These are just two of our football defense drills that I use often. The first drill emphasizes teamwork and the next one teaches how to read the quarterback.
Defensive Pursuit Drill
We tell our players that on the field we want to see 1 tackle and 10 assists, every time the opponents has the ball. Therefore, we practice to achieve this kind of mentality.
I start off by lining up all 11 defensive players in their respective positions. At my cadence I will either simulate a run play or pass play and as I hike the ball the down lineman perform a single up-down, then everyone on the field must sprint to the ball.
For instance if I pass the ball to another player or coach 50 yards down field, the players must sprint to the ball and after all have reached the target they chop their feet until my whistle. Then they sprint back past the original line of scrimmage.
If a pass is intercepted the entire team automatically sprints back simulating as blockers.
Read the Quarterback
This is one drill we use when working with defensive backs/linebackers.
We set up cones at about 5 yards deep and 5-10 yards apart.
Then take 2 d-back and a coach with a football. The players will back peddle or move forward depending on what the coach does with the ball.
So in a sense they are learning to read the quarterback. If the QB opens his stance for a throw the backs will break in that direction to make a play on the ball and the QB throws the ball out.
Coach notes