Defensive Line

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Defensive Line Drills
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• 
  Stance/Starts (Takeoffs)
• Objective To develop an effective stance and
  takeoff from the line of scrimmage.
• Equipment needed one football, lined field
• Description Place athletes in eight columns
  along the goal line. After instructing athletes
  on the proper stance techniques,
• bring the first eight athletes to the L.O.S..
  Check each one of their stances, correcting
  improper technique.
• When all eight athletes have been cleared,
• place football on L.O.S., instructing athletes to
  take off five yards on the balls movement.
• Once players have mastered the drill, add a
  second coach to point a direction for the
  Dlinemen to break down and pursue.
• .
• Coaching Points
• Feet Direction Always pointed in intended
  direction
• Stagger Always some stagger even if only slight
• Hands off hand parallel slightly off ground
  (never resting on leg
• Weight Distribution balanced (lateral) v.
  elongated (passing situation) v. bunch (short
  yardage).
• Take-off power step with back foot low pad
  level
• Cadence Defensive linemen should go on ball
  movement not the coachs cadence.

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With Pursuit
Coach
Coach
L.O.S.
DL
DL
DL
DL
DL
DL
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Sled Punch (phase I) Objective To develop the
upper-body mechanics of defensive linemen,
including their hip roll, hand placement, and
separation Equipment Needed sled/hand-held
pad Description The defensive lineman begins
the drill positioned slightly less than an arms
length from the pad. He has his knees on the
ground, with his toes coiled behind. His arms
are relaxed, and his hands are at the height of
the jersey number. On the coachs command (or
ball movement), the defensive lineman strikes
the pad outward and upwards, locking his arms
while rolling his hips. Striking the blow
palms and heels of hands Aiming Point outside
front numbers folding point Power - quickness
(no winding up) Locking Out adds strength and
separation Leverage shoulder level must remain
lower than opponent Coaching Points make fit
(check palm position) lock out (point out the
strength gained from larger muscle groups) roll
hips head and shoulders should be monitored by
next in line, making sure they are never above
the dummys Strike the blow a. quickness b.
lock out c. hip roll
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Three Point Explosion (Phase II) Objective
To develop the ability of defensive linemen to
get their lower body to work in concert with
their upper body when delivering a
blow. Equipment Needed sled/ hand-held
pad Description A defensive lineman begins the
drill positioned in the proper three-point
stance, head-up on the sled/pad. On the coachs
command (or ball movement), the player engages
his hands delivering an extended blow while
taking a power step with his back foot and
rolling his hips. Coaching points The
player must be quick engaging hands without
winding up and then stepping. The players pad
level must remain below the sleds/pads. make
fit (check palm position) lock out (point out the
strength gained from larger muscle groups) roll
hips Strike the blow a. quickness b. lock
out c. hip roll
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• Three Point Explosion against live blocker
  (Phase III)
• Objective To develop the ability of defensive
  linemen to get their lower body to work in
• concert with their upper body when delivering a
  blow against a live blocker.
• Equipment Needed fully equipped opponent
• Description A defensive lineman begins the
  drill positioned in the proper three-point
  stance,
• head-up over the offensive lineman. On the
  coachs command (or ball movement),
• the player engages his hands delivering an
  extended blow while taking a power step with his
  back foot and rolling his
• hips.
• The lineman continues taking short choppy steps
  while maintaining a low center of gravity and
  extension until the
• coach blows the drill dead.
• Coaching points
• The player must be quick engaging hands without
  winding up and then stepping.
• The players pad level must remain below the
  offensive linemans.
• make fit (check palm position)
• lock out (point out the strength gained from
  larger muscle groups)

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Phase I-III may be done on a sled or using hand
held dummies. A coach may also use a football
and cadence to simulate a snap (defensive linemen
should go on movement). Practice partners should
increase resistance as technique improves.
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DL Shedding Blocks
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Shedding Blocks

