leaving cornerbacks one-on-one with wide receivers/tight ends or playing force on run plays in Cover 2.

2-Back Set

The two-back set is also geared more toward the run. In two-back sets, though, there are three possible eligible receivers which lends more to passing.

  

Most often called the "pro" set when the backs are split apart, and "I"-formation when backs line up one behind the other, two-back sets give offenses a more balanced attack, more so at us when they spread their receivers out.

The pro set is the most commonly used two-back set in football. When teams need the hard yards, though, they will put a tailback behind a fullback in an "i" formation to open up some holes.

In many sets where the receivers are lined up 2-by-1 (2 on one side and 1 wide out on the the other) the wide out on the weak side is most likely the other team's go-to guy. They like to match their best guy 1-on-1 out in space with a defensive back.

For some strange reason, they think its an advantage.

1-Back Set (Spread)

The 1-back set is where we make our money. With four eligible receivers the stakes climb, because now there are more receivers for the QB to hit. Depending on the offensive personnel and formation, coaches will have to change defensive personnel to react.

The Shotgun Offense

In this set, many teams run the "shotgun", where the quarterback is no longer under the center, but takes the snap from about 3-4yds behind the line of schrimmage.

The lone running back acts as a pass blocker for the most part, but can also be used to run a screen or a draw, or as a last-second option if the play breaks down.

This gives the QB a little more space to work with and more time to read the defense. (See Reading Quarterbacks for more info on how to read the qb in shotgun.)

In the situation where there are 4 spread receivers on the field, most defensive coordinators will call in their nickel package, or five defensive backs, in order to match the match the threat of four receivers.

Empty-Set

The empty set, also called "five wide" when all receivers are spread, is totally geared toward passing, except when the QB decides to run. This formation is very dangerous when you're dealing with a highly mobile QB because the spread defense, with 5-6 players in the box, gives him more room to maneuver.

When it comes to covering the receivers, most defensive coaches will likely call in their dime package, which consists of six defensive backs: one to two safeties, and four to five cornerbacks, depending on the ability of the safeties to cover.

The number of linebackers also shifts, depending on the tight ends in the game. This is obviously to handle the greater threat of a passing attack.

Offenses in spread and empty formations really like to do a lot of crossing patterns and pick routes. Like a screen in basketball, receivers will cross with each other in order to get in your way, and that means the receiver you're covering can more easily get open.

In most situations like this, coaches will have their defensive backs play a teamwork system where each defensive back takes the receiver that breaks in their direction.

Sometimes though, you still might have to stay on your receiver, regardless of the pick.

So, if your receiver is on the line of scrimmage and is bunched up with other receivers, its best to press him on the line if its allowed in the coverage. (If you do it well--and great cornerbacks can--that takes away his ability to cross with the other receivers, and throws the timing of the route off.)

Armed with this information, you should be reading offenses and breaking down every opponent like you know their playbook.

Use this information to impose your will, and dominate.

Reading Quarterbacks

Another tool in your Cornerback I.Q. tool kit is reading quarterbacks. Just before a play, and in the first couple seconds of a play, quarterbacks can sometimes give away what they want do with the ball.

They do this with their audibles--a last second play call--or drop steps.

Quarterback Audibles

When quarterbacks go through their pre-snap reads, there are times when they don't like what they see from the defense. They may feel like the play they're about to run isn't good enough, or is outright doomed to failure based on what they "suspect" the defense is doing.

For example, the play may be a bubble to the slot receiver, but the quarterback sees the defense is in a Cover 2 and he knows that if he throws that bubble, his receiver is gonna get smashed.

So he "audibles", and switches to a play that takes advantage of Cover 2.

Sometimes teams have preset audibles, and you can see this if you watch film. Other times they are on-the-fly adjustments. In either case you can use your knowlege from film study to anticipate what the QB may have checked to.

Quarterback Drop-Step Reads

When a QB snaps the ball, on a pass play, he has to distance himself away from the defense in order to give him time away from pressure, and time to go through his progressions and read the defense.

This also gives the wide retrievers (okay, I won't use it anymore) time to run their routes. Depending on the type of routes they are gonna run, the QB will drop back accordingly.

The QB drop will either be a

one-step drop, three-step drop, five-step drop, or a seven-step drop.

Each of these distances correspond with the type and length of the route your receiver will run.

1-Step Drop

On a quick two-yard route, he takes one step and then fires the ball. This is often a timed route where he doesn't read but expects the receivers to be at a certain point.

