Build A Better FB by Kenvin Thurmon

Building a Better
Full Back
1) Choosing a Full Back
2) Full Back Coaching Strategies
3) Taking Advantage of a Gifted FB

Some basic assumptions
 You are coaching a youth football team
 You run at least these 8 basic plays:

1- Power (Toss) 2- Trap
3- Counter 4- Sweep (Lead, Buck, Jet)
5- Wedge 6- G (Belly)
6- PA Pass (Toss action) 8- Straight Drop Back Pass
You have all the usual limitations that youth football presents :
limited practice time
limited attention spans
limited personnel choices
weight/position restrictions
Choosing a Full Back
Is he a Runner or a Blocker?
He’s a Blocker First
 The DW is built on the Toss play, therefore we need a strong blocker at the
FB position.
 The FB’s Kick Out is an integral part of the Power play. Without it, we go
no where.
 He must be able to block many different types of athletes with equal
effectiveness.
 Our downfield and flank attacks require effective blocking from the
FB position.
 Most Sweep, Pass, and Counter plays require Fill or Reach blocking
skills from the FB.
Sweep/C Sweep/
ounter Counter
Sweep Pass Pass Sweep
He’s a Runner First
 The DW can not exist forever on Power, Counter, and Sweep. At some
point you will need a good Trap, Wedge and/or G play to take advantage of
a given defensive technique or alignment.
 A strong running game from the FB position commands the entire

defensive front’s attention- making his fakes much more effective.
 A good fake is worth two good blocks
 A strong running game from the FB position relieves pressure on

your WB’s. Defenses must shift some of their focus to the more
immediate threat from the FB.
 The Power play is powerful and effective by design.. It does not

necessarily need a blocking “specialist” at the FB spot to make it
go. It merely needs an adequate kick out block…this can be
taught.
So…. Is he a Runner or a Blocker?
 In a perfect world, he is great at BOTH. But the Double

Wing can support one or the other if it has to.…You should
never put “just a blocker” here if you have a kid on the team
that can do both.
 In my world, he is a Runner
….who must block effectively if he wishes to remain a Runner.
What do I look for when selecting a Full Back?
 INSTINCT- This above all else. I can’t coach it, so when I find it, I
put it at FB.
That “thing” that some kids have that makes other kids miss tackles.
 Have your kids play some kind of fun “team” game (like Deer Hunter or
Keep Away) and watch them. The instinctive athletes are usually
obvious in these kinds of games.
 Athlete Type-
 1st- Athleticism. Can he play with strength, speed, and balance?
 2nd- Blocking Ability. Is he aggressive and coachable enough to
adequately handle his blocking assignments?
 3rd- Size. The relevance will vary w/ each athlete but a good starting
point would be for the average DE in your league to outweigh the FB by no
more than 30% (this assumes a weight restricted ball carrier league)
** Instinct, Athleticism, Blocking Ability, and Size **
That’s a LOT to hope for in a youth athlete… These kinds of

kids don’t grow on trees and I’m usually lucky to get one or two
of this kind of athlete.
so this usually means one thing:
I must use my best athlete at the FB position and

resist the temptation to put him at WB or QB.
….But this is not a bad thing
 A great runner will threaten more potential points of
attack from the FB position than he will from the WB
position.
1-Wedge
6-PA Pass 4-G Trap 2-Trap 3-Trap Trap 5-G 7-PA Pass
 Your great runner can hit 7 possible points of

attack from the Full Back position using just 4
basic plays .
 9 when you consider that Trap can be run at 4

different holes (2,3,4,5)
Pass
“Off Tackle”
Power/Counter
Sweep
 Your best athlete can only hit 3 potential

points of attack from the WB position….
And it takes 4 of your 8 basic plays to do
it.
….But This is not a bad thing
 My best runner will threaten more potential points of
position.
 Defenses can more easily overload a WB’s limited

number of potential points of attack.
C
C
B B B
E T T T T E
 Defenses can more easily overload a

