Stance/Starts (Takeoffs)

Objective: To develop an effective stance and takeoff from the line of scrimmage.

Equipment needed: one football, lined field

Description: Place athletes in eight columns along the goal line. After instructing athletes on the proper stance techniques, bring the first eight athletes to the L.O.S.. Check each one of their stances, correcting improper technique. When all eight athletes have been cleared, place football on L.O.S., instructing athletes to take off five yards on the ball’s movement.Once players have mastered the drill, add a second coach to point a direction for the Dlinemen to break down and pursue..Coaching Points: Feet Direction – Always pointed in intended directionStagger – Always some stagger even if only slightHands – off hand parallel slightly off ground (never resting on legWeight Distribution – balanced (lateral) v. elongated (passing situation) v. bunch (short yardage).Take-off – power step with back foot; low pad levelCadence – Defensive linemen should go on ball movement not the coach’s cadence.

L.O.S.

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Sled Punch (phase I)

Objective: To develop the upper-body mechanics of defensive linemen, including their hip roll, hand placement, and separation

Equipment Needed: sled/hand-held pad

Description: The defensive lineman begins the drill positioned slightly less than an arm’s length from the pad. He has his knees on the ground, with his toes coiled behind. His arms are relaxed, and his hands are at the height of the jersey number. On the coach’s command (or ball movement), the defensive lineman strikes the pad outward and upwards, locking his arms while rolling his hips.

Striking the blow – palms and heels of handsAiming Point – outside front numbers – folding pointPower - quickness (no winding up)Locking Out – adds strength and separationLeverage – shoulder level must remain lower than opponent

Coaching Points: make fit (check palm position)lock out (point out the strength gained from larger muscle groups)roll hips head and shoulders should be monitored by next in line, making sure they are never above the dummy’sStrike the blow a. quicknessb. lock outc. hip roll

Three – Point Explosion (Phase II)

Objective: To develop the ability of defensive linemen to get their lower body to work in concert with their upper body when delivering a blow.

Equipment Needed: sled/ hand-held pad

Description: A defensive lineman begins the drill positioned in the proper three-point stance, head-up on the sled/pad. On the coach’s command (or ball movement), the player engages his hands delivering an extended blow while taking a power step with his back foot and rolling his hips.

Coaching points: The player must be quick – engaging hands without winding up and then stepping.The player’s pad level must remain below the sled’s/pad’s.make fit (check palm position)lock out (point out the strength gained from larger muscle groups)roll hipsStrike the blow a. quicknessb. lock outc. hip roll

Three – Point Explosion against live blocker (Phase III)

Objective: To develop the ability of defensive linemen to get their lower body to work in concert with their upper body when delivering a blow against a live blocker.

Equipment Needed: fully equipped opponent

Description: A defensive lineman begins the drill positioned in the proper three-point stance, head-up over the offensive lineman. On the coach’s command (or ball movement), the player engages his hands delivering an extended blow while taking a power step with his back foot and rolling his

hips. The lineman continues taking short choppy steps while maintaining a low center of gravity and extension until the coach blows the drill dead. Coaching points: The player must be quick – engaging hands without winding up and then stepping.The player’s pad level must remain below the offensive lineman’s.make fit (check palm position)lock out (point out the strength gained from larger muscle groups)roll hipsStrike the blow a. quicknessb. lock outc. hip roll

L.O.S.

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Phase I-III – may be done on a sled or using hand held dummies. A coach may also use a football and cadence to simulate a snap (defensive linemen should go on movement). Practice partners should increase resistance as technique improves.

Shedding Blocks

1. Knee Rips

2. One Step Rip

3. Two Step Rip

4. Full Attacks

5. Attack and Hit

1. Knee RipsEquipment: Hand Pads, if Shoulder pads are not worn yet

Objective: Teaching the arm part of a proper Rip Attack.

Directions: Both players kneel across from each other on the same knee. One player takes the opposite hand from the knee they are on and on command, rip with appropriate arm, grab opposite wrist and raise to the sky.

Coaching Points:

Punch to the sky with the arm doing the rip move

DL Shedding Drills

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Knee Rip Drill

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2. One Step RipsEquipment: Hand Pads, if Shoulder pads are not worn yet

Objective: To teach players the proper footwork and rip execution.

