5 Steps to Being a Shutdown Defensiveback

     1) Vision
The first step to performing as a shutdown Defensive back is training your field vision. As a DB you must have the ability to see play's develop before the ball is snapped. Only then will you be able to respond quickly enough to either jump your receiver's route or come down low to provide run support. Timing is of the absolute essence and with experience the game should "slow down" enough for you to recognize what's going behind the line of scrimmage or what route your receiver  is about to run. With practice simple things like counting the quarterbacks drop steps will become more evident making it easy to jump a route and take a pick the distance.
     2) Footwork
Every DB should spend the majority of their practice's perfecting their footwork in one way or another. Of course the backpedal is paramount if your a Cornerback; nothing is more embarrassing than getting your feet tangled up or falling backwards due to a lack of balance while our receiver sprints past you for an open go route. While in the backpedal you should always be aware to never turn his back to the ball especially once the ball is in the air; a smooth flip of the hips placing to DB's chest towards the QB will place you in perfect position to go for a pick.
     3) Flexibility
Flexibility is often overlooked in the training of football player's, but with all of the strange and awkward positions a DB will find his body going into flexibility should be worked on everyday. Dynamic stretching will prevent rips and tears as well as boost power and overall speed. ask yourself how many hours a day does a sprinter spend stretching and the reasons for him doing so should become obvious. Good flexibility also improves balance witch is crucial to prevent being shook by a back or receiver.
     4) Hands
I hear all the time that DB's are only receivers that cant catch the ball; that may have held some bearing in the past but in today's more pressure is put on DB's to create turnovers than ever. Once the ball is in the air, you as a DB must recognize that you have just as much rights to ball as the receiver next to you. Tons of money is spent on fancy gloves, but only repetition will ensure that your hand's respond when the football is thrown your way. Ideally the jugs machine is the way to go when it comes to building this skill.
     5) Guts
A defensive back must never be afraid of the game and he must have a short memory. Because of the DB's isolated position in the game we more often than not find ourselves in one on one clutch situations. You may find yourself in a jump ball position with the game depending on your ability to defend that receiver alone by yourself with no help whatsoever. Or you could just as easily find yourself  as the only man able to stop the hulking running back sprinting for the touchdown. It doesn't matter just make the play. If you fail, so what your team never should have let the play progress so far; but if you succeed your a star and people love you for it.