Carmel Greyhounds Cornerbacks: Master the 'Shadow' Drill for Dominant Coverage
To prepare 6A cornerbacks for the upcoming season, Coach Thompson recommends the 'Shadow' drill. This exercise mimics game situations where cornerbacks must stay in the receiver's hip pocket. Set up two cones 10 yards apart, with a third cone 5 yards beyond the second. Have a receiver run a 5-yard out route, starting from the first cone. The cornerback must stay within 1 foot of the receiver, using their inside shoulder to 'shadow' the receiver. Perform 3 sets of 10 reps, with a 30-second rest between sets. Coaching cues include 'stay on their hip' and 'keep them in front of you.' This drill translates to game performance by improving the cornerback's ability to stay in phase with receivers, reducing separation and making it easier to make plays on the ball.