--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The two biggest things to understand when…" description: "\"The two biggest things to understand when you're tracking the ball as a defensive back is your position on the field and understanding that once the ba..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/antonio-cromartie-37906_air_the-two-biggest-things-to-understand-whe_2817057.jpg" --- # The two biggest things to understand when you're tracking… ![“The two biggest things to understand when you're tracking the ball as a defensive back is your position on the field and understanding that once the ball is in the air you become the receiver. Too many young defensive backs worry about the receiver catching it or what the receiver is doing instead…” quote by Antonio Cromartie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/antonio-cromartie-37906_air_the-two-biggest-things-to-understand-whe_2817057.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/antonio-cromartie-37906_air_the-two-biggest-things-to-understand-whe_2817057.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/antonio-cromartie-37906_air_the-two-biggest-things-to-understand-whe_2817057.jpg) > “The two biggest things to understand when you're tracking the ball as a defensive back is your position on the field and understanding that once the ball is in the air you become the receiver. Too many young defensive backs worry about the receiver catching it or what the receiver is doing instead of focusing on what they should be doing. Just go out and make the play yourself, don't worry about him. Know where the ball is and attack it. Put yourself in position to bat it or catch it and make the play.” [Antonio Cromartie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-cromartie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Defensive backs should focus on positioning and ball tracking, not the receiver, to make the play themselves. **In simple terms:** Focus on position and ball, not receiver. Key Takeaway Control your own play. Themes sports strategy focus self‑reliance Mood focused confident Type instructional motivational When to use this quote - football training - game preparation - mental focus Key Concepts defensive tactics situational awareness Questions to Reflect On - How can you improve your positioning? - What drills enhance ball‑tracking skills? A Different Perspective Pressure from teammates can distract. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Defensive backs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defensive-backs/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) ## Related quotes > [I do a good job in terms of tracking the ball and seeing where it's going to go, if it's going to bounce off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hart/i-do-a-good-job-in-terms-of-tracking-the-ball-and-seeing-where-it-s/) [Josh Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hart/) > [In the mid-1990s, I was a young offensive coach. I received sound advice that I had a better chance ascending on the defensive side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/in-the-mid-1990s-i-was-a-young-offensive-coach-i-received-sound/) [Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/) > [When we have the ball, we're all offensive players. When we lose the ball, we're all defensive players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shkodran-mustafi/when-we-have-the-ball-we-re-all-offensive-players-when-we-lose-the/) [Shkodran Mustafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shkodran-mustafi/) > [There's a famous saying: "If you pass the square ball in your own defensive third it must not be intercepted."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-taylor/there-s-a-famous-saying-if-you-pass-the-square-ball-in-your-own/) [Graham Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-taylor/) > [There's been a ton of studies being done now on your bone length as it pertains to your chances of playing a receiver position,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-payton/there-s-been-a-ton-of-studies-being-done-now-on-your-bone-length-as/) [Sean Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-payton/) > [Everybody has to play for their team and accept his role, even if you are in a defensive position sometimes. That is the key…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ballack/everybody-has-to-play-for-their-team-and-accept-his-role-even-if-you/) [Michael Ballack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ballack/) > [I think everybody works from a defensive position, for the most part, in the film industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-oldham/i-think-everybody-works-from-a-defensive-position-for-the-most-part/) [Will Oldham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-oldham/) > [I can play at full back on either side, but I prefer the central defensive position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-boateng/i-can-play-at-full-back-on-either-side-but-i-prefer-the-central/) [Jerome Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-boateng/) > [Defensive backs are the best players on the field. But when you get an exceptional player like a Deion Sanders or a Darrell Green…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/defensive-backs-are-the-best-players-on-the-field-but-when-you-get-an/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) > [When you let those defensive backs know that you're a physical player, they don't really want to tackle. That's it. That's why you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezekiel-elliott/when-you-let-those-defensive-backs-know-that-you-re-a-physical-player/) [Ezekiel Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezekiel-elliott/) > [You have to be physical. If you are not, defensive backs will try to pick on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-johnson/you-have-to-be-physical-if-you-are-not-defensive-backs-will-try-to/) [Calvin Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-johnson/) > [Defensive backs are always trying to kill me, so I'm trying to get them first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hines-ward/defensive-backs-are-always-trying-to-kill-me-so-i-m-trying-to-get/) [Hines Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hines-ward/) > [Obviously, teams are passing a lot more, and there are rules that... allow the offense to be more explosive, so you want to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nnamdi-asomugha/obviously-teams-are-passing-a-lot-more-and-there-are-rules-that-allow/) [Nnamdi Asomugha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nnamdi-asomugha/) > [You want bold? Ask the hundreds of defensive backs I ran over during my career if they think I'm bold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-bettis/you-want-bold-ask-the-hundreds-of-defensive-backs-i-ran-over-during/) [Jerome Bettis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-bettis/) > [I feel like I know what defensive backs are going to do before they do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amari-cooper/i-feel-like-i-know-what-defensive-backs-are-going-to-do-before-they/) [Amari Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amari-cooper/) ## More by Antonio Cromartie > [You need to make sure you're going exactly where your guy goes in press coverage. In zone, you can read the quarterback and his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-cromartie/you-need-to-make-sure-you-re-going-exactly-where-your-guy-goes-in/) [Antonio Cromartie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-cromartie/) > [You need to just understand where the ball is and how to use your body. Timing your jump the right way is crucial. Learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-cromartie/you-need-to-just-understand-where-the-ball-is-and-how-to-use-your/) [Antonio Cromartie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-cromartie/) > [My all-time favorite interception was picking off Peyton Manning back in 2007, the one-hander down the sideline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-cromartie/my-all-time-favorite-interception-was-picking-off-peyton-manning-back/) [Antonio Cromartie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-cromartie/) > [A