Good backs have footwork that matches their read. This drill teaches one-cut patience (inside zone), two-cut decisiveness (outside zone), and trust in blocks.
Equipment needed: 6 cones, 1 ball, 3 bags or shields.
Setup: Create a 15-yard by 10-yard rectangle. Place three bags in a line to simulate defenders: one in the middle (inside), one to the left, one to the right. QB lines up at the back with the ball.
How to run it:
- QB hands to the back. Back gets the ball and comes downhill 2 yards.
- Back reads the interior defender (the middle bag). If the bag is in the hole, back cuts away from it (one cut). If the bag is penetrating, back gets vertical (one cut).
- Do 4 reps focusing on one-cut reads, attacking the hole.
- Shift the bags and do 4 more reps. Back now reads two defenders (inside and edge), making a one-cut then looking for the edge.
What to look for:
The back’s eyes should be up immediately after taking the hand. Not watching the QB, watching the hole. The first step should be downhill, committed. If a back is dancing sideways, they’re indecisive. One cut means plant the outside foot and accelerate, not stop and cut. If the back is waiting for a hole to open, they’re too patient. Young backs need to understand that gap reads happen in two steps, not three.
Variation: Add a linebacker at a cone 5 yards deep. Now the back reads the initial hole, cuts, and reads the linebacker’s approach. This teaches true reading, not just running a lane.