Defensive Line Fundamental Techniques & Drills Coach Hughey

1.Do your Job – 2.Dominate the LOS – Nobody runs the football against us! 3.Affect the QB – Hurry, Hit, Sack. 4.Maximum Effort – Play with a Motor! 5.REFUSE TO BE BLOCKED – Create the mentality. 6.#1 Defense in the country “IT ALL STARTS UP FRONT”

REFUSE TO BE BLOCKED!! One man cannot block us. Two men cannot move us. “Every time I Put My Hand On The Ground, It Has To Mean Something”

RELAX – Do not tense up. Be ready to explode. REHEARSE – Know your assignment REACT – Quick movement to diagnose and defeat blocker.

Pre-Determine your move. Have a plan! No lateral steps, always work toes towards QB. Get off on movement! Close the gap on the OL right now! Flip your hips as you get to the blocker and start your move. Work a half man technique with all moves. Work move close to blocker, know his set. No WASTED movement. Use violent hands on ALL moves. Rush with a fiery passion, REFUSE TO BE BLOCKED!! AFFECT the QB

10 Keys that I believe are vital for success : 1.Align for Success 2.Know your assignment – this comes through making the most of your reps in practice. Read and understand the scouting report. 3.GET OFF on movement!! 4.Be Physical with Your Hands – Do not catch, punch VIOLENTLY. Stab & Grab. 5.Keep the feet moving – Accelerate the feet on contact! Always maintain a powerful base!

6.Be Coachable – use the technique taught. Take pride in being a technician. 7.Know The Situation – Understand the personnel and down & distance. Use provided information to maximize performance. 8.Watch Film – Must know the opponent. 9.Run! – When in doubt, RUN TO THE BALL!. Motor cannot stop until off the field. 10.REFUSE TO BE BLOCKED! – One man cannot block us. Two men cannot move us. Take pride in being unblockable, be tenacious. Accept the challenge.

Eye Control will be on the near knee of the OL lined up on. Looking for the knee to: 1. Come to you (Base/Drive) 2. Break away (Inside Release/Pull) 3. Across face (Reach) 4. Kick step (Pass Set)

Attack Point = spot in which we place our hands Stab the sternum of the OL with the man (power) hand Gap (leverage) hand grab and control the outside shoulder (“Stab & Grab”) Thumbs are up and elbows are in tight to body Must be violent with punch Grab as much cloth as possible!! Shoot the hands to the attack point, feet will follow hands

Short read step Explode off of power foot and get the second foot in the ground ASAP. If not, we become a one legged defender Must maintain powerful base and have balance for re- direct. Never stop feet In a passing situation, we make a “Go” or “Easy” call which allows a bigger first step to close distance on blocker

Tight Reach – Man Step w/ Hips to Heat, Press LOS! Flat Reach – Hips to Heat (Alert for Over Reach) Inside Release – Step Replace, Press LOS! * STAY SQUARE AS LONG AS POSSIBLE AND ALWAYS MAINTAIN POWERFUL BASE AND KEEP FEET MOVING (VIOLENT FEET).

Always Align for Success! Five Types of Alignment: 1.Normal – Nose to the shoulder pad of the OL. 2.Heavy – Nose to the “V” of the neck of the OL. 3.Gap – Nose to the middle of Gap. 4.Head Up – Nose to nose with the OL. 5.Tilt – Nose to the hip of OL

Comfortable, powerful, functional. Man (shade) hand is down. Down hand is front of face for two reasons: 1.Ensures we fire “out” and not “up” 2.As long as our hand is in front of our face, we are never off-sides. Feet begin slightly wider than shoulder width apart. Toe to ball of foot stagger. Can use toe to heel stagger in passing situation. Weight is distributed on the outside foot. Off Hand is cocked and ready to fire.

Base Steps – working lateral through the chute while maintaining a good pad level while working to develop a strong base. Step Recover – working diagonal through the chute while maintaining a good pad level while working to develop a good base when reacting to an inside release. Man Step – Working vertical through the chute in 3 or 4 lines. Begin in a great stance. Get off low and get in as many steps as possible halfway through the chute, then reset and finish through the end.

