[JerseySuave4]

Quote: Originally Posted by jmik58

I'm not Jersey, but I might be able to shed some light on the defensive question above. As for never seeing deep outs or comebacks, it is something that you will see on a rollout more often than a dropback. The ball is in the air too long with the target at a point that is in front of a defender (meaning the defender won't have to turn his hips and run, which means quicker reaction time and a more dangerous pass )when you are throwing from the pocket. As far as the field corner alignment... it depends on what coverage they are in. If it's man coverage, then yes his job is to align inside and force the receiver to the outside. The reason isn't as much about protecting against a deep out. It does help on slants but an inside alignment gives leverage to force the receiver to the outside and over the top where there is less field (using the sideline as a defender) and also because it forces a throw to the outside (long throw) and where the safety help often is. If it's zone coverage (in this case Cover 3), then the field corner is aligning at a spot relative to the hash marks. Different teams prefer different alignments, but a good example would be for the field corner to align two or three yards outside the hash with his hips open to the sideline. This, again, is less about specific route protection, but more about creating an advantageous situation where the player can defend his area and the routes he is likely to see the most.

well said

Quote: Originally Posted by jmik58

I've never been a big believer in a dback having to have a certain foot forward. To me it's an excessive detail that forces players to think too much and has little value in the outcome. The way my coaching staff has always taught, and heard several others do this is as well, is to focus on alignment. The only time you might care about foot placement is if you are going to jam a receiver. But again, a dback should put whatever foot forward that makes them the most comfortable. Now what IS important is what direction the dback steps first. If the coverage calls for a jam at the line and it's man coverage, then I might tell the dback to put his outside foot forward so he can step forward and cut off the inside release. If it's a cover 2 corner (zone, not 2 under) then I obviously want him shading the outside and jamming in. This requires an outside alignment. Therefore, I might tell a player to put the inside foot up and step forward and out with the outside foot to help cut off the outside release.

i used to agree that you should have the player do whats more comfortable but since i started going to some coaching clinics at places like Rutgers and Nova and other colleges or places with experienced coaches, i now start really hammering technique starting in the summer and early practice in aug so that it becomes 2nd nature and it no longer feels uncomfortable.

WRs should have their inside foot up, DBs playing tight man coverage should also have their inside foot up. The reason to hammer correct technique is because you want to limit your movements and not waste movement trying to get in correct position. We'll do a lot of quick step back peddling right out of the stance over and over and over just a few steps from stance to stop just so the guys get the feel of how it should be. M drill or W (depending on what your coach called it) is also good for guys getting used to correct foot planting on slant routes. Once you can get the proper technique down, you no longer are thinking about which foot should be forward, it just is habit and you're helping yourself out with your footwork and movement by limiting your steps and putting yourself in proper position.

These college coaches kept stressing technique and reptition and i've noticed a difference in our DBs and WRs being in better position and having better footwork because they are lined up correctly and taking the proper steps, turning their hips correctly, etc.

So while you are right that you want your player to feel comfortable, that could lead to bad habits and improper technique when all it might take is just repetition and practice to get used to doing it the right way so it feels better. As lame as it sounds, you need to practice positioning and stance just like you need to practice the proper way of tackling. Its not something you can just tell someone to do, show them once and then boom they learned it and can apply it. They need to do it over and over and over until it becomes 2nd nature to them. Otherwise they're just practicing wrong technique.