Game-Changing DB Drill: Master In & Out of Phase Skills - Harlon Barnett

Elevate your defensive backfield's performance with this game-changing DB drill that focuses on mastering in and out-of-phase skills.

The drill challenges your defensive backs to perfect their footwork, reaction time, and spatial awareness in various coverage situations. when out of phase.

The presenter is Coach Harlon Barnett, Defensive Backs Coach at Northwestern.  His video on DB Phase Drill (In, Out, Run Back Into) is one part of his Defensive Backs system on Glazier Drive

Some key takeaways from the video:

When you're in phase, your shoulder is in front of the receiver's shoulder.

I'm teaching our DBs to put their shoulder in the middle of the receiver's chest.

When you're in phase, cut the receiver off and look for the ball.

If I can't go up and high point the ball and pick it off because the ball is being thrown outside of me and he's fading away, I turn back to him and hook and swat.

When we do this drill in phase, the DB is already looking back.  They start 15 to 20 yards down the field. That's what you're simulating.

When the DB is out of phase. you to go to what I call the cool school. Be cool; you can't panic. We don't want to panic.

The receiver has the DB beaten.  So now, we play his eyes, When his eyes come back and his hands reach up for the ball, we hook and swat.

We want to be violent with the swat. Violent, violent. If you don't get it out, make it feel like you got it out because you came across his wrist so violently.