Defensive Drills for Football – The W Drill

This is one of my favorite defensive drills for football. It is called the “W” drill and I use it when working with my defensive backs and receivers.

Set 5 cones out in a “W” formation 5 yards apart ( top of the W to the bottom ). Start each player backwards at the first cone and he backpedals on a 45 degree angle to the next cone, then plants and comes back to the next cone on a 45 degree angle. Repeat and run through the last cone.

Coaching Points:
• Quick feet in the backpedal
• Stay low and plant to react to play
• Pump arms to produce quick leg action.
• Eyes face forward to read play. ( Introduce random football throws at the players during this football drill to make sure they are watching the ball, not their feet.)