This is one of the [tag]defensive drills for football[/tag] that I use often.   I call it   “PURSUIT” but I understand there are other [tag]football drills[/tag] called this as well. The variation I run is with the defensive unit.

The players line up in the defense that is called, then I give them an offensive formation and watch them line up according to the defense that was called.   This gives me a chance to make sure they understand their assignments.

Then I drop back as the QB and watch the defense react to me.   Once I drop back I will throw the [tag]football[/tag] at one of the defenders.   Once the pass is released the remaining defenders “pursue” to the ball.   The defender that receives/catches the ball can do one of two things or both.

After he catches the ball he can stand there until the rest of the defenders get to him or he can act like he is returning it and run 5-7 yards and then stop until everyone gets to him.

This [tag]football drill[/tag] allows me to call a defensive and offensive formation and have the defense react to it. Then I can go over assignments with them and last, it allows me to get some conditioning in.

If you spread the ball around from side to side and make sure everyone is sprinting to the ball you get a lot of sprints in a short amount of time. Once they get done sprinting to the ball start over immediately with another defense call and offensive formation.