• Knee Rips
• One Step Rip
• Two Step Rip
• Full Attacks
• Attack and Hit

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DL Shedding Drills
1. Knee Rips Equipment Hand Pads, if Shoulder
pads are not worn yet Objective Teaching the
arm part of a proper Rip Attack. Directions
Both players kneel across from each other on the
same knee. One player takes the opposite hand
from the knee they are on and on command, rip
with appropriate arm, grab opposite wrist and
raise to the sky. Coaching Points Punch to the
sky with the arm doing the rip move
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Knee Rip Drill
DL
DL
DL
DL
DL
DL
C
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DL Shedding Drills
2. One Step Rips Equipment Hand Pads, if
Shoulder pads are not worn yet Objective To
teach players the proper footwork and rip
execution. Directions DL will stand in front
of a hand pad or man and execute one step rips
right and left. One coaches command players will
take one step and rip (Same Arm, Same Leg)
Coaching Points 6-8 inch power step, same arm,
same leg. Attack half the man or pad. Dont
push the man away, Upper cut punch through half
the man
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One Step Rip Drill
DL
DL
DL
Step and Rip
DL
DL
DL
C
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DL Shedding Drills
3. Two Step Rips Equipment Hand Pads, if
Shoulder pads are not worn yet Objective To
teach players the proper footwork and rip
execution. Directions DL will stand in front
of a hand pad or man and execute Two step rips
right and left. One coaches command players will
take Two steps and rip (Same Arm, Same Leg)
Coaching Points 6-8 inch power step with the
first step, recover with the second, same arm,
same leg. Attack half the man or pad. Dont
push the man away, Upper cut punch through half
the man
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Two Step Rip Drill
DL
DL
DL
2 Steps and Rip
DL
DL
DL
C
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DL Shedding Drills
4. Rip Drill Equipment Hand Pads, if Shoulder
pads are not worn yet Objective To teach
players the proper footwork and rip execution
when taking on an offensive lineman.
Directions DL will stand 1 yard in front of a
hand pad or man and execute full rips right and
left. One coaches command players will attack
and rip (Same Arm, Same Leg) Coaching Points
Moving with low pad level, react and attack, same
arm, same leg. Attack half the man or pad.
Dont push the man away, Upper cut punch through
half the man, Keep your head up.
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Rip Drill
DL
DL
DL
Full Rip
DL
DL
DL
C
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DL Shedding Drills
5. Hit and Scrapes Equipment Hand Pads, if
Shoulder pads are not worn yet Objective To
teach players the proper footwork and rip
execution when taking on an offensive lineman and
scraping off to make the tackle. Directions DL
will stand 1 yard in front of a hand pad or man.
After the coach snaps the football, the DL will
execute the phase III drill and finish with full
rips right and left. Coaching Points Moving with
low pad level, react and attack, same arm, same
leg. Attack half the man or pad. Dont push the
man away, Upper cut punch through half the man,
Keep your head up.
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Hit and Scrape Drill
Form Tackle
RB
OL
Rip and Scrape
DL
C
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DL Fighting Pressure
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Push/Pull Drill Objective To develop the
ability of defensive linemen to fight pressure
with pressure and invert the offensive linemans
shoulder pads to the line of scrimmage, thus
taking away his power angles on both scoop and
reach blocks Equipment Needed
None Description The coach fits up each
defensive lineman with an offensive lineman in a
two point stance. The offensive linemen are
standing erect, with the coach standing behind
the defenders to give instruction. The defensive
linemen are to close their eyes s the coach
points to either the right or the left. The
offensive linemen have their hands on the
defenders shoulder pads. When the coach points,
they should push on the shoulder pads. When the
defensive linemen feel the push, they should push
back and pull with the opposite arm, turning the
shoulders of the offensive linemen. Coaching
Points The defensive linemen should have a lot
of bend in their knees, as well as proper hand
placement on the breast of the offensive
linemen. When their shoulder is pushed, the
defenders should push back and keep their feet
moving in the direction of that push The
defensive linemen should pull with their other
hand. This action will move the offensive
linemens other shoulder into them and cause the
offensive linemens shoulders to turn. By having
the defensive linemen close their eyes, the coach
is taking ways the element of guessing and, in
the process, forcing the players to rely on the
feeling of pressure.
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DL Tackling
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Tackling Drills

