Submit your question to Coach Bass.

Note: Coach Bass receives nearly 100 email questions every week from NFLHS.com visitors. Because Coach Bass tries to respond to every question, you may not see your question answered immediately.

Many NFLHS.com visitors have very similar questions. Before you submit a question, be sure to read Coach Bass' columns about getting faster and getting bigger.

Also, check out his columns about getting started in high school football, recently updated for the 2006 season.

Nick from San Diego sent the following question:

Hey Coach, are there any drills to get better at bump and run? Also how do you defeat the swim move when playing bump in run? Is there a certain way you have to hit the WR to defeat the swim move? What I'm pretty much asking coach is how do you make it hard for the WR to get around you when playing bump and run? Thanks coach for your time. I appreciate you taking the time to read my question.

Hi Nick,

Playing bump and run is one of the challenging and fun techniques that a corner gets to use during the course of the game. It is a technique that can be quite successful in disrupting the timing of the pass play and altering the actual pass pattern.

I always taught my corners to physically take away the inside or outside by their alignment based on the help they either had or did not have from the inside safety. With safety help on the inside, he would line up on the outside of the WR and with no help he would line up inside.

They would line up at an angle with one foot splitting the WR right down the center of his body and off the line and the other foot (either inside or outside foot) on the line of scrimmage. In this position he could forced the WR to usually choose the direction of his release that worked best for the coverage of the corner.

We wanted the corner to never force the bump. If the receiver took a wide release, the corner would go with him and never step up and try to force the bump.

When the receiver releases straight off the line, we taught the corner to drive the palm of his hand, on the side of the release, hard into the center of the chest of the receiver (into the sternum) and stop his release. This area for contact is especially vulnerable if the receiver tries to use a swim move to release off the line. You want to keep your hand close to your body as the play begins so that the receiver cannot force your hand and arm back into your body.

Once you have made this hit, it is very important that you do not take your other hand and hit the receiver pushing him away from you and hurting you coverage.

As you start up the field, keep your focus on the receiver, run on his hip, and watch his eyes, arms and hands for an alert that the ball is coming your way. Maintain a turn where you can see the receiver and the flight of the ball, think incompletion first, tackle second, and then interception when you are playing bump and run.

I am sure you are up to the challenge. Coach Tom Bass.

Genaro from Sylmar sent the following question:

Are there any specific O line drills to help keep your feet moving after contact?

Hi Genaro,

The ability to keep moving your feet on contact is very important for an offensive lineman or any football player. It starts by emphasizing your body position where you have your feet under your hips. To do this you must consciously take shorter quicker steps as you move to make your block, keeping your knees bent and back straight.

I have always felt that a lineman can start with a mirror drill where you get into a hitting position (2 point stance) both arms behind your back. Your partner (lined up directly in front of you, arms length away) moves to the right and left and you work to stay directly in front of him, taking short lateral steps, never crossing your feet.

Once you have the feel for this movement, have your partner start stepping back as an added movement. Now you have to mirror his move to keep your distance from him constant in the drill. This simulates the short quick steps you want to develop when making contact.

Drill two would involve a standup dummy. From your stance, fire out into the dummy (right shoulder - left shoulder) taking short quick steps against little pressure by your partner holding the bag and moving back as he feels contact. Your job should be to take continuous steps to maintain contact with the blocking dummy for five yards.

Allow your partner to increase the pressure requiring more force on your behalf as you still drive for five yards. Make sure you practice every block that you will be asked to do for your offense.

Jumping rope will also help you get your feet moving when you do not have an opportunity to get with your partner. Coach Tom Bass.

Antonio from Louisville sent the following question:

Hey Coach Bass, I'm similar to the other high school senior receiver as I too am a high school senior receiver. I am 6'4, 205 lbs; I max out @ 250 and can rep 225. My 40 speed is 4.65. The only thing is I started playing football for the first time my junior year so I only have two years experience. But I got in my junior year and started my senior year. We also are a run offense but I finished this season with 9 catches, 4 TD, and over 400 yards receiving. I recently got accepted to UK with a full academic scholarship and was hoping to walk-on to their program because I really love football and want to continue playing. Any additional tips for me? Thanks.

