Offensive Line Drills and Progression

Offensive Line Drills and Progression Matt Weber Belleville High School (WI) weberm0@Belleville.k12.wi.us

Overview • Stance • Run Blocking • Feet • Punch • Hips • Finish • Pass Protection • Feet • Punch • Demeanor • Drill Progression • Run Pass

Stance • We need to be able to move laterally therefore, a balance stance is necessary. Lineman need to learn both a left and right handed stance. • Teaching a Proper Stance: • Toe to Instep stager at shoulder width (go to armpits) • Bend knees like your going to sit in a chair and set forearms on knees • From that position place hand to ground of which ever foot is staggered • Off hand should be on the outside of the knee ready to strike; not underneath making shoulders unbalanced • Hips should be slightly lower than shoulders

Stance, Continued • Easiest to teach in large group by going through each part of the stance progression • Notice Heels are in the ground; can check balance by knocking out hand (players should not fall forward if balanced)

Run Blocking • Description • Offensively, we work on a zone principle. That means, we are going to try and create lanes for a back to run, NOT JUST A SINGLE HOLE. Therefore, an offensive lineman needs to cover up and/or remove a defensive lineman. By simply covering up a defensive lineman, we do not need exceptional athletes at offensive line as long as they become great with technique! • Rarely do we work vertically (with the exception of double teams) we always want to work on the angle to use the defenders own body against them.

Run Blocking, Continued • Feet • Drop Step • 1st Step-Lose ground and gain width • 2nd Step-Step through the crotch of defender • 3rd Step continue to gain ground and accelerate feet • Bucket Step • Simply a deeper drop step • IF THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND CONCEPT DO NOT TEACH IT; THEY CAN DO WITHOUT IT UNTIL LATER • Drop Step 3 2 0 0 1

Run Blocking, Continued • Punch • With first step, lineman should “get their guns” by bringing hands to hips with elbows bent • On the second step bring punch from hips to chest protector of the defensive lineman • Third Step climb the block and lift and separate from defender • Punch Progression

Run Blocking, Continued • Hips and Finish • As feet move, hips should come with. Players should have a good demeanor meaning hips are down, shoulders slightly forward and feet underneath them. • The finish may be the most important part of the block. Continue to accelerate feet and lockout arms. Over lever the defender and finish to the whistle every time! • Hips and Finish

Pass Protection • Demeanor • Stagger feet (like stance progression) • Bend knees, hips and ankles to sit in chair • Bring chest back • Place hands in front of chest/facemask ready to punch • Demeanor

Pass Protection, Continued • Feet: Kick/Power • Kick step-lose a little ground and gain width • Slide-Second step should follow and get feet back under arm pits • Power-Defensive player goes inside must keep shoulders square and move feet back inside • Key Hints • Cannot stand up as you kick must stay in demeanor • Block with your feet not your body!

Pass Protection, Continued • Punch • Aim for chest protector of defender • Punch with thumbs up and elbows down • Lock onto chest plate and continue to move feet

Drill Progression • The next section is our drill progression • It is essential that you go in order to develop a base knowledge • The Varsity level do a combination of these drills every day! • If there an any questions please feel free to ask or we can set up a time to demo all these drills as a coaching staff

Run Blocking: Drill Progression • Stance • Must develop good stance before anything else • Varsity guys do this everyday for the first week—revisit to fix small problems • One Step • Line the players up on a line; have them work out of a two point to start and work towards a three point stance taking the first drop step; players feet should move off of line at a forty-five • Work both sides in rapid succession going three reps with “set-hit-reset” cadence • Maximize reps to develop good habits • Once they have mastered the first step work into two steps

Run Blocking: Drill Progression • Board Drills (AKA “Four to Five”) • Work them out of a stance with no defender and chop feet to end of the board while staying in a good demeanor • Once a punch is developed, add a defender (Emphasize the players being a good partner to give them their chest and give great resistance!) • Can use in the place of using a sled with a partner on the board 6 5 4 3 2 0 0 1

Run Blocking: Drill Progression • Punch Progression (AKA “Get your Guns” and “Gun Fighter”) • Have players partnered up on a line facing each other on their knees only a few inches apart • Decide which player is the offensive player; this player should start with his hands at the face mask • Using two commands have them get their guns (hands to outside of hips) and then punch their partners chest plate • They should sit on their hips initially and bring them once they bring their punch • Do this drill in quick succession and rotate • Once they get a good punch, make it a competition of who’s got the fastest punch

Run Blocking: Drill Progression • Finish Drill • Once they establish the footwork and punch you can move towards the finish drill • Have them partner up on a line and determine the offensive player • Defensive partner must be in a good athletic two point and shade a determined side of the offensive player • First command the offensive player comes out of their stance and drives the defensive player off the ball • Second command the defensive player attempts to rip past the offensive player forcing the OL to move his feet and maintain the block

Run Blocking: Drill Progression • Finish Drill Continued • Once second command is given for defense the offensive player should over lever by locking out the inside hand and running defender off the ball DL OL

Run Blocking: Drill Progression • Combo Blocks (“Boss and Mates”/ “Pin and Pull”) • Once players have a good understanding of the full individual block add in bosses and mates • One defender and two offensive lineman • Later add a linebacker to come off too • Work the boss (One correct stepping and the other incorrect stepping; “Four hands on four eyes up”) and the mate (Both correct stepping; “three hands on four eyes up”) • Emphasize getting hip to hip on the second step and continuing to move feet!

Run Blocking: Drill Progression • Boss (“Four hands on, Four Eyes up) • Progress to where they need to go off to a LBer

Run Blocking: Drill Progression • Mate (“Three hands on, Four eyes up) • Front side partner should open shoulder; Do not avoid DL work through them • Backside partner should aim for the sternum of the DL and over take but keep eyes up for backer

Run Blocking: Drill Progression • Pin and Pull • Pin player down blocks and pins defensive player • Eventually work where DL tries to fight over the top of pin • Pull player pulls • Can work in additional player to block

Run Blocking: Drill Progression • Half Line Drills • Use half line to work in game situation • Set up two halves and have rapid reps • Can double the reps without doubling the toll on the players • Decide a play to work on and work with backs and receivers as well

Pass Protection: Drill Progression • Two Point Kick and Power • Have them start in their demeanor and kick or power on command • Down the Line Punch • Have three defenders • Player will Kick step down a line and defenders will walk into him; as they walk into him, OL will punch the chest protector

Pass Protection: Drill Progression • Set the Technique • Players will partner up • Have a DL line up as an inside shade, heads-up and outside shade (all separate reps) • OL will then work on setting each individual technique and the footwork it takes to block them • Inside/Out • Groups of three • OL will kick to outside partner and power to inside partner for a period of time then rotate

Pass Protection: Drill Progression • Mirror Drill • Have players partner up • One on defense the other on offense • DL will then move in a defined area and OL will mirror using kick/power • Combo • Work Pass Protection Double team (One OL Kick, One OL power) • Add a blitzing LB later for 7th-8th graders to pick up off block • Half Line • Work Combos and one-vs-one blocks

Offensive Line Drills and Progression