If you can anticipate this route and react very quickly, there's a good chance you can take this bad boy the to the house.

If you don't get the pick, though, its best to make the hit. Retrievers sometimes like to move toward the QB to make reckless defensive backs miss, so come fast, but under control.

3-Step Drop

A three-step drop usually gives away to a quick 5-yard route. When reading the QB in anything over a one-step drop, you should never see him throw the ball.

This is because he may give a pump fake, and if you're looking at the QB, you'll break on the route. The problem is you can't see the receiver's second move that is surely coming (see technique and mechanics).

To go a little further, you should almost never see the QB totally stop his momentum before setting his feet. As soon as you see him slow his backward momentum to set his feet, your eyes should immediately go back to the receiver (who you are peripherally watching the whole time).

If he begins to break down and turn into his route, jump it.

Remember that you are reading quarterbacks' drop steps in conjunction with the other pre-snap reads, so you should know beforehand if the team runs double routes.

Also remember that receivers, QBs, and coaches will take note of your patterns, so don't fall into one.If they see you continuously reading quarterbacks, they willset you up for the double move.

5-Step Drop

In a five-step drop, the QB is most likely throwing a post, corner, post-corner, deep out, deep hitch, deep comeback toward the sideline, or any other 10-15-yard route.

This is where many defensive backs get tricked into thinking a deep route is coming. Instead of staying in their backpedal, they turn and open up their hips to run.

Receivers then use that opportunity to break into their routes in the opposite direction from which the cornerbacks open up. So stay in your backpedal until the receiver breaks your 3-yard cushion.

7-Step Drop

A 7-step drop is a hail mary.

So to summarize, a one-step drop is a quick snap-and-throw, most likely a quick hitch or an inside screen pass; a three-step drop is most likely a 5-yard route, or a quick slant; Five drop steps usually throw to 10-yard routes like posts, deep outs and deep comebacks. A 7-step drop is obviously a Hail Mary, or any other route where the offense wants to go deep for the end zone.

This is, nine times out of ten, the best way to know the length of the route your receiver is gonna be running .

Shotgun

Reading quarterbacks' drop-steps is easier when they're under center, but they can also be read out of the shotgun. The rule of thumb when reading QBs in the shotgun is to add 3-steps to their drop.

So if they catch the snap and drop two steps, that is considered a 5-step drop.

Read steps

While he is making his drops, you should be backing out with what is called your read steps.

Read steps are basically two to three quick steps backward, slightly slower than a backpedal, that give you time to read the QB's drop steps.

Read steps provide a cushion between you and the receiver, preparing you to either:

make a break on a short route, get into your back pedal for a medium route, or open your hips to run with a deep route.

Reading Receivers

Increasing your Cornerback I.Q. by reading receivers--studying them before games, reading their alignment, and knowing how to recognize the routes they're going to run--is another tool you can use to dominate opposing teams.

Studying Receivers

During the week before a game, you can get a good feel for the receivers you're gonna play on game day.

Once again, this is achieved through film study.

When you're watching film, on top reading the offense, you should also be studying the opposing teams' receivers to get a bead on how they play and what you can do to beat them.

Here are some things you should pay attention to:

How fast are they? Who is the go-to guy? Do they run their routes consistently? How big and, more importantly, how physical are they?

How Fast Are They?

This is important when reading receivers because it tells you how close or far you can play away from them. Fast is a relative term, so when you judge a receiver's speed, it is in relation to your own.

If they're fast you might have to give bit more cusion when playing off. And its that much more important that you get a hand on them when you press. If you miss the jam, and the open the gate, fast receivers will take advantage.

If they're not that fast you can play a bit closer, and be more aggressive when you break on routes. You'll also be able to recover better if they run a double move.

Who Is the Go-To Guy?

Knowing who the opposing team's go-to guy is lets you know how you can play him in certain situations. For example, if the offense is in the red zone and going in to score, they may want to hit their guy on a fade. If you're playing him one-on-one you can fake the press and then bail at the last minute and snag the pick.

You can also count on them dialing up their go-to guy when they're in trouble situations like 3rd and long. You can use this knowledge to break on routes that you know are coming.

Do They Run Routes Consistently?

Reading receivers who don't run consistent routes will easily tell you in the first half-second if they're getting the ball.

If they only go full speed or run good routes only when they're getting the ball, you can tell right away when its coming.

How Big and Physical Are They?

If you know you're gonna be playing a tall receiver, it helps to know if you can be physical or play off. You should be strong enough to handle anyone who lines up, but receivers can get away with a lot and you don't to get caught up in a penalty battle that defensive backs almost always lose.

