Coach ,

Across most programs the defensive back EDD (every day drills) are standard. Back pedal, pedal weave, pedal break…

Dalton Hilliard, defensive backs coach at UConn, took a scientific approach to the back pedal and developing the best drills that get his players in the body positions they need to be most efficient with their movements.

Pedal Science

In his study of back pedaling, Coach Hilliard determined that it’s about momentum. He thinks about it as pushing vs. pulling.  The idea of pulling himself backward, his nose will naturally be nose over toes and posture is obver his knees.

He created a drill called “pull pedal.” In this drill he uses bands to teach his players the feel of pulling, which as he pointed out puts them in the position he wants them in. Players who focus on pushing back tend to be out of those position

Be Like a Fast Car

The product of being in the correct position is that the DB can transition out of his break explosively.

To teach a defensive back to transition quicker out of his pedal he utilizes “break pods” which is simply a whistle drill that focuses on that transition footwork. Instead of burning energy on those longer EDD pedal drills, this focuses on just teaching the transition footwork and feel.

Back to the idea of momentum, Coach Hilliard wants his players to think of themselves as a fast car. A fast car cornering has to hit the breaks and then accelerate out of the turn. A key step is the “drift step.” The first step is the drift step which breaks the momentum and then explosively accelerate out of the break.

All of these techniques are illustrated in this video.

Video: Pedal Science

Thank you to Coach Hilliard for putting together a comprehensive clinic for Lauren’s First and Goal.

Always be growing!

Coach Grabvowski