lot of the routes cornerbacks have to defend are quick underneath routes, so it's tougher to get a chance to track the ball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-cromartie/a-lot-of-the-routes-cornerbacks-have-to-defend-are-quick-underneath/) [Antonio Cromartie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-cromartie/) > [I miss football, but I'm not done. I'm not retired or anything, I just know my worth. Once it's clear that the NFL isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-cromartie/i-miss-football-but-i-m-not-done-i-m-not-retired-or-anything-i-just/) [Antonio Cromartie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-cromartie/) > [Until White America can look through the eyes of a Black man, nothing will change. Even we as Black people sometimes don't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-cromartie/until-white-america-can-look-through-the-eyes-of-a-black-man-nothing/) [Antonio Cromartie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-cromartie/) > [Figure out where you are on the field. If you're past 15 or so yards, the ball is going down the field. When you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-cromartie/figure-out-where-you-are-on-the-field-if-you-re-past-15-or-so-yards/) [Antonio Cromartie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-cromartie/) > [I’m going with Darrelle Revis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-cromartie/i-m-going-with-darrelle-revis/) [Antonio Cromartie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-cromartie/) > [I play a lot of basketball and racquetball, as they're both great for your feet and hand eye coordination. Other drills can help as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-cromartie/i-play-a-lot-of-basketball-and-racquetball-as-they-re-both-great-for/) [Antonio Cromartie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-cromartie/) > [You need to understand the receiver and the offense you're facing that week. Know his tendencies and what routes he runs out of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-cromartie/you-need-to-understand-the-receiver-and-the-offense-you-re-facing/) [Antonio Cromartie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-cromartie/) > [We used a racquetball and threw it off the wall as hard as we could, then tracked it down with our eyes and feet.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-cromartie/we-used-a-racquetball-and-threw-it-off-the-wall-as-hard-as-we-could/) [Antonio Cromartie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-cromartie/) [Explore all 12 Antonio Cromartie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-cromartie/) ## More Air quotes > [I will be a tireless advocate for our District's defense priorities including Sheppard Air Force Base, Pantex, Bell Helicopter, universities conducting important research, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-jackson/i-will-be-a-tireless-advocate-for-our-district-s-defense-priorities/) [Ronny Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-jackson/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [If U.S. air, naval, missile, and ground forces were not in and around Korea, and if we were not treaty-bound to fight alongside South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/if-u-s-air-naval-missile-and-ground-forces-were-not-in-and-around/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [The cooler days have brought a wistful mood upon him. The smell of coalsmoke in the air at night. Old times, dead years. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/the-cooler-days-have-brought-a-wistful-mood-upon-him-the-smell-of/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [I'm a candle flame that sways in currents of air you can't see. You need to be the one who steadies me to burn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadine-gordimer/i-m-a-candle-flame-that-sways-in-currents-of-air-you-can-t-see-you/) [Nadine Gordimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadine-gordimer/) > [It is sometimes said that scientists are unromantic, that their passion to figure out robs the world of beauty and mystery. But is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/it-is-sometimes-said-that-scientists-are-unromantic-that-their/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [After a few mouthfuls of moon-flavored air, even the stubbornly drowsy can find themselves wide-eyed.. All the normal noises of life were gone, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-a-few-mouthfuls-of-moon-flavored-air-even-the-stubbornly-drowsy/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) > [There was a little nook on Air Force Two that contained the vice presidential seal, and I would sort of wedge myself in there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-biden/there-was-a-little-nook-on-air-force-two-that-contained-the-vice/) [Jill Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-biden/) > [Words are substance strange. Speak one and the air ripples into another's ears. Write one and the eye laps it up. But the sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-beachy-quick/words-are-substance-strange-speak-one-and-the-air-ripples-into/) [Dan Beachy-Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-beachy-quick/) > [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [...As the disparity between the rich and the poor grows, the fight to corner resources is intensifying. To push through their "sweetheart deals," to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/as-the-disparity-between-the-rich-and-the-poor-grows-the-fight-to/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Washington bureaucrats have classified the very air we exhale as a pollutant and have gone unchallenged in this incredible assertion. The logical consequence is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/washington-bureaucrats-have-classified-the-very-air-we-exhale-as-a/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [“It is unnatural to fear something natural.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/it-is-unnatural-to-fear-something-natural/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) Browse all 6,278 Air quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The two biggest things to understand when you're tracking the ball as a defensive back is your position on the field and understanding that once the ball is in the air you become the receiver. Too many young defensive backs worry about the receiver catching it or what the receiver is doing instead of focusing on what they should be doing. Just go out and make the play yourself, don't worry about him. Know where the ball is and attack it. Put yourself in position to bat it or catch it and make the play.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Antonio Cromartie" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-cromartie/the-two-biggest-things-to-understand-when-you-re-tracking-the-ball-as/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Air" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-cromartie/the-two-biggest-things-to-understand-when-you-re-tracking-the-ball-as/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/antonio-cromartie-37906_air_the-two-biggest-things-to-understand-whe_2817057.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/antonio-cromartie-37906_air_the-two-biggest-things-to-understand-whe_2817057.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/antonio-cromartie-37906_air_the-two-biggest-things-to-understand-whe_2817057.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The two biggest things to understand when you're tracking the ball as a defensive back is your position on…” — Antonio Cromartie", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Antonio Cromartie", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-cromartie/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The two biggest things to understand...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-cromartie/the-two-biggest-things-to-understand-when-you-re-tracking-the-ball-as/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-cromartie/the-two-biggest-things-to-understand-when-you-re-tracking-the-ball-as/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```