• FIT Drill
• 4 cone
• Wrap it up
• Mirror
• Head Across
• Eye Opener

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DLTackling Drills
1. FIT Drill Equipment Hand Pads, if Shoulder
pads are not worn yet Objective To teach
Players the proper technique for
tackling Directions Athletes partner up and
line up across from one another On Chop
Defenders chop feet On Attack Defenders attack
and wrap, keep feet chopping On Drive Defenders
Drive the RB Backwards Coaching Points Stay low
(Low Pad Level!), head up and to the outside,
never stop your feet (Run the Feet), good wrap
(Club Arms) and drive through!
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FIT Drill
DL
DL
DL
DL
DL
DL
C
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DL Tackling Drills
2. 4 Cone tackling Equipment 4 cones per
group Objective To teach Players the proper
technique for tackling and getting their head to
the outside Directions RB and DL will mirror
each other on opposite cones, the RB will break
to the side the coach tells him to and the DL
will have to sprint to get his head to the
outside, form tackle and drive. Coaching
Points Stay low (Low Pad Level!), head up and to
the outside, never stop your feet (Run the Feet),
good wrap (Club Arms) and drive through!
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4 Cone Tackling Drill
RB
RB
DL
DL
C
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DL Tackling Drills
3. Wrap it Up Equipment 4-6 agile
pads Objective To teach Players the proper
technique for tackling and the importance of
Club Arms and wrapping up. Directions Linemen
start 2 yds facing a RB. On Go RB trys to get
past LB and DL must wrap up and hang on to drive
the RB backwards. Coaching Points Stay low (Low
Pad Level!), head up and to the outside, never
stop your feet (Run the Feet), good wrap (Club
Arms) and drive through!
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Wrap it Up Drill
RB
RB
RB
DL
DL
DL
C
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DL Tackling Drills
4. Mirror Drill Equipment 4-6
Agiles Objective To teach Players the proper
technique for tackling and the proper way to
attack, with out creating a cut-back lane for the
RB Directions RB jogs laterally, then picks a
lane to cut up, the Defender shuffles laterally,
then attacks ball carrier when he cuts and
executes a form tackle and drive Coaching
Points Stay on the RBs back hip, Stay low (Low
Pad Level!), head up and to the outside, never
stop your feet (Run the Feet), good wrap (Club
Arms) and drive through!
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Mirror Drill
RB
DL
C
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DL Tackling Drills
5. Head Across Equipment 4 Agiles per Group
Objective To teach Players the proper
technique for tackling and getting their head
across and to the outside Directions On Go RB
and DL will mirror each other to the opposite
bags, the RB will cut back to the middle and DL
will have to sprint to get his head across and
form tackle. Coaching Points Stay low (Low Pad
Level!), head up and to the outside, never stop
your feet (Run the Feet), good wrap (Club Arms)
and drive through!
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Head Across Drill
RB
C
DL
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DL Tackling Drills
6. Eye Opener Equipment 9 cones Objective
To teach Players the proper technique for
tackling and getting their head across and to the
outside Directions RB with ball jogs toward the
middle cone then chooses either the right or left
lane, Defender will keep his feet moving toward
the middle cone then react to the RB and attack
with a good form tackle. Coaching Points Stay
low (Low Pad Level!), head up and to the outside,
never stop your feet (Run the Feet), good wrap
(Club Arms) and drive through!
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Eye Opener Tackling Drill
RB
C
DL
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DL Reading
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• Square Drill
• Purpose Develop quicker reaction time and
  technique to defend against various blocking
  schemes.
• Equipment Needed None
• Procedure
• Line up two defensive linemen across from two
  other defensive linemen (Note Defensive Ends and
  Defensive Tackles may be used interchangeably.
  However, like-sized athletes should used in each
  group).
• Designate a pair of linemen as offense and
  defense
• Have the offensive linemen coordinate their
  blocking assignments through a series of hand
  signals and set a snap count.
• 1 double team right
• 2 double team left
• 3 reach right
• 4 reach right
• 5pass
• On the snap count the offensive line performs
  their blocking assignments and defensive linemen
  react accordingly.
• Conclude the drill with a whistle
• Coaching Points

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Square Drill
Have the offensive linemen coordinate their
blocking assignments through a series of hand
signals and set a snap count. 1 double team
right 2 double team left 3 reach right 4 reach
right 5 pass
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DL PASS RUSH
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• Ultimate Effort
• Objective To develop the ability of defensive
  linemen to chase the football after it has been
  thrown.
• Equipment Needed A lined field a football
• Description The coach aligns the players in the
  defensive front in their positions and has them
  rush the passer on the snap of the ball. The
  coach simulates the actions of the quarterback by
  taking a five-step drop and throwing the ball to
  one of four stationary receivers. The defensive
  linemen should run to the spot of the throw until
  the other defenders get there. They should then
  break down and sprint off the field.
• Coaching Points
• Take off initiated by opposing man or
  ballwhatever moves first. Reduce pass set up
  time.
• Elevation Dont allow set up time. Pad level
  must remain low.
• Straight Line anticipate where the passer will
  be when the ball is released. Stay in pass rush
  lanes.
• Feet choppy steps when engaged. Long strides
  when disengaged. Toes always pointed towards
  passer.
• Hands inside position. Create lanes by pushing
  and pulling pass blocker. Hands up when
  quarterback begins throwing motion. NEVER LEAVE
  FEET.
• Relentless pursuit

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Ultimate Effort


Coach
DE
DT
NG
DT
DE