It is important for defensive players to understand the advantage of turning a runner back to the inside of the field. Use this drill in your next [tag]football practices[/tag].
What you need – You can line up a defensive line and [tag]linebackers[/tag] if you like, or just linebackers – either will work.
How this drill works – At half speed to start, a RB should run the ball wide and the LB need to react to this. The idea of this [tag]football[/tag] [tag]drill[/tag] is to get the runner to cut back inside where there is more help for a tackle.
Coaches should emphasize to players that turning a play back inside limits the chance that a player will get beat one-on-one – which could result in a long gain. This will be achieved by showing players the proper angle to get to the outside so they force the runner to cut the ball up the field earlier than he wants.
You can up the speed as players begin to understand the skill and when they perfect the technique.
Result – In a game situation this could make the difference between a long inside gain and a short run stopped by pursuing tacklers.
