My name is Braylon Holman and I am going to teach you how to become a lockdown Cornerback or Defensive Back. There are many techniques that you can use to become a great db. Must have the mindset ,technique, footwork, and focus to play the position because if you crumble it won’t be good. Let’s get started.

The Mindset

When you get on the field as a Cornerback you have to have the mindset that you are the best player on that field and no one can take that title away from you. When going up against a wide receiver who may be bigger, stronger, and faster than you, you HAVE to know, not believe that you are better than him. Don’t be afraid on the football field and fear no man because that’s how you get taken off the field and benched. You must play calm and remember your techniques because if you panic your beat. Without confidence you won’t be a good db and that’s that.

What Does a Cornerback Do on the Field?

This article is mainly for football players but if you have no clue what the cornerback does, here’s a simple way to break it down. A corner plays on the defensive side of the ball. When the play starts, the Corner back drops into the coverage against a wide receiver in order to not let them catch the football. A corner may also play zone where he stares at the quarterback, watches his eyes, and plays the ball if it gets thrown into your zone. If you catch the ball as a corner that is called an interception and you are allowed to take it to the opposite end zone to score a pick 6. A corner can also help tackle running backs in the backfield to stop a touchdown. Again the corner has to be confident and calm when in coverage against a wide receiver because you are always starting the play running or backpedaling moving backwards, you must trust your technique.

Stance

In order to play the position lets get our stance right. Stand straight up, then get in a squatting position with your feet shoulder width, then hinge your back forward and make sure both your feet pigeon toed just a little bit not too much but just an even amount, and put your hands up with your elbows almost resting on your thighs, ready to get hands on to the receiver. It should look like a picture.

Pressman Technique

Now here’s where we get into action. Get in your stance directly in front of the receiver. Then move to the left or right about 5 inches depending where the receiver is lined up. If the receiver is on the left side of the ball, move to the right 5 inches. If the receiver is on the right side of the ball, move to the left 5 inches. That is called inside leverage. Then when the ball is hiked get your feet moving like a little pitter patter on the ground. While doing that punch your inside hand to the receivers chest to contain your inside. The receiver is going to attempt a release but since you’re playing inside leverage it’s not likely they are going to release to the inside. Pitter patter your feet until the receiver finds which way he wants to go. If he does an outside release stay square with your feet pitter pattering but move back as your feet move . You want to stay square for as long as possible. Then when you know he’s going outside open up  by flipping your hips in the receivers direction and keep your inside hand on his hip. Then wherever he breaks his route on you can use the receivers body as a slingshot and jump his route and make a play on the ball by either catching the pick or punching the ball out the receivers hands.

Offman Technique

Offman technique is just like pressmen but playing 7 yards back. You’re gonna start in your stance playing inside leverage then when the receiver runs to you get your feet moving. If the receiver tries to angle to the inside running straight towards you then shuffle to the inside in order to keep it. And when the receiver is about a yard away from you about to break, patter your feet fast and keep your eyes on his hips and follow wherever he goes. Then from their its like a pressman where your inside hand is on their hip and break on the route when the receiver breaks.

Measurements In Order to Be a Good Cornerback. (In Middle School)

Now size is not everything in football but the great football players have good size. If you wanna play corner you don’t want to be too bulky but you wanna be lean. Even if you’re skinny that’s fine as long as you have speed to make up for it you will be good. You need to have good footwork and movement to stay with the fast receivers. Corner is one of the hardest positions in football so you need to be perfect in everything or you get beat.

Good measurements for Middle Schools Dbs

6th grade: 5”5/5”4 115 lbs 5.5 40 time
7th grade 5”6/5”7 120 lbs 5.3 40 time
8th grade 5”8/5”10 140 lbs 4.9/5.1 40 time

Tackling

Yeah covering and blocking receivers up is cool and stuff but you need to know how to tackle. Tackling starts with getting off blocks. If a receiver is coming to block you, try and get your hands on his pads and attempt to chuck him whatever the opposite way the running back/receiver is running to. When you’re about to come in contact with a ball carrier, get low and KEEP YOUR HEAD UP. Wrap your arms near their waist and keep your head to the side of their thigh and drive. If the ball carrier is bigger you get low and go for the carrier’s ankles also which is the most effective. While getting lower wrap your arms around their calves and dive into them while keeping your head to the side of their calf.