Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry’s short-range explosiveness and closing burst are the product of his tailor-made Two-Step Break technique. “Tap-Tap is what we call it,” Berry says. “When you come out of your break, you don’t plant off one foot, you plant off two.”
Berry’s technique involves planting with one foot slightly toed out, then immediately driving forward off the opposite foot to explode out of the break. To break left, plant first with your right foot toed out, then with your left foot, which should be pointing forward and slightly left. The two plants should happen as quickly as possible.
Unlike the traditional T-Plant, which forces a player to open his hips away from the ball and excessively toe-out with his back foot, the Two Step allows Berry to keep his hips facing the play at all times. In addition, the Two Step is more efficient in generating a sudden burst than the Bicycle Technique, which involves chopping of the feet.
Master your Two-Step Break with the drill below.

Backpedal and Break Drill

• Backpedal three to four yards, perform Two-Step Break and explode forward and right 45 degrees
• Repeat pattern but break to left
• Continue alternating direction for specified reps

Sets/Reps: 2×4 with 45 seconds rest between sets