1. Def. Line Play– Youth

2. Stance
- Stay balanced
- Modified sprinter’s stance
- Inside foot back
- Inside hand down
- Flat back
- Look through eyebrows
- Load off front foot
- Pop hips & extend as you come off ball (See popper drill)
- Keep off hand in ready position with fingers spread apart & arm cocked to deliver a strike

3. Other points of emphasis related to stance
- Must be able to move in either direction
- Fire off low & fast
- You must have a great take-off
- Don’t step TOO BIG; First step should replace down hand
- Control your gap
- Find the football
- Attack the Ball
- Do your job

4. Inside hands
- Inside hands wins (See gunfighter drill)
- Be physical with your hands & deliver a blow…. Shock & Shed
- Get your face, hands, & feet in your gap
- Strike with the heels of your hands, thumbs together, fingers spread apart,
** This allows you to steer your opponent

5. Get hands “locked on”
- Find buckles, straps, cloth
- Work hands, drive blocker, & bench press Oline (See hands, drive, press drill)
- A heavy emphasis on hands will keep dlineman from leaning on their opponent or chest bumping

6. Playing the run
- Always starts with a great takeoff
- Shoot your hands to your target
- Squeeze & separate by grabbing cloth & locking out to get good separation
- Escape/ Get off block to make play
- Secure your gap, find the ball, & sprint to finish

7. Playing the Pass
-- Always work to the QB as a “Level Rusher” (Take good angles by not over rushing the play)
-- Find the Oline’s Pass Set position & Work in towards the QB from there
Use dip & rip technique by dipping & reducing shoulder area, staying low, picking up $100 dollar bill, & lean into blocker (See drill)

8. May also use club & rip technique
- Use same foot- same hand technique, stay level in your rush, find the QB,
- Teach the dline to strip the ball from the QB
- More advanced rushers might also use Slap, Grab, & Rip