If a receiver is big but not necessarily physical, you can use your body a bit more to take his mind out the game. If he is physical, sometimes its best to win with your finesse.

Receiver Alignment

Another element in your arsenal of pre-snap reads is receiver alignment. If knowing their schemes and tendencies can give a sense of mastery, adding knowledge of the routes their going to run can damn near give you clairvoyance.

You can basically use the numbers on the field as point of reference for reading receiver alignment. For example, receivers lined up outside the numbers are restricted by the sideline, so defensive backs should watch for inside routes.

A receiver lined up slightly inside the numbers can still run inside routes, but also has action at the fade. Even more inside, closer to the formation, and the receiver has a lot of space for outside routes.

Use your better judgment when trying to read alignment for telltale signs of the route.

For example: A "retriever" (as I like to call them) lines up tight to the formation, and from film study you know that this team never runs slants, ins, or comebacks out of that formation; well, you should be licking your chops, waiting to jump the outside route.

Route Recognition

The final piece of the puzzle in reading receivers is route recognition. Any great cornerback, after having covered hundreds of routes, run by dozens of receivers, can often anticipate what route a receiver is gonna run against him.

How do you do this?

Well, many receivers themselves will actually telegraph what they want to do.

Stemming and Mirroring

Just as defensive backs are taught to keep a certain leverage--either inside or outside--on a receiver, receivers are taught to beat that leverage whenever they run a route.

For example, if a receiver wants to run an inside route on you, like a post, dig or a quick slant, at the snap of the ball he will immediately try to “stem” you inside. That is, he will drive hard and try to get inside leverage on you so that he has an advantage when he breaks into his route.

If you can keep your inside leverage when he stems by mirroring him (but staying square) he he will be hard pressed to get a step on you while breaking into his route.

Most of the time when a receiver stems in a certain direction, he is going in that direction. Sometimes, though, good receivers will try to make you think they're going inside and then suddenly break to the outside.

Others will sell a double route very well: stemming inside, breaking inside, and then breaking back out.

Be Prepared

But a receiver should not be able to sell you anything if you already know what he's going to do. After having read all the other pre- and post-snap keys, you should be to the point of anticipating receivers' routes.

And after having worked on your footwork and agility, reacting to any surprises should come as second nature. It is very hard to beat someone who knows your every move and can't be surprised.

If receivers run a corner route, I suggest blanketing the receiver, staying on top of the route, and undercutting. If you can't play the ball because the receiver is using his body to shield you from the ball, you can punch through or swing down on his arm to knock the ball loose.

Make sure you make the tackle, in any case.

You Vs The Coaches Box: Disguising Your Intentions

It's 2nd and 5 and the opposing offense is on it's own goal line. You know that in these situations, most offenses just wanna get their backs away from the endzone and eliminate any chance of a safety.

Second and short is a throw-away down, so there is a chance they might go a for a long ball, but its very unlikely.

Instead of sitting there trying to figure out what they might do, you decide to make them react to you.

Coach has called Cover 2, so you're supposed to be playing close, forcing the receiver to the inside, and then backing off into the flats. But you back off to seven yards, signaling the other cornerback to do the same, and tell him to still play Cover 2 but "show" off man.

The quarterback sees this and immediately begins to audible the play. He's taken the bait. They desperately want to get their backs out of the endzone. The quick hitch is coming.

He snaps the ball. You read him. Quick three-step drop for him, quick two read steps for you. As soon as the ball leaves his hand, he knows the mistake he just made.

You've already begun your drive toward the ball. The receiver tries to reach for it, but it's too late. You pick the ball off and walk easily into the endzone.

Perfectly played. Why? Because, not only did you beat the offense on the field, but you also beat the coaches in the sky box.

Keep Them Guessing

As I said in the Reading Offenses section, football is a lot like chess: a match of wits; and not only between you and the other players, but also between you and the other coaches.

You want to keep them guessing by disguising your coverages never letting them get a bead on what you're gonna do.

I'm gonna cover how you can use your Cornerback I.Q. to keep the opposing team guessing; the players and the coaches' box.

In most games of wit, winning means staying at least two steps ahead of your opponent and disguising your intentions.

Football is no different.

I already explained what you can do stay ahead of the other team, so now I'm gonna tell you how to conceal your intentions, by:

disguising your coverages and disguising your blitzes.