 4 DL line up on LOS 5 yards from coach.  On coaches’ movement, DL will rush to coach.  On coaches’ signal, the DL will redirect accordingly.  No wasted movement. Looking for plant, sink, point toe, drive, finish  Will work lateral, screen, draw, pass

 Start in the “fit” position, which is man hand on the sternum and gap hand on the outside shoulder pad, with your nose on the bottom of the OL numbers. Grab as much cloth as possible.  On command, accelerate your feet with while maintaining a good base and obtain lockout position.  Maintain position and accelerate feet until whistle blows.

 Begin in three point stance facing OL  On movement, execute get off, stabbing man hand to the sternum, grabbing outside shoulder of OL with gap hand, facemask in between. (3 Points of Contact)  As 3 points of contact are made, accelerate feet and work for full extension with hands slightly above the eyes.  Maintain position and foot drive until whistle is blown.

 Knees  Read Step and Hold (three point)  Full w/ finish on whistle (three point)

 Start in the “fit” position  When the DL feels drive pressure, he accelerates his feet while maintaining a strong base and locks out his man arm right now, while keeping his hands above his eyes working to squeeze the blocker into the gap.  Eventually work in Gap and Cross face release (Rip or Wipe).

 Start in the “fit” position  When DL feels the OL trying to get to his outside shoulder, he must attain lock out right away with heavy outside hand pressure while working his “hips to the heat”, trying to work the OL vertical and keep the gap as small as possible.  Eventually work in Gap and Cross face release (Rip or Wipe).

 Start in the “fit” position  When the DL feels the OL going away from him, must lock the man arm out right now and work hips and feet lateral and square into a position that blocks the OL from climbing to the second level right away. Must stay square and work blocker vertical!

 Begin in three point stance.  Align with nose to the V of the neck.  Eyes are on the outside/inside knee of the OL.  When the outside/inside leg comes to you, strike the OL with the man hand to the sternum and the gap hand to the outside shoulder pad (stab & grab) and accelerate feet while maintaining a strong base and lock out the inside arm right now, while keeping the hands above the eyes working to squeeze the blocker into the gap.  Eventually work in Gap and Cross face release (Rip or Wipe).

 Begin in three point stance.  Align with nose to the V of the neck.  Eyes are on the outside/inside knee of the OL.  When the outside/inside knee comes at an angle, strike the OL with the man hand to the sternum and the gap hand to the outside shoulder pad (stab & grab) and attain lock out right away with heavy outside hand pressure while working the “hips to the heat”, trying to work the OL vertical and keep the gap as small as possible.  Eventually work in Gap and Cross face release (Rip or Wipe).

 Begin in three point stance.  Align with nose to the V of the neck.  Eyes are on the outside/inside knee of the OL.  When the outside/inside knee breaks away, strike the OL with the man hand to the sternum and the gap hand to the outside shoulder pad (stab & grab), must lock the inside arm out right now and work hips and feet lateral and square into a position that blocks the OL from climbing to the second level right away. Must stay square and work blocker vertical!

 Start in the “fit” position  When the DL feels drive pressure, he accelerates his feet while maintaining a strong base and locks out his man arm right now, while keeping his hands above his eyes working to squeeze the blocker into the gap.  As soon as the defender gets the OG on a different level, get skinny to split the blockers and immediately square up, throwing the elbow to knock the tackle off the “wash” angle.

 Start in the “fit” position  When the DL feels down pressure, he accelerates his feet while maintaining a strong base and locks out his man arm right now, while keeping his hands above his eyes working to squeeze the blocker into the gap.  As you see the “flash” (Puller), after squeezing the OL, work to cross his face (Squeeze & Cross).

 Start in the “fit” position  When the DL feels inside release, lock the man arm out right now and work hips and feet lateral and square into a position that blocks the OL from climbing to the second level right away. Must stay square and work blocker vertical!  When DL feels OL trying to wash down, must come off inside release. Transition gap hand and eyes into down blocking OL and squeeze him back, must stay square!  If the DL gets a good squeeze, he may work across the face.