WB’s limited number of potential points of
attack than they can a FB’s. Making
easier to negate your stud player.
….But This is not a bad thing
 My best runner will threaten more potential points of
position.
 Defenses can more easily overload a WB’s limited

number of potential points of attack.
 Usually, my best athlete will be more than capable of

running and blocking with equal effectiveness.
 Even if my best athlete doesn’t block as well as he runs, it will be
easier for me to teach him to block well than it would be to teach a
“pure blocker” to run well.
Weight Restricted Leagues
 Overall Restricted- All players must be at or below a given weight or
all players must fit within a given weight range. -AN D- and there are no specific restrictions
on player size by position. Usually, all teams possess relative parity in size.
 These sort of restrictions are actually an advantage for a DW Full Back because player
size, and therefore Defensive End size, is limited by the rules.
 Restricted by Position- Unlimited weight league. There are no limitations on

player size -EXCEPT- for Ball Carriers. These positions will normally have a max weight
they can play at.
 In these leagues you will have some limitations on whether or not your best runner can
play the FB spot. -
 If your best runner is an 85 lb. kid in a league full of 150 lb. DEs - He’s probably
not going to work as a FB.
 Figure 25-30% weight differential with the average DE in your league as the
baseline size requirement for your FB. (It’s not as bad as you think)
 Never fail to give a gifted runner who’s a small kid a chance to try the spot if he’s
“snarly” enough….There are some awfully tough small kids out there.
Final thoughts on selecting a Full Back
 I think of my FB in the same terms an I formation coach would think of his

Tail Back. I want the Full Back to be an equal threat to hit any spot along the
front at any time.
 Even if my best athlete plays both WB spots COMBINED (flopping him) I

can only give him 6 potential points of attack from the base set of plays. - That
same kid at FB hits a minimum of 7 potential points of attack from the same
base set of plays.
FB Coaching Strategies
Improving your Full Back’s running ability
Building Explosion and Speed
Teaching the “moves”
Play Mechanics
Frog Leaps and Bunny Hops:
 Done as group drills early in the season or as team conditioning later on.
 Builds leg and lower body strength.
 Builds power- either from a set position or when delivering a blow on the move.
Teaches players how to “uncoil” their bodies during contact to develop maximum
kinetic energy.
kinetic energy.
Squeeze Drill
 Done with all Running Backs over the coarse of the entire season.
 Teaches Runners how to be “All shoulder pads and knees” when running in traffic.
 Teaches ball security.
 Teaches how to take (and deliver) a blow when running with the ball.
Squeeze Drill “Squeezers”
2 yards
Waiting players
1 yard 2 yards coach
Gauntlet w/ 6-8 players

1) The “Gauntlet”- Arrange 6-8 players 1 yard apart from each other and facing in. They
should all be on one knee without sticking their feet or legs into the running lane. They
may use one or both hands to attempt to strip the ball from the runners grasp. They are
NOT to attempt to tackle or knock the runner down.
2) Two “Squeezers” align 2 yards behind the Gauntlet and 2 yards apart from each other.
Each has a hand shield. They are each to take a SINGLE step inside and attempt to
“squeeze” the runner and prevent him from passing between them.
3) A ball carrier will attempt to run down the middle of the Gauntlet. Making sure to keep his body
wrapped over the ball and to expose only “shoulder pads and knees”…he should meet the
Squeezers squarely, making sure to keep his shoulder pads lower than those of the Squeezers.
kinetic energy.
Squeeze Drill
 Teaches Runners how to be “All shoulder pads and knees” when running in traffic.
 Teaches ball security.
 Teaches how to take (and deliver) a blow when running with the ball.
Resistance Running
 Develops a Runner’s speed and acceleration.
 Teaches runners to stay “behind their shoulder pads”
Resistance Running
20 yards
runner runner
1) Mark 2 lines 20 yards apart. Use any type of resistance harness, fit under the arms and
across the chest plate of the shoulder pads. Allow 10 ft’ of rope for the coach hold on to.
2) The Runner should lean his weight against the harness and then attempt to sprint
forward. Making sure to use good form- keep the upper body “quiet” and “out in front
of the feet”
 The coach should offer enough resistance that the runner is just able to move
himself ahead.
3) When the runner hits the 10 yard mark. Release the tension on the harness without
actually dropping the leads and allow him to sprint the rest of the way.
 The best moves are the ones my Runners can use instinctively.
 The best moves are the ones that my Runners can learn easily.
 The best moves rob little or no up field momentum from a Runner.
I teach just 2 basic moves to my Runners …

