Pursuit Angle

This drill is designed to teach defensive players to take the proper angle when pursuing a ball carrier

• • Remind defensive players not to take a direct route to where the ball carrier presently is but rather take a route to the position where the ball carrier will be.

  • Remind ball carrier to continue running after being tagged so that all defenders have an opportunity to make a tag.

  • Remind ball carrier not to try to avoid the tag.

• 1 Football

• 4 Cones

Place  cones as described below and line up a players behind cones as ball carriers and defenders.  

• 1. Place 4 cones as shown--one at the left sideline at the goal line (ball carrier) and three at the linebacker spots (OLB, MLB, OLB) in the middle of the field at the 10-yard line. No cones are used to designate the DB spot. The DBs line up 3 yards behind the line backers and two yards outside the OLB.

  2. Players involved-One Runner--the ball carrier-- lines up behind the sideline cone at the goal line. 3 linebackers line up at the cones mark OLB, MLB, OLB at the 10 yard line and 2 defensive backs as defenders in a position two yards outside and three yards behind the Outside Linebackers.  The remaining players form a Que. behind the ball carrier and defenders to await their turn.

  3. On the coaches command, the ball carrier runs up field along the left sideline staying inbounds and the five defenders pursue him. 

  4. Each defensive player must take the proper pursuit angle and touch the runner with two hands. Runner must continue to run down the sidelines after being touched so that all defenders have an opportunity to make a tag.. Ball carrier must not try to avoid the tags. 

  5.  Rotate all players into all positions. 

  6. Time permitting move RB to the right sideline and repeat running down the right sideline.