Hi Antonio,

Congratulations on receiving your academic scholarship to the UK. That is a great accomplishment. I am sure you have a good feeling concerning your physical preparation needed before fall practice begins. As a walk-on, being in great shape and condition from day one is very important.

Walking-on to any college team is a great challenge, but numerous players do it every year all across our country. The first step would be to contact Coach Rich Brooks or Coach Randy Sanders and let them know that you have been admitted to school, that you have a scholarship, that you have had high school experience and that you are very interested in learning the proper steps you need to take to walk-on to the team.

If possible you might even see if you could attend a camp at the school (usually in June) this summer or at least visit the school and meet with someone from the coaching staff to discuss what to expect as a walk-on.

I really hope this works out for you; you certainly have the numbers (size speed, strength) to play at the college level, have shown that you can handle the academic side of college and that you still have the desire to continue playing football, Good luck. Coach Tom Bass.

Eric from San Diego sent the following question:

Hi Coach, I'm a junior and 6'0" 178 lbs. I play both receiver and cornerback. Are there any tips to help me become better at both positions; specifically route running on offense and tackling on defense?

Hi Eric,

When you work on running your routes, try to be consistent. Make sure you are sprinting off the line, reaching the proper depth when you reach the point where you are going make your break (breaking point), get your head around as make your break, and keep your momentum all through the route.

As you head for the area where you are going to make the catch (reception point), focus on having your hands in the proper position and that you reach for the ball so that you see both your hands and the ball at the moment of the catch.

Every time you make a reception, make a habit of immediately securing the ball and sprinting up the field. Keep track of the number of passes thrown to you and the number you catch, and try to build a confidence in the QB that if he throws to you, you will make the catch.

Finally, as a receiver, practice seeing the coverage, understanding if it is man-to-man or zone coverage, and develop a feel for who will be the defensive player assigned to cover you on the route.

The ability to make a sure tackle is vital for a defensive back. You are the last line for the defense. As you near the ball carrier, the first thing is to come under control, widen your base, and begin taking shorter steps. Be prepared to step in either direction with the foot on the side of the movement of the ball carrier. Try not to cross your feet even if you allow the ball carrier to gain one or two more yards.

As you move into position to tackle, bend your knees, keep your back straight, head up, and eyes wide open. Avoid taking head and shoulder fakes when the player is separated from you.

Explode off of the foot on the side of the shoulder you are going to use to make the tackle (right or left for a head on tackle) (opposite shoulder for the ball carrier moving to your right or left). Drive up and through the ball carrier, pound your arms and hands into the midsection of his body, grab his jersey in both hands, and drive him to the ground.

Practice tackling a ball carrier when he is in the open field, when you have the player pinned to the sideline, and when he is running away from you. A major part of being a good tackler is desire and this is a feeling you will gain as you practice making a safe tackle with correct technique. Coach Tom Bass.

Sammy from Jamestown sent the following question:

Coach Bass, I needing help finding the position to try out for my high school football team. I'm about 5'10 and 266 pounds. My friends tell me to try for defense or offense line. Would that be a better spot for me?

Hi Sammy,

Your decision will ultimately be made or you by your coach. You might consider playing on either side of the ball. If you enjoy lots of contact and have the quickness to react, defense might be the better choice.

As an offensive lineman you do have the advantage of knowing what play will be run, and when the play will start. You also know before the play begins who you are going to block and the block you will use on the defensive player.

Both positions will require running so make sure you set aside a time every day to do some sprints or distance running so that you have the ability to get through an entire practice without becoming overly fatigued. Stay positive and have fun. Coach Tom Bass.

To submit your question to Coach Bass, send an email to "Ask Coach Bass."

"Play Football The NFL Way" is the first Instructional Manual for Football Players and Coaches ever published by the NFL. It is the ultimate position-by-position guide of techniques and drills for Offense, Defense and Special Teams. Author Tom Bass is a former NFL coach with more than 20 years of experience with the Cincinnati Bengals, San Diego Chargers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

For a personalized autographed copy of "Play Football the NFL Way," plus information on Coach Bass Sport Maps--the new Official NFL Licensed Football Guides to watching, enjoying and understanding all the action on the field, for all fans--please visit www.CoachBass.com.

For information on Coach Bass' In-Depth Coaching Clinics, please visit Coach Bass' Clinics and Consultations.

Copyright © Thomas L. Bass 2007. All rights reserved.