Explotec, LLC.

The week in review for Explotec athletes. Clients were able to work on catch jamming. Putting emphasis on not retreating while staying lateral with short quick controlled steps. Clients also worked on bailing from press and not allowing the WR to take their blind spots.

DBs must be able to play off-man coverage effectively if they want to succeed at the next level.

Clip 1: Catch-Jam Fundamentals

In this drill, Explotec athletes are working on the fundamentals of catch jamming.

Key points:

* Start 5 yards off the receiver, not the ball.
* Maintain outside leverage.
* Keep all steps lateral—do not retreat.
* Use a two-hand jam.
* Redirect the WR toward the middle of the field and help.
* Play underneath and outside the WR.

Clip 2: Off-Man Coverage at 7 Yards

This drill helps DBs become comfortable with the fundamentals of playing off-man coverage from 7 yards.

Key points:

* Take a read step.
* Tempo pedal to match the WR.
* Maintain leverage when the WR stems.
* Recognize when the WR is AT your 3-yard cushion, not when he is already in it.
* Once the WR reaches your cushion, open and run with him.

The goal of both drills is to build DBs who are comfortable, disciplined, and technically sound when playing off-man coverage.

Athletes should be able to clearly see the progression and structure of their training sessions. In this clip a client is working on catch jamming. His steps are good but he struggles to not retreat and keep working lateral down the line. We make the adjustment of having him rep in on air with resistance bands around his ankles to control movement. We then rep it against a person to still with resistance bands. We finally progress to the full drill without resistance bands and the improvement is clearly visible. At Explotec, drill translation, structure, and progression are a standard.

Here is a look at some transition and mechanics work with Explotec athletes Brayden, DJ and Axel. Athletes worked on low pad level, consistent arm action, foot strides and speed (emphasis on short quick and controlled), whole foot breaks, and good eyes.

Got some cover 3 work in with Langston and Deuce. The first rep shows an understanding of good technique as an underneath defender. Collision 2 and expand to the numbers, flipping our backs to the sideline so we can see any flood concepts that flood our zone as curl flat defenders. This gives us a two way go. We then allow the QB shoulders to guide us on which we to key on whether it be the deeper route in our zone or the shorter route in our zone. The second rep shows a technique for maintaining good position when 2 verticals compromise a cb’s cushion in cover 3. We open towards the qb, and run straight down field as if there is a straight line on the ground below us. This allows for staying over top of both routes. We slightly favor the inside vertical by 2 understanding that we must protect the seam shot and knowing the goal ball to 1 is a longer throw and we will have time to speed turn and get over top if the quarterback throws that pass. However, we don’t want to drift too far in either direction and take ourselves out of the play if the quarterback throws to the opposite WR.

A week in a review with some of the athletes at Explotec! Here you see press work with Chase & Langston, cover 3 principles with Brayden, along with fundamentals and mechanics with Axel & KJ. At Explotec, we focus on making our clients well rounded complete football players that won’t be limited to specific labels within positions.

Understanding when and where to 2 hand jam in press man is important for DB’s. Understanding that if we get the wr squared, or the wr continues to work towards our leverage, 2 hand jams are ideal. When they work towards our leverage, DB’s want to flatten receivers down the line so they can’t climb and work upfield. This is only physically possible with a 2 hand jam.

DB’s must understand that in press, feet come before hands. However, DB’s must be comfortable still moving their feet once they have jammed receivers. This simple drills helps DB’s become comfortable doing this. Emphasis is on thumbs being up and jamming the chest area. DB’s should not lunge, grab, or lean too far in front of themselves, but be controlled with their jam putting emphasis on moving the feet to match where the receiver is going.

This weekend Explotec clients worked on fundamentals and zone techniques specifically in cover 3 and cover 2. Understanding how to read the qb’s shoulders while also keeping their eyes on their work.