Equipment Needed
- Cones
- Football (optional)
Setup
- Set two cones roughly 15 yards apart to represent a ball carrier's running lane.
- Defender starts 5 yards off the lane, even with the ball carrier's starting point.
Instructions
- A coach or teammate jogs along the cone line to represent the ball carrier.
- On the start signal, the defender takes an angle that intersects the ball carrier's path rather than running parallel or chasing from directly behind.
- Defender breaks down into a controlled position 2 to 3 yards from the ball carrier and mirrors before finishing with a tag or wrap.
- Rotate through the line, increasing the ball carrier's speed as technique improves.
Coaching Points
- Aim for a spot ahead of the ball carrier, not their current position — defenders should cut off the angle.
- Break down under control before contact rather than sprinting all the way in.
- Keep the near-side arm and shoulder ready to lead the tackle once the angle is closed.
- Full effort every rep — pursuit angle habits are built through repetition, not one-off correction.
Variation
Add a second defender to simulate a scrape-and-fill linebacker read, or run the drill starting from a stance to add a reaction component.