1. Offensive Line Drills and Progression
Matt Weber
Belleville High School (WI)

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

3. 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

4. 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)

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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!

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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!

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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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