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

Overview Stance Run Blocking Pass Protection Drill Progression Feet Punch Hips Finish Pass Protection 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 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 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 1 2 3 4 5 6

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