Stiff Arm- Simple, effective, versatile, and easy to teach and use. You may
find that your tall kids have more success with it than the shorter kids do.
Cut Back- Also simple and effective, but even more versatile than the Stiff
Arm. Generally speaking, just about all runners can to use this move to
enhance their game.
Why do I avoid teaching moves like the Spin & Juke Step?
*** Because these moves take much longer for the average player to master
than the Cut Back or Stiff Arm does.
*** Because these moves are much more INSTINCT dependant. I can teach a
Runner how to do a spin move but teaching him the instinct for using it is not
so easy.
*** Because these move are more likely to rob up field momentum from a Runner,
especially if not used exactly right.
However…If I have a kid that has the natural instinct and

ability to use the Spin or Juke, I will almost never discourage
him from using them…I just won’t burn up a lot of practice
time trying to teach the rest of my Runners to do it like he
does.
The Stiff Arm

1) Teach it to ALL of your ball carrying players.
2) Teach it to be used for “re-directing” a Tackler’s momentum instead of for

delivering a direct “blow” to the Tackler. (Use the Tackler’s own momentum
against him.)
3) Teach it using a “Thumb Down” position with the hand.
4) Start small- teach it using the Stiff Arm drill before moving on to add live
tacklers.
Stiff Arm Drill
Traffic Cone Traffic Cone
Waiting Players
Runner
1) 2 cones are set 10 yards apart from each other on any yard line. The coach puts himself over
the inside cone and is holding a “Heavy Bag” style tackling dummy (if a Heavy Bag is not
available, a regular tackling dummy will do). A Runner places himself 5 yards away from the
inside cone, holding a ball in his outside arm. On the coaches signal he takes off heading
straight for the outside cone.
2) The coach will heave the bag at the Runner, alternating between knee high and shoulder high
throws. He should vary the angle at which he throws the Bag as well.
3) The Runner should attempt to use his inside hand (thumb down) as the “lever” with
which to use the bag’s own momentum to deflect it away from his body. If any part of the
bag touches any part of the runner, he is “tackled”.
Think of this as if the runner is “pushing himself” away from

the bag… instead of pushing the bag away from him.
Stiff Arm Drill
When my Runners show they have mastered the mechanics of the Stiff Arm, I replace
the Bag with a live tackler and run the drill with full contact or thud mode.
Tackler
Traffic Cone Traffic Cone
Waiting Players
Runner
Depending on what part of the body the tackler has exposed to

the Runner- The ideal aiming points for a Stiff Arm are:
1- Top of the helmet (not the facemask)
2- Top of the shoulder plate
3- Chest plate
<Stiff Arm Clips here>
The Cut Back

1) Teach it to ALL of your ball carrying players.
2) Practice it in a variety of drills and situations.
3) Spend equal amounts of time practicing it in both directions.

Triangle Drill
8-10 yards
Traffic Cone Tackling Dummy
Traffic Cone
3 yards
5 yards
Runner
1) 3 Tackling dummies stood on end and arranged in a 3x5 triangle. 2 traffic cones are
set 8-10 yards outside the center dummy. The coach stands in front of the center
dummy holding a blocking shield.
2) The Runner starts from 5 yards in front of the triangle. As he approaches the first two
dummies the coach should quickly step into one or the other “gap”- making sure to
protect himself w/ the shield in case the runner goes the wrong way.
3) The Runner should cut AWAY from the coach and through the opposite ‘side’ of the
triangle. We want him to bend his path back up field and around the traffic cone once
he’s completed his cutback.
Cut Back Drill
(also a great defensive drill).
Tackler
20 yards
3 yards
Any Yard Line

