Position Profile Series Position: Corner Back Player: Robin Sanchez November 16, 2003 For the most part, your first priority is the pass and next is the run. In zone coverages you’re responsible for a section of the field such as flats, short passes and outside sweeps, or deep thirds, quarters or halves. Stay in your zone and watch the Quarterbacks eyes. Anyone in your zone is your man. If they leave your zone, you talk to your teammates and trust them to pick them up. Whenever you have deep responsibilities you can never let a receiver get behind you. Stay deeper that the deepest. You need to know how many receivers there are and where they are coming from so they don’t sneak behind you. Be careful not to bite on the run. Stay with any receiver in your zone no matter what until the ball passes the line of scrimmage then close down to help. We also play man-to-man coverages. Basically you watch every move your receiver makes and stay with them. Don’t bother looking at the quarterback while in man. You look away and your receiver will get steps on you. If you are on their hip, don’t look back for the ball until the receiver’s hands go up and their eyes get big, then you know the ball is coming. If you look back too soon they will bolt on you. Get to know what routes receivers run so you can anticipate where they are going (we call this “pattern reading”). If they line up close to the O-line they are probably going to run an out, arrow or a flag. If they line up by the side-line watch for a slant or a post. Also understand offensive formations so you know where your receivers are coming from and where they can hurt you so you can adjust your defensive scheme accordingly. Footwork is very important. If you are not efficient with your footwork you can lose a step on your receiver and give them room to catch the ball. Quick hips, quick feet, quick close down speed and the ability to run backwards (backpedal) fast, are very important for the cornerback. If you are a corner your receiver will probably catch the ball eventually, so learn to strip and club the receiver. Don’t let them score. The corner is the last line of defense and has to be a good open field tackler and not scared of a large full-back coming at them. Receivers with try to stalk block down field on the run so learn to “swim” or “rip” to get around the block. If you miss, no one is left to help. Have a short memory, because you will be beat and scored on eventually. Learn from it and move on. Don’t let it ruin you confidence. To prepare do lots of sprints, back-peddles, agility drills and transition drills like “W’’s.” Work on tackling, shedding blocks and strip-and-clubbing your receiver. Oh and learn to catch because every corner wants an interception. If it is in the air, it is your ball. Back