As the myriad of bowl games across the television screen begin to wind down, it amazes me just how many errant passes are dropped by defenders and how many lost fumbles end up going just past or through a defender’s hands. It reminds me of the old saying, “If your defense caught all of the dropped interceptions during a season, you would lead your league in interceptions every season.”
We all work on forcing and creating turnovers during the preseason, but during the season it can be difficult to find time when the focus goes to game week schemes. That is why this past season we went to what we called, “The Ball Carnival” on Friday’s at the beginning of our individual periods. Ball Carnival is a 8-10 minute drill that involves the players getting in three (or four lines), with one ball for each line. Every player in each line needs to catch 3 balls, recover 3 balls and strip the ball carrier 3 times. We have each line go “on their own” with an upperclassman in charge of each line. The coach stands behind and repeats the key points for each drill while also making sure the techniques are being used correctly.
I have included a diagram of each drill we currently use in the “Ball Carnival”.
1. Key Points we stress in the recovering fumble part of thee drill:
-First, bend at the ankle, knees and hips to get your body’s center of gravity lower.
-Second, scoop the ball and do not pluck it. Get your knuckles on the ground, use your hands like shovels and scoop the ball up. If you miss the ball, worst case, knock it forward. That way, with your momentum going forward, you will be able to have another chance to recover the ball again. This, as opposed to trying and plucking the ball and taking a chance that the ball ends up behind you to the opposite of your momentum.
-Finally, if necessary, pull the ball into your midsection and roll on your side. Protect the tips of the football with your hands and bring your knees to your chest. Close your eyes and your mouth while squeezing the ball tightly.
2. Key Points in catching the interception part of the drill:
-First, see the point of the ball as you position your body to frame the ball.
-Second, depending on the situation, come back to the ball or catch the ball at its highest point. Get to the ball before an offensive player can knock it away.
-Finally, catch the ball with your thumbs together above the waist and pinky’s together below the waist.
3. Key Points in stripping a ball carrier drill:
-First, always use your non-ball hand to secure the tackle. Do this by bringing your arm over the top of the ball carrier’s shoulder or around his waist and grab cloth or pads. This is to prevent the ball carrier from getting away if you miss the strip.
-Second, if you see the back tip of the ball, punch it out.
-If you do not see the back tip of the ball, then RIP it out of the ball carrier’s ribcage. Strip the tips of the ball.
The lines continue until each player in each line has completed 3 of each. A dropped ball does not count as one in the interception part of the drill. A strip without a secure does not count as a strip. A fumble that gets behind the defender does not count as a recovery. The players will enjoy the chance to work with the footballs during this time but they must remember that this is about repetition and muscle memory. Because success on defense is much more than producing or forcing fumbles and errant passes from the QB, it is about turning those opportunities into true turnovers where our defense gets off the field with our offense gaining possession.