Traffic Cone
Side Line Runner
1) This is a live (full contact) drill, though it can be done in “Thud” mode also. Place a traffic cone 3
yards away from the sideline on any yard line and a second one 20 yards away from the first,
along the same yard line. A Runner and a tackler align over the inside cone facing each other,
and on opposite sides of the line.
2) On the coach’s signal the Runner takes off and is free to use any move he can (juke, change
speeds, shoulder fake, etc.) to force the tackler to over run his pursuit. If he does force the
over-pursuit, he should immediately cut back to the tackler’s inside. If he can’t, he should turn
the run up field as soon as he hits the cone set near the sideline.
3) The tackler’s job is to prevent any up field move at all by the Runner. His first job is to avoid
over pursuing, his next job is prevent the up field cut by the Runner.
<Cut Back Clips here>
Play Mechanics
There are some techniques that don’t necessarily have to be used to insure a
good FB, but they do add form and function to the position. Taken individually
they might seem insignificant, but collectively they are a hallmark of a well
coached FB.
There are many, many aspects to the Full Back’s specific play mechanics. I’ll
address one of my favorite ones:
The Cross Over Step -

Fine Points
The Cross Over step puts a little bit of polish on the FB
position.
 Teach the Cross Over step for all plays where your FB opens in the same
direction as the motion call.
 It takes very little time to teach.

 It gives the QB and pulling lineman an extra foot or so of clearance by
getting the FB’s hips turned away from them.
 It helps put the FB on a proper ‘banana’ path to the DE.

 It gives a more uniform look to all of your plays, enhancing your
misdirection by giving a consistent “Power look” for the first few steps of
every such play.
<Cross Over Clips here>

Improving your Full Back’s blocking ability
Improving the basic skill
Making the Kick Out more effective

 I make liberal use of the Pancake Drill (Pit Blocking). It’s one of the best drills
for working on the different techniques involved in blocking.
 I can get many full contact reps in with little chance of injury.
 It has many variations that can be used to emphasize many different skills.
It teaches players to “finish” blocks.
 The player’s love this drill.
Pancake Drill
1 yrd.
Tackling Dummies Defender Blocker
1) A defender aligns 1 yard in front of a row of 6 tackling dummies laid down as shown
above. A blocker sets him self a yard or two from the defender in whatever stance is
being practiced at the time.
2) The blocker will execute whatever technique is being practiced at the time. The object
being to “finish” the block by driving the defender into the pads on the ground.
for working on the technique of blocking.
 Head Placement is everything. More often than not, all a FB has to do is make
sure his head placement is correct to insure a decent block.
 I stress Head Placement in every blocking drill.
 I want the FB to place his helmet inside defender’s helmet on Kick Out and
Lead blocks, and outside the defender’s helmet on Reach and Pass blocks.
<Head Placement Clips here>

for working on the technique of blocking.
 Head Placement is everything. More often than not, all a FB has to do is make
sure his head placement is correct to insure a decent block.
 I stress Head Placement in every blocking drill.
 I want the FB to place his helmet inside defender’s helmet on Kick Out and
Lead blocks, and outside the defender’s helmet on Reach and Pass blocks.
 Don’t forget the Feet! More than 75% of a player’s power comes from his lower
body.
 Moving the feet after initial contact is imperative if the FB wishes to get any
movement on the man he is blocking.
 I know my FBs aren’t keeping their feet moving when they hit, bounce
back, then recoil and deliver another hit… A sure sign of lazy feet.
Teaching Kick Out mechanics:
 Take the correct path. “Banana route”… Go toward the LOS before going down it.
The Crossover step helps with this.
 “Head in the hole”- like I said before, Head Placement is everything.

 Turn up field if no one shows for the Kick Out. Don’t over extend and lead the WB
and pullers too far outside.
<Kick Out clips here>
Teaching Kick Out mechanics:
 Take the correct path. “Banana route”… Go toward the LOS before going down it.
The Crossover step helps with this.
 “Head in the hole”- like I said before, Head Placement is everything.

