Run responsibilities begin when the defender realizes that the play is not a pass or when he is aware of that the pass is thrown out of his location.
When playing a zone defense, the defensive back must assume pass when the ball is snapped. Each time it looks clear that a running play was called, the defender adapts his backward movement and starts moving forward or laterally into the proper rotation or pursuit path. The man to man defender must listen for verbal directions from teammates to alert him whether or not a pass or run is called. If the ball has been run, the defensive back should abandon his coverage assignment and also pursue the ball carrier.
Whether a defensive back is playing man-to-man or zone, in the event that the pass is thrown into some other area, the defender must sprint to the area in the hope of:
producing the tackle if the pass is complete
catching the tipped ball if it is short as well as tipped by a linebacker
stripping the ball if it is caught by the receiver
recovering a fumble when one occurs
blocking for a teammate if he has intercepted the ball; the receiver should be the very first target to block
Helping the run responsibilities rely on the defensive theory of the coach. The cornerback will often have the wide responsibility on a sweep or option, but that responsibility could be given to a safety. The safety might be able to read the run faster mainly because he is actually very likely to be playing a zone or, if in a man-to-man defense, viewing the tight end on his side.
The backs off of the point of attack ought to take the path essential to make sure that they can make the tackle if necessary. This requires a deeper angle for the backs farthest from the point of attack.
Playing the blocker is another skill defensive backs need to master. Frequently the defensive back has space to maneuver around the blocker that is moving quickly. A simple fake one way along with a move the other could be sufficient to get the blocker off the path and also be ready to make the tackle. This is often applied when the ball carrier is some distance from the blocker.
If blocking is properly timed along with the ball carrier is close to the blocker, the defensive back must meet and beat the blocker. If this is necessary, the defender should drop his weight over the leg with which he tends to make his lift, typically the inside leg. He anchors his back leg to absorb the hit of the blocker, gets his pads under the blocker's and rips with the arm over the forward leg. The other arm, generally the outside arm, punches up through the blocker's shoulder. The elbow must stay close to the body and then under the shoulder. The elbow must stay close to the body and under the shoulder. The palm and also fingers should be up.
Tackling has to be "sure" in the secondary. For that reason, the defensive backs may tackle high. They should be adept at working the high form tackle. They must be able to slow the ball carrier to allow the pursuit to catch up. When tackling, the defensive back is not concerned with knocking the ball carrier backward, but with "wrapping him up" with his arms or forcing him out of bounds. The defensive back should never permit the ball carrier two ways to go. He should always take away the running back's possibility of cutting left by being on that side of the back. After that he takes an angle at the ball carrier, realizing that he can go merely to the right.
Stripping the football
Stripping the football from the receiver has to be attempted when the ball is caught or after it has hit his hands. When the receiver has his back to the defender, such as a hook pattern, the defender can bump him hard with his chest while bringing his hands under the elbows of the receiver and also ripping the arms outward and upward. This is often referred to as "playing through the receiver." The defender's contact should occur just as the ball contacts the receiver, not before.
An alternate kind of strip on a hook or comeback type of pattern comes from top to bottom, with the defender bringing his arms around the receiver and downward, trying to make contact with the ball and also driving it downward.
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