Directions: DL will stand in front of a hand pad or man and execute one step rips right and left. One coaches command players will take one step and rip (Same Arm, Same Leg)

Coaching Points: 6-8 inch power step, same arm, same leg. Attack half the man or pad. Don’t push the man away, Upper cut punch through half the man

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One Step Rip Drill

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Step and Rip

3. Two Step RipsEquipment: Hand Pads, if Shoulder pads are not worn yet

Objective: To teach players the proper footwork and rip execution.

Directions: DL will stand in front of a hand pad or man and execute Two step rips right and left. One coaches command players will take Two steps and rip (Same Arm, Same Leg)

Coaching Points: 6-8 inch power step with the first step, recover with the second, same arm, same leg. Attack half the man or pad. Don’t push the man away, Upper cut punch through half the man

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Two Step Rip Drill

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2 Steps and Rip

4. Rip DrillEquipment: Hand Pads, if Shoulder pads are not worn yet

Objective: To teach players the proper footwork and rip execution when taking on an offensive lineman.

Directions: DL will stand 1 yard in front of a hand pad or man and execute full rips right and left. One coaches command players will attack and rip (Same Arm, Same Leg)

Coaching Points: Moving with low pad level, react and attack, same arm, same leg. Attack half the man or pad. Don’t push the man away, Upper cut punch through half the man, Keep your head up.

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Rip Drill

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Full Rip

5. Hit and ScrapesEquipment: Hand Pads, if Shoulder pads are not worn yet

Objective: To teach players the proper footwork and rip execution when taking on an offensive lineman and scraping off to make the tackle.

Directions: DL will stand 1 yard in front of a hand pad or man. After the coach snaps the football, the DL will execute the phase III drill and finish with full rips right and left.

Coaching Points: Moving with low pad level, react and attack, same arm, same leg. Attack half the man or pad. Don’t push the man away, Upper cut punch through half the man, Keep your head up.

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Hit and Scrape Drill

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Rip and Scrape

Form Tackle

Push/Pull Drill

Objective: To develop the ability of defensive linemen to fight pressure with pressure and invert the offensive lineman’s shoulder pads to the line of scrimmage, thus taking away his power angles on both scoop and reach blocks

Equipment Needed: None

Description: The coach fits up each defensive lineman with an offensive lineman in a two point stance. The offensive linemen are standing erect, with the coach standing behind the defenders to give instruction. The defensive linemen are to close their eyes s the coach points to either the right or the left. The offensive linemen have their hands on the defender’s shoulder pads. When the coach points, they should push on the shoulder pads. When the defensive linemen feel the push, they should push back and pull with the opposite arm, turning the shoulders of the offensive linemen.

Coaching Points:The defensive linemen should have a lot of bend in their knees, as well as proper hand placement on the breast of the offensive linemen.When their shoulder is pushed, the defenders should push back and keep their feet moving in the direction of that pushThe defensive linemen should pull with their other hand. This action will move the offensive linemen’s other shoulder into them and cause the offensive linemen’s shoulders to turn.By having the defensive linemen close their eyes, the coach is taking ways the element of guessing and, in the process, forcing the players to rely on the feeling of pressure.

Tackling Drills

1. FIT Drill

2. 4 cone

3. Wrap it up

4. Mirror

5. Head Across

6. Eye Opener

1. FIT DrillEquipment: Hand Pads, if Shoulder pads are not worn yet

Objective: To teach Players the proper technique for tackling

Directions: Athletes partner up and line up across from one another

On “Chop” Defenders chop feet

On “Attack” Defenders attack and wrap, keep feet chopping

On “Drive” Defenders Drive the RB Backwards

Coaching Points

Stay low (Low Pad Level!), head up and to the outside, never stop your feet (Run the Feet), good wrap (Club Arms) and drive through!

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FIT Drill

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2. 4 Cone tacklingEquipment: 4 cones per group

Objective: To teach Players the proper technique for tackling and getting their head to the outside

Directions: RB and DL will mirror each other on opposite cones, the RB will break to the side the coach tells him to and the DL will have to sprint to get his head to the outside, form tackle and drive.

