Defensive Line Technique Manual Milford Football Defensive Line Technique Manual

Defensive Concepts

Principles of Coaching Defense Maximize the speed of your defense. Take away all indecision of the defensive player. Each athlete must always understand: Alignment Assignment Technique Pursuit and Fits. Teach Down and Distance tendencies. Formation Recognition Field Position tendencies. Run to the ball. Effort is coached and modeled. Run with Proper pursuit angles and fits. Teaching Tackling through quality drills. “Never challenge their courage, challenge their technique.” Keys to Tackling Feet underneath and arch back. Chest and shoulder tackle. Rake the hands and grab cloth. Eyes on target and bite the ball with your chin. Run your feet. Tackle specific to position. Coach on the run and create maximum repetitions. Instruction takes place in the classroom not on the field. Use game situation drills that have short lines. Correct on the run not on the time of the next rep. Scout teams must get a rep every 25 seconds. Team Group Pass Skeleton

Principles of Coaching Defense Have your drill progression for individual period completed before practice every day. 15 Minutes Tackling 20 Minutes Individual Coach with enthusiasm and attend to details during individual period. “Coaches are rated good or horse shit by their ability to teach technique during individual breakdown.” Buck Nystrom Coach to stop the Big Plays. Support, Cut Back and Play action. Internal run lanes and Fits. Pursuit Defense is still about hitting, shedding the blocker, and pursuing . Create Hard edges Body to body no less than a 2/3 ratio. Strike the blocker in the teeth. Practice Game Situation. Third Down Red Zone and Goal Line Sudden Change Golden eyes Take the offense out of their comfort zone. Great Kicking game Third and Long Pressure defense Take away best plays. Take away quick answers

Developing a Defensive Scheme. Have a defensive philosophy. Talent level at your school. Opponents schemes. Your personality and back ground. Develop your defensive scheme from your philosophy. Develop a program wide defensive mentality. Toughness Effort When things get tough go back to fundamentals. Alignment and Assignment Tackling Pursuit and run fits.

Understanding “G” Defense D gap C gap B gap A gap A gap B gap C gap 9 8 7 5 4 4i 3 2 1

1. Define techniques. 2. Define drills. 3. Define coaching points. Defensive Line 1. Define techniques. 2. Define drills. 3. Define coaching points.

Coaching Defensive Line Base Techniques Stance. Alignment. Get Off. Get Off and Strike. Strike and Escape. Spark.

Defensive Line Base Technique Chart. Skill Technique Drills Coaching Points Stance Components Three Point Stance Sprinters Stance Inside Hand Down Narrow Base Hand in front of head. Tail higher than head. Alignment Alignment Left or Right Cobra Angle White Finger Tips Reach out Eyes on screws Vertical Alignment a) Snug the ball. No Air. b) Horizontal Tackles - 1, 2, 3, and 4T. Ends - 4, 5, 7, 8, and 9T. Stance and Alignment Stem and Stance Split the Foot Crowd the ball Credit Card Alignment Crotch to foot Tight splits heavier alignment Loose Splits loosen alignment. Get Off Step with back foot. Long stride Replace the down hand with step 1. Move on movement Ball on a rope. Stem and rope Get off and target Figure 8 Figure 8 chase Foot to hand Target shows - Strike Target Inside - Bend GET OFF THE ROCK.

Defensive Line Base Technique Chart. Part Two Skill Technique Drills Coaching Points Strike Make contact with 4/5 Ratio Two hands with thumbs up. Eyes up and hips back Six Point hit. a)Sled b)Partner Chest Hands inside Handle Bar Be first and firm. Hips Back Get off And Strike --------------- Strike and Escape Combo of get off and strike. ----------------------------------- Get Off and Strike Ball at heels depth Post, Rip and Run Sled Drill Partner Chest Partner Shield 1 on 1 ----------------------------- Lock out drill a) Escape to technique b) Escape across gap Sled and ball Carrier Perfect step Get off the Rock Snap the Target Post with lead arm Eliminate Cut back Post, Rip, and Run Finish Spark Lateral Step with heal out Rip and penetrate vertically Get off and Spark Stem and Spark Heal out Vertical push Get the gap

Stance and Alignment 1. Stance Fundamentals. 2. Alignment Fundamentals. 3. Drills and Coaching Points.

Stance Fundamentals 1. Three Point Stance. 2. Inside Hand Down. 3. Greater width than sprinters stance. 4. Narrow Base. 5. Hand in front of head. 6. Tail higher than head.

Alignment Fundamentals Vertical Alignment Snug the ball. Credit Card Alignment. Horizontal Alignment 1Tech - Midline on inside foot of the Guard. 2 Tech - Stripe on Stripe. 3 Tech - Midline on outside foot of the Guard.

Stance and Alignment Alignment Drill 1. Scout Offense. 2. Break Huddle. 3. Align with a perfect stance and perfect vertical and horizontal alignment. 4. Check Points. a. Width of stance and Hand Placement. c. Angle of body and Credit Card Alignment. e. Horizontal alignment .

Teaching Stance, Alignment, and Trade Alignment Drill and Trade 1. Same drill and add TE Trade. 2. Align to Original formation. 3. Use Check Points. 4. Trade TE. 5. Realign and use check points. .

1. Hoop Drill. 2. Ball on a rope. 3. Get off on target. Get Off Drills 1. Hoop Drill. 2. Ball on a rope. 3. Get off on target.

