How to Coach Running Backs

How to Coach Running Backs 

By Brian Caler 

07.05.09 Clinic 1 Jugend/Junioren 1

The Different Types of Running Backs 

1. Full Backs 

- Blocking backs and short yardage runners 

• Tail Backs 

- Down hill powerful runners, usually between the Tackles 

3. Half Backs 

- Shifty runners usually used on the edge, Screens & Sweeps 


What to look for in a Full Back 

1. He must be compact and solid 

2. He must be physical 

3. He must be agile 


What to look for in a Tail Back 

1. He must have powerful legs 

2. He must have good speed 

3. He must be though and have vision 


What to look for in a Half Back 

1. He must have great awareness and be elusive 

2. He must have great speed 

3. He must be able to catch to ball like a WR 


How to Take Care of the ball 

When running through the line of scrimmage a running back should 

protect the ball at all times by squeezing it firmly with both hands. 

Once the runner breaks through the line of scrimmage and into the 

open field he then should carry the ball in his outside arm. 

When carrying the ball with one hand the runner should maintain 

good ball placement, by keeping his wrist above his elbow. 

Whenever the runner approaches contact with a defender he should 

always bring the ball into the chest, this allows the runner to remove 

the surface of the ball from the defender. 

The runner should cover the four major points of the ball, both tips, the side 

closest to the body, and the bottom while running through the line of 

scrimmage or out in the open field. 


• FB 

– Three Point 

Back is flat, feet shoulder width 

apart, weight out in front, so you 

can explode out of the stance. 

• TB/HB 

– Two Point 

Back is flat, feet shoulder width 

apart hands on the upper leg, 

weight balanced. 

*CP- No false steps or wasted motion 

Stance 


• Right 

– When running to the right the left 

arm is on top and right arm is on 

bottom. 

• Left 

– When running to the left the right 

arm is on top and left arm is on 

bottom. 

*CP- Exaggerate a big pocket, palm out 

to ensure that the elbow stays high. 

Receiving a Handoff 


Two Back Sets 

FB’s depth heels at 41/2 yards 

TB’s depth heels at 61/2 yards. 

Running Back Alignments 

Split Back Looks both backs are at a depth of 5 yards. 

Single Back Sets 

RB’s depth 5 yards 

Wing Sets 

When ever you have a wing look he should align 1 x 1 off the last 

man on the line of scrimmage either in a traditional three point stance or a two 

point cocked position stance. 


Basic Two Back Formations 

QB 

FB 

TB 

QB 

FB 

TB 

HB 

07.05.09 Clinic 1 Jugend/Junioren 10 

TB 

QB 

TB 

QB 

FB 

HB

FB 

QB 

TB 

QB 

TB 

Single Back Formations 

HB 


QB 

TB 

QB 

TB 

HB 

FB

Three Key “BASIC” Fundamentals 

1. Running 

2. Blocking 

3. Pass Catching 


How do we improve these three 

fundamentals? 

Position Specific Drill Work 


1. RUNNING 

Bag Drills 

- High Knees Drill 

High knees with one foot in each hole maintain a slight forward 

lean and good ball placement throughout the drill. 

Objective is to teach and develop high knee running as well as body awareness. 

Simulates avoiding players that like to tackle low, as well as, shoe string tackles. 


- Stutter Step Drill 

Bag Drills Continued 

Over the bag with a stutter step (two feet) in each, maintain good body 

control with a slight forward lean and good ball placement throughout 

Objective is to teach body control and patience as a runner. 

Simulates having patience while the runner waits for the hole to open or for his 

blockers to get to their blocks. 


- Side Step Drill 


High knees two feet in each with a forward lean, eyes must stay upfield, 

maintain good ball placement,head and shoulders fake get up field. 

Objective is to teach the ability to be aware of what is at the feet of the ball carrier 

without having to look down. 

Simulates knowing when to step over a fallen Defender while keeping the eyes and 

head up field. 


.

- High Knee Turn Drill 


Side step and after each two bags turn by opening the hips, maintain 

good ball placement and a slight forward lean. 

Objective is to teach the ability to have self-awareness and body control. 

Simulates having to change directions in a quick rapid manner. 


.

- Shuffle Cut Drill 


Stay low and compact, shuffle and cut of the outside foot, try not to 

hop into the cut, maintain good ball placement, slight forward lean. 