Coaching Points

Stay low (Low Pad Level!), head up and to the outside, never stop your feet (Run the Feet), good wrap (Club Arms) and drive through!

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4 Cone Tackling Drill

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3. Wrap it UpEquipment: 4-6 agile pads

Objective: To teach Players the proper technique for tackling and the importance of “Club Arms” and wrapping up.

Directions: Linemen start 2 yds facing a RB. On “Go” RB try’s to get past LB and DL must wrap up and hang on to drive the RB backwards.

Coaching Points

Stay low (Low Pad Level!), head up and to the outside, never stop your feet (Run the Feet), good wrap (Club Arms) and drive through!

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Wrap it Up Drill

4. Mirror DrillEquipment: 4-6 Agiles

Objective: To teach Players the proper technique for tackling and the proper way to attack, with out creating a cut-back lane for the RB

Directions: RB jogs laterally, then picks a lane to cut up, the

Defender shuffles laterally, then attacks ball carrier when he cuts and executes a form tackle and drive

Coaching Points: Stay on the RB’s back hip, Stay low (Low Pad Level!), head up and to the outside, never stop your feet (Run the Feet), good wrap (Club Arms) and drive through!

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Mirror Drill

5. Head AcrossEquipment: 4 Agiles per Group

Objective: To teach Players the proper technique for tackling and getting their head across and to the outside

Directions: On “Go” RB and DL will mirror each other to the opposite bags, the RB will cut back to the middle and DL will have to sprint to get his head across and form tackle.

Coaching Points:

Stay low (Low Pad Level!), head up and to the outside, never stop your feet (Run the Feet), good wrap (Club Arms) and drive through!

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Head Across Drill

6. Eye OpenerEquipment: 9 cones

Objective: To teach Players the proper technique for tackling and getting their head across and to the outside

Directions: RB with ball jogs toward the middle cone then chooses either the right or left lane, Defender will keep his feet moving toward the middle cone then react to the RB and attack with a good form tackle.

Coaching Points: Stay low (Low Pad Level!), head up and to the outside, never stop your feet (Run the Feet), good wrap (Club Arms) and drive through!

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Eye Opener Tackling Drill

Square Drill

Purpose: Develop quicker reaction time and technique to defend against various blocking schemes.

Equipment Needed: None

Procedure: 1)Line up two defensive linemen across from two other defensive linemen (Note: Defensive Ends and Defensive Tackles may be used interchangeably. However, like-sized athletes should used in each group).2)Designate a pair of linemen as “offense” and “defense”3)Have the offensive linemen coordinate their blocking assignments through a series of hand signals and set a snap count.1= double team right2= double team left3= reach right4= reach right5=pass1)On the snap count the offensive line performs their blocking assignments and defensive linemen react accordingly.2)Conclude the drill with a whistle

Coaching Points: •offensive linemen must exert effort and quality blocking technique for the drill to be effective•defensive tackles that are double teamed must

get skinnychange levelsnot give ground

1)defensive tackles that are unblocked must close down square to the LOS while preparing for a kick-out block. 2)Defensive tackles must fight through the head when defending a reach block.

1)low extension2)do not give ground

Square DrillHave the offensive linemen coordinate their

blocking assignments through a series of hand signals and set a snap count.

1= double team right2= double team left3= reach right4= reach right5= pass

Ultimate Effort

Objective: To develop the ability of defensive linemen to chase the football after it has been thrown.

Equipment Needed: A lined field; a football

Description: The coach aligns the players in the defensive front in their positions and has them rush the passer on the snap of the ball. The coach simulates the actions of the quarterback by taking a five-step drop and throwing the ball to one of four stationary receivers. The defensive linemen should run to the spot of the throw until the other defenders get there. They should then break down and sprint off the field.

Coaching Points: Take off – initiated by opposing man or ball…whatever moves first. Reduce pass set up time.Elevation – Don’t allow set up time. Pad level must remain low.Straight Line – anticipate where the passer will be when the ball is released. Stay in pass rush lanes.Feet – choppy steps when engaged. Long strides when disengaged. Toes always pointed towards passer.Hands – inside position. Create lanes by pushing and pulling pass blocker. Hands up when quarterback begins throwing motion. NEVER LEAVE FEET.Relentless pursuit

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Ultimate Effort