DEFENSIVE LINE PLAY

Importance of Defensive Line PlayPast 10 BCS National Champions ranked among the Top 10 in the country in Defense. Each had phenomenal DL’s including 24 NFL 1st round picks.

10 Defensive Linemen selected in the 1st round of the 2012 NFL Draft. 13 Defensive Linemen in 2011.

As the game has evolved has become one of the biggest money positions in the NFL

Ability to demoralize an offense by physically dominating at the point of attack

Importance of Defensive Line Play Re-establishing the line of scrimmage makes an offense 1 dimensional

Ability to create HUGE defensive plays for ourselves and for our team-mates

Have the ability to eliminate both the run and the pass

Gain the mental edge by physically dominating at the point of attack

Qualities of Great Defensive Linemen Pride - Takes pride in himself, his work, his team-mates, and his school.

Aggressiveness - Is determined to have a reputation as a tough, physical, and aggressive football player. An aggressive reputation produces a mental edge on opponents.

Toughness - Toughness is not just expected it is demanded. A player cannot survive in the trenches if he is not tough. He must be willing to throw his body around, knowing that the key to his success is his ability to play with pain. Be determined to be the toughest player on the team.

DL Attitude – E.V.R.EXPLOSIVE – VIOLENT – RELENTLESS (E.V.R.)

Explosive – Off the snap, into the blocker, off the blocker, to the ball, and into the ball carrier

Violent – Violent strike with hands, violently grab cloth, violently throw the blocker away from me, violently bring the ball carrier down, violently strip the ball away.

Relentless - Relentlessly pursue the ball carrier. Every play is yours to make. The average football play is 6 seconds long, as a football player you are athletic enough to give 100 percent effort for 6 seconds at a time. Make a play!

Essential Skills of Defensive Line Play Great Stance

Perfect Alignment Knowledge of Assignment

Explosive Start (Key) Blow Delivery / Violent Hands

Gap Control Violent Escape

Relentless Pursuit Tackling

Pass Rush Ability

Grading Goals Alignment = 100% Get Off = 100%

Blow Delivery = 70% Pad Level = 70%

Execution of Assignment = 70% Create Separation / Violent Release = 70%

Pursuit = 90% Total Grade = 80%

Essential Skills of Defensive Line Play

Great StancePurpose - Teaching fundamental movements of stance and

footwork in regards to first movement off the football.

Feet Underneath Body Toe to Instep Stagger Screw Upfoot Into Ground Elbows On Knees Position Stretch inside hand (Inside hand down) Tripod on Fingertips Butt slightly over shoulders Even weight distribution Off hand up and ready to strike

Stance

Stance

Movement Drills10 Yard Get Off

Purpose - Teaching fundamental movements of stance and footwork in regards to first movement off the football.

Attack and React Great Stance and Alignment (Crowd the ball) Key Movement (Ball or Man) Hips initiate movement Replace quickly with power step (leverage) Short, quick steps Flat back (Hide the #’s)

Movement Drills10 Yard Slant Get Off

Purpose - Teaching fundamental movements of slant footwork including tying the hands and feet together while reading an adjacent lineman to violently penetrate a gap.

Key Movement Hips Initiate Movement Have move in mind (Club Rip/Arm Over) Flat step, stay square, dip inside shoulder, Do NOT rise. Read Hip of Adjacent OL and React Accordingly To me: Cross Face/Backdoor, Away: Penetrate

Movement Drills10 Yard Hip Flips

Purpose – Develop dynamic hip flexibility and quick lateral feet in order to get skinny, turn a corner, and get off blocks.

Low pad level Quick lateral feet, no cross-over, do not click heels Work push-pull technique down the line Stay square to the line and do not drift Elbow and Shoulder initiate hip flip

Movement Drills10 Yard Wave

Purpose – Develop lateral agility, body control and, change of direction skills reacting off a visual key.

Fire out with hips, hat, and hands to OL Heel Line. Low pad level, work to keep hips back and hide the #’s Quick lateral feet, no cross-over, do not click heels Work push-pull technique down the line Stay square to the and don’t drift On burst signal, stay low and accelerate to 10 yds

Movement DrillsHat Recognition

Purpose – Develop the eyes and feet to be able to react to an offensive lineman’s movement to quickly find and pursue the ball carrier.

Key ball to OL, eyes on screws, hat tells us where to go Low with step Right/Left = A Run Right/Left Fire out with hips, hat, and hands. Follow down heel line End man sets wall at cone 10 yards away, others surround, buzz feet, and break. High hat = Pass (execute move and surround QB) Draw, screen, and fumbles will be added.

Additional Movement Drills

Align and StartAgility Bags Ropes Hoops 3 Cone 5-10-5 Tennis Ball Drills Slant and Long Stick Reaction

Blow Delivery ProgressionQuick Hands

Purpose – Develop quick movement of our arms so we can get our hands on and control a offensive blocker before he can control us. Can be done on sled, wall, bag, live partner and can emphasize different aspects such as aiming points or arm speed.

6 point stance, cleats dug in, butt back, flat back. Arms strike quickly without raising pad level Thumbs up, elbows disappear into cylinder of body Aiming points are the #’s or sternum & bicep/shoulder Maintain lockout position throughout, DON’T cock back

Blow Delivery ProgressionHip Strike

Purpose – Develop use of the hands & hips to generate power in delivering a blow while quickly gaining control of a blocker and maintaining separation.

6 point stance, cleats dug in, butt back, flat back. Fire out with legs rolling hips forward as if we were jumping out for distance Hands fire immediately in a locked out position Full extension of hips and arms, should fall on belly

Blow Delivery Progression3 Point Hip Strike

Purpose – Develop use of the hands & hips to generate power in delivering a blow while quickly gaining control of a blocker and maintaining separation from a 3 point stance

3 point stance, cleats dug in, butt back, flat back. Coiled spring ready to explode Hips initiate movement, feet stay in ground, hands/hat/hips all fire at same time Full extension of hips and arms delivering a forcefull blow Maintain great pad level hands on #’s, eyes gap side below hands while maintaining lockout

Blow Delivery Progression3 Point Buzz and Release

Purpose – Develop quick first step with our blow delivery to gain leverage while maintaining foot drive to rock a blocker back so we can violently release and make a play.

3 point stance, cleats dug in, butt back, flat back. Coiled spring ready to explode Hips intiate movement hands/hat/hips all fire at same time 1st step follows and must stick in the ground before we make contact Buzz feet, create seperation, rip off and accelerate

Alignment