 Start in the “fit” position  When the DL feels inside release, lock the man arm out right now and work hips and feet lateral and square into a position that blocks the OL from climbing to the second level right away. Must stay square and work blocker vertical!  As the DL feel the OL trying to cut him off (Scoop), play through the inside releasing OL. Never get cut off (Scooped). We always play through the Scoop block.

 Begin in three point stance.  Align with nose to the V of the neck.  Eyes are on the outside/inside knee of the OL.  When the outside/inside leg comes to you, strike the OL with the man hand to the sternum and the gap hand to the outside shoulder pad (stab & grab) and accelerate feet while maintaining a strong base and lock out the man arm right now, while keeping the hands above the eyes working to squeeze the blocker into the gap.  As soon as the defender gets the OG on a different level, get skinny to split the blockers and immediately square up, throwing the elbow to knock the tackle off the “wash” angle.

 Begin in three point stance.  Align with nose to the V of the neck.  Eyes are on the outside/inside knee of the OL.  When the outside/inside leg comes to you, strike the OL with the man hand to the sternum and the gap hand to the outside shoulder pad (stab & grab) and accelerate feet while maintaining a strong base and lock out the inside arm right now, while keeping the hands above the eyes working to squeeze the blocker into the gap.  As you see the “flash” (Puller), after squeezing the OL, work to cross his face (Squeeze & Cross).

 Begin in three point stance.  Align with nose to the V of the neck.  Eyes are on the outside/inside knee of the OL.  When the outside/inside knee breaks away, strike the OL with the man hand to the sternum and the gap hand to the outside shoulder pad (stab & grab), must lock the gap arm out right now and work hips and feet lateral and square into a position that blocks the OL from climbing to the second level right away. Must stay square and work blocker vertical!  When DL feels OL trying to wash down, must come off inside release. Transition outside hand and eyes into down blocking OL and squeeze him back, must stay square!  If the DL gets a good squeeze, he may work across the face.

 Begin in three point stance.  Align with nose to the V of the neck.  Eyes are on the outside/inside knee of the OL.  When the outside/inside knee breaks away, strike the OL with the man hand to the sternum and the gap hand to the outside shoulder pad (stab & grab), must lock the man arm out right now and work hips and feet lateral and square into a position that blocks the OL from climbing to the second level right away. Must stay square and work blocker vertical!  As the DL feel the OL trying to cut him off (Scoop), play through the inside releasing OL. Never get cut off (Scooped). We always play through the Scoop block.

 Work blocking schemes in a bigger piece, using multiple combinations of OL and DL.

 Work blocking schemes vs. a full OL

 Combo drill with DE & LB vs. Zone Read Scheme

 Start in three point stance.  Align with nose to gap.  OL will line up in two point stance, 2-3 yards away. When ready the OL will run backwards to create separation.  The DL will react to movement and work to close the gap as quick as possible and tag the OL on the shoulder.

 Two DL in three point stance facing the coach 5 yards away.  On movement, rush to QB (Coach)  The DL that sees the QB chest with put near hand up.  The DL that sees the QB butt will not put hands up and just run through the QB.

 Two DL in three point stance facing the coach 5 yards away.  On movement, rush to QB (Coach)  As QB hand comes off the ball, the DL will leap vertical while putting the gap hand up.  The man hand must stay on OL to protect DL.

 Stab Drill  Sling Shot  Arm Over  Arm Under  Counter Club / Throw By  3 Whistle Drill (Tempo)

 Slap Club  Slap Rip  Fast Hands – Slap Club, Slap Rip  Club Rip  Speed Drill (Clear Hips)

 Come to Balance  One Way Go (Come to Balance w/ Lateral Step and Finish Vertical!!)  Two Way Go (Come to Balance w/ Lateral Step and Finish Vertical!!)  Angle

 Work with Reach and Drive  Stay up on the Tackle!

 Work off a blocker  Execute a low (Gator) tackle on ball carrier (Bag).