Disguising Your Coverages

Mix It Up

Unless it's already pretty obvious to the other team, you should never let them know what coverage you're in.

If you are in man coverage, for example, you can fake Cover 2 by playing outside leverage about 5-7yds off the receiver. Then you can time the snap and come up and press (inside leverage) at the last minute.

Vice versa, you can be in Cover 2 (see coverages), show off-man, and then press from the outside at the last minute.

Don't Fall Into A Pattern

Regardless of what the coverage is, make sure the offense never can get a sense of what you're doing. Don't fall into a pattern, because that's what coaches and quarterbacks look for.

Then they use those patterns to pick you apart.

Disguising your coverages also has another advantage: it makes it hard for opposing teams studying your film to determine what your defensive schemes are by how you line up.

It's hard to plan for a team when you don't even know what they're doing on film.

Don't Mix Yourself Up

When in the flow of disguising your coverages and playing with the other teams heads, please don't forget what your assignment is.

That only does two things: makes you look lost, and decreases the confidence your coach has in you to play smart.

Both are bad.

So, as a Great Cornerback, make sure you remember your assignment and are competent and confident with what you're doing.

Disguising Your Blitzes

Blitzing from the cornerback spot is a very sneaky, but fun thing to do in football... if you do it right. If you don't, you will get picked up by a 300-pound lineman, and that's not the business.

How you disguise your blitz is dependent on two things: your alignment, and how you time the snap count (if you use the snap count at all). If you don't use the snap count, you can just watch to ball to time your blitz.

Alignment

Your alignment depends on where your receiver lines up, because you want to sell it to the offense that you're in coverage.

If your receiver is lined up inside, close to the box, you can come up and pretend that you're pressing, and then attack the backfield at the snap.

If your receiver lines up way outside, the blitz may be called off. If not, you want to creep up along the line of scrimmage.

Don't just do it whenever, though. You want to be as close as possible when the ball snaps without giving yourself away, but you have to time it right. That's where the snap count comes in.

Timing The Snap

When timing the snap, its best to start creeping closer after the QB goes through his checks.

Before every snap, you'll see the QB check the defense to try to get a read into what coverage they're in, especially if its a pass play.

When he finishes and begins his cadence, you should start to creep closer, along the line of scrimmage.

Faking the Blitz

You can also reverse this by selling the blitz, and then dropping back into coverage.

Sometimes, if a quarterback sees you blitzing, he'll "hot check" to your receiver for what he thinks is an easy completion. When you drop back, it's easy pickings.

I recommend you only do this in zone coverage, unless you're certain you can get back on top of your receiver and lock up.

Remember to keep them guessing. If your opponent is always trying to guess at your intentions, then you can dictate the pace and outcome of the game.

Defensive Back Covering Tips

The wide receiver and defensive back matchup is one of the most high speed, competitive, and highly visible matchups in all of sports, save fighting and tennis.

Meaning: if you lose, everyone watching the game is most likely going to see it.

This should be a great motivator for you to win. Every time.

When covering receivers, there are certain things you should always do to put yourself in the best position win and make a play on the ball. Here they are:

Read the receiver's hip/abdomen area.

This is the receiver's center of gravity and will tell you where he is going. Trying to read his face will almost certainly get you head-faked.

Initially break toward the receiver's break-side shoulder.

Unless you anticipate the receiver's break, sometimes you'll be slightly behind the route. Which is why you want to break toward his break-side shoulder, because this is where the ball will be thrown. This puts you in better position to redirect and pick the pass off or break it up.

If you break toward his back-side shoulder, you're at a disadvantage if the ball is thrown in front of the receiver, which is what quarterbacks are taught to do.

If you feel, however, that you can successfully undercut the receiver (by breaking past his break-side shoulder) and make the play, by all means do so.

Remember your job is to pick the ball (and take it to the house).

Always get to the receiver before you look for the ball; if you see the QB throw it, you'll only see the receiver catch it.

The most frequent mistake defensive backs make when covering receivers is looking at the quarterback for the ball as soon as the receiver breaks into his route.

This is cool if you have the receiver covered, but if he has you beat by a step or more, it makes no sense; the quarterback is throwing to him, not to you. Even if you are absolutely sure you can make up ground in time, the act of looking in the backfield slows you down enough that you still might not get there.

So get to the receiver's hip before looking for the ball.

When lining up, you want to keep an inside leverage on the receiver.

This depends on the coverage that is called and sometimes what the coach's preference is. Nevertheless, most of the time you want to stay inside the receiver to stop from giving up the field.

