What is Cutback Drill?
Cutback Drill is a free football drill on FantasyHQ’s Football Coaching hub for defensive back work. It covers Set Up, Purpose, Execution and more with purpose, setup cues, and coaching language for youth and high-school staffs.
- Cutback Drill is part of FantasyHQ’s free football drills library.
- Focus: Defensive Back.
- Inside: 4 drill progressions.
How to run this drill
Cutback Drill is built for youth, high-school, and volunteer coaches who need clear drill language — not a random cone circuit. Beginners can install the first progression; experienced staffs can layer competition.
- Read the purpose once, then walk the setup on air before live tempo.
- Demonstrate one clean rep so players see landmarks, pad level, and finish.
- Run short competitive periods — quality reps beat long lines.
- Close with one coaching cue players can repeat in the huddle next period.
Progressions
- Set Up
- Purpose
- Execution
- Coaching Tips
Full drill
Purpose
If you find that your players are constantly overcommitting and allowing large cutback lanes, this is a great drill to teach them how to stop and contain the ball carrier.
Set Up
- Set up four cones, two about ten yards apart, with two lines facing each other. The other two cones will be set half way between the first cones, and somewhere between 10-15 yards apart.
Execution
- One line begins with the ball in their hands, and on your hike, they will take off, sprinting for one of the outside cones. The player in the defensive line will sprint after the ball carrier, making sure not to overpursue.
- When the offensive player feels like they have a good angle, they will change directions, cutting back and trying to get back around the defensive player. By taking a slightly deeper angle and not overcommitting to the outside run, the defender should be able to tag the ball carrier.
Coaching Tips
I prefer to run this as a non-contact drill, letting players focus on technique and containment rather than worrying to much about getting a big hit on the ball carrier.
These are great drills for non-contact days, as you can help to instill your defensive principles without the wear and tear that will occur from constantly having full contact practices.
Cutback Drill FAQ
- What is the Cutback Drill drill?
- Cutback Drill is a free football drill on FantasyHQ’s Football Coaching hub for defensive back work. It covers Set Up, Purpose, Execution and more with purpose, setup cues, and coaching language for youth and high-school staffs.
- Who should use this football drill?
- Cutback Drill is built for youth, high-school, and volunteer coaches who need clear drill language — not a random cone circuit. Beginners can install the first progression; experienced staffs can layer competition.
- How do I run Cutback Drill in practice?
- Read the purpose once, then walk the setup on air before live tempo. Demonstrate one clean rep so players see landmarks, pad level, and finish. Run short competitive periods — quality reps beat long lines.
- Is this drill free?
- Yes. Browse FantasyHQ football drills, youth plays, and coaching guides free on Football Coaching.
- What progressions does Cutback Drill include?
- This page includes Set Up, Purpose, Execution, Coaching Tips.