Objective is to teach the player how to cut with a low compact center of gravity. 

Simulates having to make an explosive lateral movement before a potential tackler 

makes contact with the ball carrier. 


- Jump Drill 


With a slight forward lean jump over the bag and immediately over 

the next, stay compact with a slight forward lean, maintain good 

ball placement. 

Objective is to teach the runner quick explosive movement while avoiding potential 

tacklers. 

Simulates directional changes that a runner may need to make as he advances the 

ball up the field. 


- Reaction Cut Drill 


Approach the hole at full speed as the bags move one way cut 

opposite through the hole and get under the scrapping LB. 

Objective is to teach the runner vision so he will be able to read blocks. 

Simulates cutting of blockers blocks, as well as, cutting away from Defenders. 


.

Cone Drills 

- Three Step Cut Drill 

. 

. 

Objective is to teach the runner to make cuts while moving up field. 

Simulates a ball carrier making a sharp precise cut into the open field. 

. 

You should be cutting on the outside foot with your third step. 

Slight forward lean, maintain good ball placement. 


. 

.

- S Drill 

. 

Cone Drills Continued 

. 

. 

You should be cutting on the outside foot. Slight forward lean, 

maintain good ball placement and switch hands during the cut. 

Objective is to teach the runner to make lateral movement while working up the 

field. 

Simulates a ball carrier making a sharp precise cut to avoid potential defenders. 


. 

.

• BLOCKING 

Contact Blocking Drills 

– Attack Blocking Drill 

Objective is to teach proper technique for 

blocking during a running play. 

Simulates making an isolation block on a LB or 

making a kick-out block on a DE. 

*CP- The player should exaggerate high knees 

throughout the drill. 


– Blitz Pick Up Drill 

Contact Blocking Drills Continued 

Objective is to teach proper technique for 

blocking during a passing play. 

Simulates setting the hands in the defenders 

chest and moving your feet in the 

direction of the defender. 

*CP-The player should work his hips while 

making short choppy steps throughout 

the drill. 


3. PASS CATCHING 

Catching Drills 

– One Hand Grip 

– Over Head Taps 

– Around Waist 

– Around Knees 

– Weaving Legs 

– Alternate One Hand 

– Your RB Routes 


Intermission 10 Minutes 


Keys to basic run plays and pass 

protections 


Running Game 

B B B 

E 

T T E 

QB 

FB 

TB 

TRAP 

FB – must stay compact through the hole, his aiming point is the play side 

hip of the C. 

TB – fakes sweep action away from called play side. 


Running Game Continued 

B B B 

E 

T T E 

QB 

FB 

TB 

LEAD/ISO 

FB – leads up into the hole attacking the inside shoulder of the OLB. 

TB – must step directly to the hole, aiming point is just outside the hip 

of the G. 



B B B 

E 

T T E 

QB 

FB 

TB 

POWER 

FB – attacking the inside shoulder of the DE, kicking him out. Aiming point is 

the inside hip of the T. 

TB – aiming point is the outside hip of the G, must stay inside the hole and 

NOT bounce it to the outside. 



B B B 

E T T E 

QB 

RB 

DRAW 

RB – must be patient and let the play develop, take a parallel step and wait 

for the QB to give you the ball, cut off the fold block. 


Pass Protections 

B B B 

E 

T T E 

QB 

FB 

TB 

INSIDE GAP PROTECTION 

RB – attack the outside hip of the T, creating as much space as possible 

between you and the QB. FB is backside and TB is front side. 

*CP-get as much separation from the QB as possible 


Pass Protections Continued 

B 

E T T E 

BIG ON BIG 

TB – man protection, attacking the B gap looking for the OLB on a blitz. 


B 

QB 

TB 


B


SLIDE 

TB – zone protection, attacking the outside hip of the T picking up any defender 

that shows on the edge. 

B B B 

E T T E 

QB 

TB 




SPRINT OUT 

FB – must attack one yard outside the T, picking up the first defender on 

edge. 

TB – must attack hard outside the FB looking for any defender trying to 

scrap over the top. 

B B B 

E 

T T E 

QB 

FB 

TB 


Drills Video 

& 

Cut Ups 


Questions

How to Coach Running Backs

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