At every level – youth, high school, collegiate and professional – the game of football is constantly evolving. In a previous Skills and Drills, I examined how the NFL has increasingly become a passing-oriented league.

The increasing shift toward passing began as far back as the 1980s. The New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick foresaw this trend in 1991 when he was the defensive coordinator of the New York Giants. The Giants made it to Super Bowl XXV relying on a stout defensive unit that was anchored by Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor.

Even though the Giants led the league in defense, the team went into the game as a heavy underdog against the Buffalo Bills and their vaunted K-Gun offense, which put points on the board through-the-air in a hurry.

This is 1st time since Super Bowl XXV (Bills-Giants) that NFL's top scoring offense and top scoring defense will meet in the Super Bowl.

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 2, 2014

Belichick devised a unique way to stall the K-Gun air-attack. “You guys have to believe me. If Thomas runs for a hundred yards, we win this game,” said Belichick to Pepper Johnson and Lawrence Taylor, two men unaccustomed to allowing these types of games.

During the 1990 season, the New York Giants allowed only one individual to rush for 100 yards – Johnny Johnson of the Cardinals – on their way to compiling a 13-3 regular season record. More interestingly, the Giants faced the Bills in week 15 at home in New York. Thurman Thomas rushed for only 60 yards and the Bills won by a score of 17-13, which was a harbinger of the close game the Super Bowl would also be.

During the Super Bowl, Belichick took measures to ensure Thomas would get his 100 yards, even if his players did not share his vision. Throughout the game, the Giants played a unique defensive alignment that featured only two down-lineman. Essentially, Belichick removed his stout defensive front, which carried his team to the big game, and replaced them with smaller, quicker athletes who dropped into coverage.

In doing so, he was daring the Bills to run.

“I think the running game was the least of our concerns in that game,” Belichick said. “Thurman Thomas is a great back. We knew he was going to get some yards. But I didn't feel like we wanted to get into a game where they threw the ball 45 times. I knew if they had some success running the ball, they would stay with it.”

Ultimately, Belichick knew that even with a Hall of Fame running back carrying the load, it was the air-attack that was more important to defend.

This lesson holds true in today’s game, only four teams averaged 50 percent or more rushing attempts in the NFL last season, which means that 28 teams – 88 percent of the league – put the ball in the air more than they put it on the ground.

Accordingly, this massive shift toward an aerial-attack has forced defensive backs to adapt and become even more athletic. NFL teams closely examine draft-eligible defensive backs to determine their willingness and ability to track and tackle a ball carrier in the open field.

SEE ALSO: Island life: 5 keys to being a successful defensive back

“It’s one of the most difficult aspects of football at any level, especially in this era of four- and five-receiver sets spread across the field,” said NFL Media reporter Steve Wyche.

As the game continues to move in the direction of a passing-oriented offense, this aspect of football will not only become more important, but more difficult as well.

The purpose of this drill is to teach defensive backs how to track a ball carrier and use leverage on the sideline to make a great open-field tackle.

Drill Setup

Place two players, a receiver and defensive back, 10 yards apart and near the hash mark. Players will work toward the nearest sideline, which should give them plenty of room to work and make a big-angle tackle. This is not necessarily a contact drill. Instead, players should focus on tracking the near hip and utilizing proper footwork to come to balance.

Key Coaching Points

Once the whistle is blown to begin the drill, the defensive player must quickly and aggressively run downhill to take away the space from the opposing offensive ball carrier.  The defensive player should do this by tracking the ball carrier’s nearest hip.

Tracking the near hip ensures that the defensive player is forcing the ball carrier toward the nearest sideline or toward defensive teammates. As the ball carrier changes speeds, stutter steps and otherwise alters his running path, the defensive player must also alter his speed, change his angle and pivot his running path to mirror the movement of the ball carrier.

This ensures the defensive player always remains in a near hip alignment.

Sometimes players will lateral run, sometimes they will lateral shuffle, but they always need to be working downhill towards the attack point. Once players reach the contact zone, players will buzz their feet in anticipation of the cutback while staying square to the ball carrier to make a solid open-field non-contact tackle.

SEE ALSO: Skills and Drills: Miami Dolphins pattern running speed turn for defensive backs

Photo courtesy of Northwestern Athletics Department