On an Island - Developing a Lockdown Corner
Apr 01, 2024 3:07 pm
Hey Coach -
As we get into spring football season, we shift our focus to coaching technique, and Trent Kauffman has put together a series of articles focused on sharing some of the best technique coaching points and drills from our virtual clinics.
Today we kick things off with a focus on the corners, who at times can definitely be on an island. (Coincidentally, that’s where I wish I was, so all of you out there currently getting away for spring break in a tropical location, enjoy!)
Here’s some detailed coaching points on the corner position. Dom Bowman, Paul Williams, and Casey DeAndrade give their takes on shutdown CB play.
-Coach Grabowski
On an Island
Every team wants that lock down corner, a side of the field they don’t have to worry about. The ball simply does not get caught.
So here we are laying down the groundwork for those athletes. You are doing your part and researching various developmental items, and these fantastic coaches are willing to share their expertise.
Today we dig into the details with information shared at the past Lauren’s First and Goaal Clinics.
So let's get into it.
Arm Bar
Nothing is quite a signature for a lockdown corner like the press technique. An arm bar can be as lethal as anything. Equipping your athlete’s with a variety of tools should be the goal.
A huge piece with this is verbiage and you have to find your own that works for you and that your kids can pick up on. That's the first item with this.
From there really latch on to the idea that you want your athletes playing half the man, in all scenarios and facets of the game we never want a player to have a two way go and that's the best point of attack here as well. If we can eliminate half the route tree our athletes will simply always be better off.
Work this technique vividly so that you know become capable of denying different route access and really fluster the wide receiver.
Off Man
From there we really start to make ground and you begin to fluster the opposing coordinators with changeups.
Giving your athletes the ability to change up from pressed or normal man technique to playing from an off alignment can be a stellar addition to your defense. As a coach depending if you work from the field or box on gameday it can afford you different opportunities older players can switch up their alignment based on trust and knowledge of the coverages and change ups whereas younger players can be signaled to.
The layers that this adds to a defense are really endless and gives you a great opportunity to play with the QB and OC. Making reads continually harder.
Rep it in 1v1
Piece it all together in practice and we end with our 1 on 1 and team reps.
At the end of the day we all want that guy that can just be put on their best WR and told don’t let him get the ball.
These reps are true mono e mono. They define competitiveness within your team and between the rooms. Don’t let these coast by, there has to be energy and enthusiasm. Coach these drills up. Don’t just look at films later.
Correct in the moment and put something on the line. There has to be an edge build here that can translate to a game. Work the techniques, and bring them to life at full speed in these cases.
As Always,
Compete!
Coach Kauffman
PS. These resources are 53% off together here and include over 40 different cut ups of quality info from 3 D1 DB’s Coaches - Dom Bowman, Paul Williams, and Casey DeAndrade.