This is because for the quarterback, a throw to the open field is an easy throw and also gives the receiver the whole field to work with.

On the other hand, a throw to the outside is a longer, more difficult throw. Besides, you have the sideline as your friend even if the receiver does make the catch.

Never let a receiver beat you to the inside.

When a receiver breaks your 3-yard cushion, it's time to open up and run with him.

Many cornerbacks get beat because they open up too late. If a receiver gets up on you and you don't open up in time... It's gonna be "bombs away!"

Don't sweat having to open up. Stay calm. Judge your receiver's speed. You shouldn't be in a rush to open up, because that gets you on your heels and that's when receivers will take advantage.

If he does break your cushion, gets you to open up, and then breaks into a route, its okay. Don't panic; read his hips and use your great technique and transition speed to break on the route.

At the same, you want to make sure you don't get beat deep. Here's something to remember this rule by:

"If he's even, he's leavin'."

If a receiver tries to push off of you when breaking into his route, lean into him and tug underneath his armpit.

Hey, he's cheating (and refs don't call most push-offs anyway), so its okay even the playing field by using this little tactic.

It's kinda hard for the refs to see it since your hand is sandwiched between you and him.

I would be doing you a disservice if I told you to just tell the ref about the pushing off. Most times they won't even notice, and they might ignore your complaints, anyway. Sometimes in football (as in life) you're gonna have to get a bit dirty.

Just don't get caught ;) 

If a receiver has you by a step or two, slap his thigh or wrist to slow his momentum.

This bends the rules a bit, but its better than getting scored on, and I've never seen a flag thrown for it.

This tactic slows the receiver a bit so you can make up ground and break up the pass or make a play on the ball.

Wide Receiver Passing Tree

This is the passing tree. It consists of the basic routes receivers run. You should at least have some knowledge of what numbers correspond to which routes.

For the most part, even numbers correspond to routes that go toward the inside of the field, while odd numbers are for routes that go to the outside of the field.

1. Hitch/Comeback/Screen/Stop Route2. Quick Slant, or shallow Drag across the field3. Arrow, or Slant, toward the sideline4. Quick In route, or shallow Dig across the field5. Quick Out6. Curl In/Out, or deep Dig across the field7. Corner Route (also known as a Flag)8. Post Route9. Hail Mary

*break side shoulder is the one inside pointing to the Qb.

Press is mostly played in man-to-man coverages, but is also used in Cover 2 to funnel the receiver inside (see zone coverages).

One of main reasons it's used is to stop receivers from getting inside on plays where the linebackers are blitzing. This is because as they blitz, an inside route becomes a very easy throw for the quarterback, and the lane is open for receivers to break into the open.

This is why it is very important to never let a receiver get an inside release when you press.

Lining Up

When pressing, you should line up close to the line (but not offsides, obviously), just inside the receiver. You want your outside foot to split the receiver's body.

You should be watching his hips, and be ready to stop any inside release. If he tries, you should already have inside leverage and jam him hard into his chest with your outside hand.

When I say hard, I mean hard enough to knock the wind out of him.

Dont Lunge

Remember to use your arms to jam, without throwing your body, or lunging at the receiver. Lunging is an almost sure way of getting you beat against good receivers.

Keep Your Feet Moving

When the receiver comes off the ball, hold your ground, but keep your feet moving. If your feet are stuck in place, receivers will take advantage and beat your press.

Don't Open The Gate

The whole point of press is to stop the receiver from getting a clean release. So, if you do line up to press don't negate it by opening up your hips and allowing the receiver to run.

Personal Expericence

When my brother was at Cal, I would go up there sometimes to get work in and do one-on-ones with their best receivers at the time, DeSean Jackson, who was also my brother's roomate, and Lavelle Hawkins, a fellow former CCSF RAM.

I decided to press DeSean.

The first time, at the snap of the ball, I got the jam and stopped his momentum. I was able to run with him down the sideline and knock the ball away.

The second time.....I blew it. I opened up the gate, and let him get a clean release, really just to see if I could....

...Well, I shouldn't have. He proceeded to turn on the jets, separate from me, and complete a deep pass for a TD.

Moral to the story: if you can stop a receiver's momentum (even a receiver with speed like "DeJack"), you can cover him.

If you open the gate....Bombs away.

Don't open the gate:

Keep your eyes on the receivers hips/abdomen Keep your hips square keep your feet moving and get the JAM.

All recognition to:

http://www.greatcornerback.com/cornerback-covering-tips.html