Hoop Drill. Hoop Drill 1. Stance 2. Get Off 3. Bend 4. Finish

Ball on a Rope. Ball on a Rope Drill 1. Coach needs a ball on a rope and line strips. 2. Break Huddle. 3. Align with a perfect stance and perfect vertical and horizontal alignment. 4. Coach will utilize hard cadence and try to draw defensive line offside. 5. Coach pulls rope - line move on movement. 6. Sprint past cone

Get off on Target. Get Off on Target 1. Coach Gives Offensive Linemen Signal. Fist/Reach - Hand/Veer - Twist/Pass 2. Break Huddle. 3. Align with a perfect stance and perfect vertical and horizontal alignment. 4. Player will move and execute when ready. 5. Reach Block a. Big Stride b. React to Target.

Strike and Get Off and Strike Drills 1. Strike and Sled / Partner. 2. Get off and Strike Triangle a. Sled b. Shield c. Partner

Strike and Sled / Partner Strike Sled and Partner 1. The Defensive Tackle will align in a six point stance. A. Stripe on Stripe ( Head up Sled ) 2. On ball movement the Defensive Tackle will snap the punch. A. Hands inside. B. Thumbs up. C. Elbows locked. D. Hips Back. 3. Eyes up.

Get off and Strike Triangle Get Off and Strike - Sled and Shield 1. The Defensive Tackle will demonstrate perfect alignment. 2. On ball movement the Defensive Tackle will use perfect Get Off Technique. A. Foot to Hand. B. Strike on Step #2 3. Strike Technique. A. Hands inside. B. Thumbs up. C. Elbows locked. D. Hips Back. 3. Eyes up.

Escape and Get Off, Strike and Escape Drills.

Escape Drill Lock out and Escape 1. The Defensive Tackle and Ends will frame in a perfect frame. A. Hands inside. B. Thumbs up. C. Elbows locked. D. Hips Back. 2. Ball carrier brakes at heals of Offensive Linemen. 3. Escape A. Post with lead arm. B. Eliminate cut back - Make move when back is at the heals of LOS. C. Post, Rip, and Run. D. Make the Tackle.

Get Off, Strike, and Escape Drill 1. The Defensive Tackle and Ends will demonstrate a perfect alignment. 2. On movement the Defensive Tackle will execute a perfect get off and strike the sled with perfect technique. A. Hands inside and Thumbs up. C. Elbows locked and Hips Back. 2. Ball carrier brakes at heals of Offensive Linemen. 3. Escape A. Post with lead arm. B. Eliminate cut back - Make move when back is at the heals of LOS. C. Post, Rip, and Run and make the Tackle.

Spark Fundamentals and Spark Drill.

Spark Fundamentals 1. Technique used to rip across gaps. 2. Lateral step with heal out. 3. Rip and penetrate.

Spark Drill Spark with Ball on a Rope Drill 1. Coach needs a ball on a rope and line strips. 2. Break Huddle. 3. Align with a perfect stance and perfect vertical and horizontal alignment. 4. Coach will utilize hard cadence and try to draw defensive line offside. 5. Coach pulls rope - line sparks on movement. 6. Sprint past cone

Defensive Line vs. Blocking Schemes. Define Blocks Define Technique Define Coaching Points Define Drills

Defensive Line Technique and Drill Chart. Blocking Schemes. Drills Coaching Points Reach or Base Target Shows -Strike Target. Hips to Gap. Cheese Steak Sandwich the hips. Post, Rip and Run 1 on 1 Recognition 1 on 1 Live 3 on 2 box of hell a) Internal b) 1/2 Line 5 on 4 Box of Hell Strike Handle Bars Hips in Gap Cheese Steak Play on their turf Zone Cheese steak the hips. Destroy lead block. Keep hips in gap 2 on 1 Zone 1/2 Line 5 on 4 Force Double Team Veer Target Inside - Bend on step one. Eyes on the trapper or lead. Trap inside 4/5 of the blocker. Surface on surface Key screws. Bend on step one. No edges

Defensive Line Technique and Drill Chart. Blocking Schemes - Part two. Drills Coaching Points Pull with Turn Block Penetrate - Get flat and chase. No penetration a) Club b) Cross c) Chase Never Quit 3 on 2 Box of Hell a) 3 on 2 - G, C, and G. b) 1/2 Line 5 on 4 Box of Hell Figure 8 Circle Chase Club and cross face. Double Team Target Shows -Strike Target. Feel pressure Pull the Post Sit on Lead 2 on 1 Recognition 2 on 1 Live 3 on 2 box of hell a) Internal Pull the post Sit on lead ( Bar stool). Pass Set Target Shows - Strike target. Attack Target - Feel pressure. Pull on Pressure Make move in lanes. Trace step for draw/ screen. 1 on 1 Recognition 1 on 1 Live Dominate the strike. Move on punch. 1 Move 1 Counter

One on One Tackles and Ends - Reach vs.Veer.

Internal Three on Two Box of Hell.

External Box of Hell - 3 on 2.

Full Line - Six on four.

Nine on Nine

Defensive Line Tackling

Position Tackling - Defensive Line Fundamental Four. Lock out tackle drill. Strike Tackle Shield Sled Player

Defensive Line Lock Out Tackle Drill. Defensive Linemen will lock out on shield Hips in gap. Near am post position. On whistle defensive linemen will post rip and run. Drill can be set for angle tackle or lateral tackle.

Defensive Line Strike Tackle Drill. From a stance the defensive linemen will: Hips in gap. Get off on movement. Strike a blow. Post, Rip and Run. Following the strike and escape the defensive line man will tackle. Drill can be set for angle tackle or lateral tackle.