 Turn up field if no one shows for the Kick Out. Don’t over extend and lead the WB
and pullers too far outside.
<Kick Out clips here>
 Make liberal use of the Pancake Drill when teaching Kick Out mechanics. It can be
adapted to practice many different nuances to the Kick Out block.
Pancake Drill
2 feet
4 Yards
1) A traffic cone is set 1 yard in front of the tackling dummies. A second cone is placed 4 yards away and
2 yards deeper than the first cone. A third cone is set 2 ft. x 2 ft. to the outside of the second cone. The
blocker aligns in a 3 pt. stance next to the deepest cone. The defender stands next to the first cone
and in front of the tackling dummies while holding a hand shield.
Have the defender turn sideways and brace against the hit. This provides good practice against a
2)common
On
Bring oneDE
in the of technique.
coach’s
your signal,
linemanhis first
and stepthe
have is to be a crossover
players stepKick
practice their withOuts
the backside
against larger players.
foot making sure to step
toward the LOS. He should bend his path around the second cone so that his path arcs toward the
defender. He should aim for the defender’s INSIDE shoulder. The correct Head Placement here is to
have his helmet INSIDE of the defender’s helmet.
3) As always- I insist that the FB keep his feet driving and finish the block by driving the defender into the
pads.
Making the Kick Out (EVEN MORE) effective
These techniques can be easily adapted into your basic play mechanics to
improve your Full Back’s Kick Out blocks. Whether you are trying to improve
sub-par blocking abilities or simply trying to give your FB every possible
advantage, these two little tricks can make a world of difference.
The “Brush By”- Using the threat of a “Down” or “Reach” block to

make the Kick Out easier.
- Brush By’s are used to “temporarily distract” a Defensive End. That is: we do
not want to directly impede his up field momentum. Instead, we just want to
interfere with it a little. The goal is to pass so close to him that he must first (if
even for just a split second) divert his attention to the player executing the brush
by and away from the approaching FB. This simplifies the FB’s block since the
DE can no longer focus all of his efforts on defeating the Kick Out .
 Brush by’s should be employed by the WBs primarily, but since I sometimes
run my Power plays very tightly, the TEs should know how to do it also.
<Brush By clips here>
Making the Kick Out (EVEN MORE) effective
Defeating the “Stalemated” Kick Out
 “Bench, Bend, & Dig”- For whatever reason, a FB will sometimes find
himself stalemated on his Kick Out. When ever the FB finds himself in a
situation where his block has been negated, we want him to:
“Bench” - Extend his arms fully (as in a “bench” press) and push the DE
away.
“Bend” - Arch his body into the DE (roll the hips) while extending his arms for
maximum leverage.
“Dig” - Dig in with his feet and attempt to drive his legs.
<Stalemated Kick Out clips here>
Making the Kick Out when all else fails

 Get help for the FB. (Have the QB double team the DE)
<QB double DE clips here>
Taking Advantage of a Gifted
FB
Getting him the ball in open space
Enhancing your existing FB plays

FB
Throw him the ball! - The FB is the hardest single receiver to account for in the
DW. Since I put my best kid at FB, I want to take advantage of this by finding ways to
throw him the ball in places where he can do the most damage.
 I make him the second option on my PA passes instead of the third.
It takes an exceptional youth QB to quickly read 3 receivers anyway,
I might as well reduce the number of ‘reads’ he needs to make while
improving the chances of getting the ball to my best kid.
Make the FB option number 2 on your Play Action pass.
Option #
(3)
1
Option #
2
FB

It takes an exceptional youth QB to quickly read 3 receivers anyway, I might
as well reduce the number of ‘reads’ he needs to make while improving the
chances of getting the ball to my best kid.
 I design pass routes intended to clear out a specific zone for him. I sometimes
use my TE’s and WB’s to “run off” defenders and slip the FB in underneath them.
Design pass routes intended to clear out a specific zone for the
FB.
S
C
C
B B B B
E T T E
TE
WB WB
<FB Pass clips here>

FB

 I use plays that others might not ever consider. Plays like a Full Back Sweep are
practical additions to my playbook when my FB is a fast runner
88 FB Sweep
<FB Sweep clips here>

FB

practical additions to my playbook when my FB is a fast runner.
 I put him in motion to expand my options w/ him. (also adds a nice twist to some
of my other plays)
FB Motion.
<FB Motion clips here>

FB

practical additions to my playbook when my FB is a fast runner
 I put him in motion to expand my options w/ him. (also adds a nice twist to some
of my other plays)
 I will cross train him to play WB occasionally to run Sweeps or down field Passes.
FB
The G Play:
 Hit the hole HARD. The Cross Over step should be employed to help the FB
keep his shoulders as square as possible. Cross over, then plant the second step
and hit the hole.
 Practice having the FB bend the G play outside just after he clears the first level
of the D. This can make for some big gains if you can get a decent block on the
play side LB by your play side WB.
 Use Heavy (Tackle Over) formations to create defensive bubbles. Use this
randomly and don’t over use it…..If you practice aligning in Heavy formation as
you break the huddle instead of shifting to it, you’ll have better odds odds of
catching the defense off guard.
You can also use a “Wings On” call to gain a similar advantage.
<G clips here>

