I have two favorite football defensive drills that I use often at practice. They are fast paced, quick to execute and very effective.
The first one is a little drill that I do for my defensive ends to get them out of their stance. I pair up two DE’s. One gets in his stance, the other stands five yards away. One player is the starter. He holds a tennis ball straight out from his body about shoulder height. As the starter drops the ball the DE sprints out of his stance.
The idea is for the DE to catch the ball after only one bounce. If he does so the starter will take a step back and do the drill again, this time the DE must cover a greater distance. We do this drill for ten reps, after every successful catch the starter takes another step back.
The other defensive drill goes like this. Place the defensive back about ten yards down field. Have him sit with legs crossed and his back to the passer. Instruct the passer to throw the ball in any direction, but only about five yards from the D-back. On the count the d-back should spring to his feet, find the passer, read his body movement and break on the ball before it reaches the target.
