How Does A CornerBack React To A WideReciever End Around and Crackbacks?

Question

I have played football for 2 years, this season will be my third.

I have never played CB and i have the speed, reaction/catchup speed, and hands. I can back pedal and stay with the receiver. The only thing i don't understand is what i do if the receiver does a end around, or a screen and the slot receiver comes to crack back. Do i follow the receiver on an end around? stay on my side of the line of scrimmage? how do i avoid crackbacks?

BTW

This is Freshman football.

Answer 1

Keep your back turned to the guy (probably a receiver) who is trying to crackback you. If he blocks you in the back, it's a penalty. Keep your head on a swivel. Make sure it is actually an end around and not a fake. The defensive end should be staying at home to help you out on this. As a corner, your first resposibility is the pass so your first three steps should always be backwards to read the play.Once the guy with the ball has passed the line of scrimmge, go tackle him immediately.

Actually, the outside linebacker on your side should be the one worried about getting crackbacked, not you. If you see the wideout going to block him. you should scream "CRACKBACK!!!" to let him know it's coming. An end around is not your primary concern, it's a pass. But once you know it's a run, go help. Don't let the ball carrier get outside where there's no help. Keep him turned inside where there is help coming.If you fly up all the time thinking it's a run, eventually they will burn you on a fake run and throw it right over your head and he will take it to the house. Good luck this year.

Answer 2

Stick with your man...don't let him get too much separation and when sticking with him don't bump into anyone becuase that will give him even more room and you won't be able to catch up... just stay on the balls of your feet and don't let him make that catch

Answer 3

You need to talk to your defensive coach about these questions.  It's his job to get the defense to act as a "unit".

He may want you to "key" on the receiver and follow him.  Or his defensive scheme may require you to hold your territory.

The objective of offensive "movement" is to confuse the defense and  overload areas or open areas up for receivers.

No matter how good you are, if you don't understand and implement the defensive scheme, you'll hurt the team more than you'll help it.

As far as avoiding "crackbacks", you need to develop field vision.  Constantly be aware of your surroundings.  The easiest way to perform a crackback block is when you're going after someone who's singularly focused and not paying attention to the surroundings.

The more experience you get, the better you'll be at developing field vision.

Good luck.  Have a GREAT season.

Answer 4

Usually your responsibility will first be to notify the rest of the defense with the call of "REVERSE! REVERSE!" You should not follow the man tho, as there is a chance that the play will be a fake reverse and the ball will be coming your way. If you did follow him, there would be nobody "Home" to stop the play if everyone else ALSO followed. The DE and CB need to make sure that the back side of the play is protected.

When the play begins to develop and you recognize it as a potential reverse, you need to start looking for the FB or OL coming back on a lead block. Crack Back blocking shouldn't be a concern for a CB as he will be the guy furthest to the outside of the play. DE's and LB's however do ned to wory about them. Turning their backs to the outside will not protect them as they will be considered in the line of scrimmage when the crack back occurs, making it a legal block. That is why they must keep their body square to the line and head on a swivel. I could go on, but it starts getting complicated from here.