FB
The Trap Play:
 PATIENCE , PATIENCE, PATIENCE! Don’t rush this play. Teach the FB to use
the pulling G as his “Go” cue. As soon as the G’s butt crosses his face, then he
can go. ..Once he does go, go hard and fast! Traps generally do not do well with
FBs that do not accelerate well from a standstill. <see Bunny Hops & Frog Leaps>
 Don’t Advertise- Stay low and don’t ‘pop up’ prior to taking the handoff.
 Focus on getting the LBs blocked. Always use your play side WB and TE to
block LBs. Don’t send either one of them after a Safety, or any defender aligned
deeper than the play side LB, or the MLB in a one LB defense.
 Wouldn’t you prefer to have your FB running one-on-one against a Safety
rather than a LB???
<Trap clips here>

FB
The Wedge Play:
There isn’t much a FB can do to improve the Wedge play other
than:
 Keep the knees high- Step “On or Over” anything that gets in the way.
-AND-
 Always be on the lookout for seams that might develop in the Wedge. The
Wedge can be a big yardage play.
….But in the end, a great Wedge
IS ALL ABOUT THE PLAY OF YOUR LINE
<Wedge Clips here>

Building a Better
Full Back
Kevin S. Thurman
This presentation is posted at:
www.The-Endzone.net
Follow the “Offensive Resources” link
Questions or comments-
CoachThurman@The-Endzone.net

Build A Better FB by Kenvin Thurmon

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Building a Better

1) Choosing a Full Back

2) Full Back Coaching Strategies

3) Taking Advantage of a Gifted FB

 You run at least these 8 basic plays:

 A strong running game from the FB position commands the entire

 A strong running game from the FB position relieves pressure on

 The Power play is powerful and effective by design.. It does not

 In a perfect world, he is great at BOTH. But the Double

That’s a LOT to hope for in a youth athlete… These kinds of

I must use my best athlete at the FB position and

 Your great runner can hit 7 possible points of

 9 when you consider that Trap can be run at 4

 Your best athlete can only hit 3 potential

 Defenses can more easily overload a WB’s limited

 Defenses can more easily overload a

 Defenses can more easily overload a WB’s limited

 Usually, my best athlete will be more than capable of

 Restricted by Position- Unlimited weight league. There are no limitations on

 I think of my FB in the same terms an I formation coach would think of his

 Even if my best athlete plays both WB spots COMBINED (flopping him) I

Improving your Full Back’s running ability

Building Explosion and Speed

Teaching the “moves”

Gauntlet w/ 6-8 players

I teach just 2 basic moves to my Runners …

However…If I have a kid that has the natural instinct and

The Stiff Arm

2) Teach it to be used for “re-directing” a Tackler’s momentum instead of for

3) Teach it using a “Thumb Down” position with the hand.

Think of this as if the runner is “pushing himself” away from

Depending on what part of the body the tackler has exposed to

The Cut Back

2) Practice it in a variety of drills and situations.

3) Spend equal amounts of time practicing it in both directions.

Any Yard Line

Side Line Runner

The Cross Over Step -

 It takes very little time to teach.

 It helps put the FB on a proper ‘banana’ path to the DE.

<Cross Over Clips here>

Improving your Full Back’s blocking ability

Improving the basic skill

Making the Kick Out more effective

<Head Placement Clips here>

 “Head in the hole”- like I said before, Head Placement is everything.

 “Head in the hole”- like I said before, Head Placement is everything.

The “Brush By”- Using the threat of a “Down” or “Reach” block to

Making the Kick Out when all else fails

Getting him the ball in open space

Enhancing your existing FB plays

 I make him the second option on my PA passes instead of the third.

<FB Pass clips here>

 I make him the second option on my PA passes instead of the third.

<FB Sweep clips here>

 I make him the second option on my PA passes instead of the third.

<FB Motion clips here>

 I make him the second option on my PA passes instead of the third.

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….But in the end, a great Wedge

IS ALL ABOUT THE PLAY OF YOUR LINE

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