Favorite Drills

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Coach Welch on May 21, 2010 at 9:28am

This a great discussion topic. This is exacly what I have put a lot of thought into improving this spring. I coach at a high school that uses a spread attack. My focus this spring has been to decrease the number of drills I use in a practice and work on perfecting drills. However, with this mentality this exact discussion topic comes to mind. The quick answer for me is whatever drill that is most "game like" as possible. I try to breakdown the techniques used to excute certain plays we run (combo's, base, reach and overtake, pull, pin and pull, pass protection (footwork, hand work, head on inside, etc). I have found for me personally that other then a "lev-sled" for engaging hips, I like using players on players. I use sleds for conditioning. For "combo" blocking I use 2 OL on 1 DLl and 1LB (ace,duece, tre) always emphasizing inside gap protection by most inside player, communication and working a lot on where the hips of my players are. Base blocking I like t-boards (hat placement, fit drill (chopping then engaging hips, hat in chest)). The reach drills or outside zone blocks are hard to replicate with high school players, however involving the d-line working against down, base and zone looks helps to get both sides a good look. Pulls I have found working under chutes helps for pad levels and working my helmet to the backside of the defender I am pulling to. This forces the OL to use downhill angles and making the DL bubble over the top (hopefully making the block the D side of the line of scrimmage). Pinning (down block by center towards the pulling guards DL) is making sure there is correct footwork and hat placement. Pass blocking I have fallen in love this spring with Wide, Wider, Widest, o-linemen lines up with a defender in a Shade, 2i, 3, 4i or 5 technique (depending position), then the defender in a 2i, 3, 5 or 7 technique and then in a 3, 7 or 9 technique. On cadance the first rep is getting proper position against the DL, with most likely a kick set (one kick, post foot staying place) or jumping the inside player, then the next rep for the same offensive lineman is against a 7 technique (kick set almost vertically to cut off angle to the QB, while keeping inside leverage), then likewise against a 9 technique. While working this drill I focus hat leaning to the inside which helps with inside leverage and being able to punch upwards to the DL which directly relates low hips so there can be an upward punch. Sorry for such a lengthy response, once again anything that is "gamelike".

Permalink Reply by Michael Fuller on May 25, 2010 at 5:17pm

I too use the boards for our base or drive blocking but, we also find them very helpful for our reach block or the term we use in out program is inside/outside base. We always do these drills man on man. Obviously for the base or drive block, we use a DL head up over the OL. For the reach or inside/outside base, we simply have the OL move one man left or right. On the snap of the ball he takes his 6 inch diagonal step and then continues on through his progression or S-P-D(step-punch-drive). we have found it to be very effective for us.


Jimmie Welch said:

This a great discussion topic. This is exacly what I have put a lot of thought into improving this spring. I coach at a high school that uses a spread attack. My focus this spring has been to decrease the number of drills I use in a practice and work on perfecting drills. However, with this mentality this exact discussion topic comes to mind. The quick answer for me is whatever drill that is most "game like" as possible. I try to breakdown the techniques used to excute certain plays we run (combo's, base, reach and overtake, pull, pin and pull, pass protection (footwork, hand work, head on inside, etc). I have found for me personally that other then a "lev-sled" for engaging hips, I like using players on players. I use sleds for conditioning. For "combo" blocking I use 2 OL on 1 DLl and 1LB (ace,duece, tre) always emphasizing inside gap protection by most inside player, communication and working a lot on where the hips of my players are. Base blocking I like t-boards (hat placement, fit drill (chopping then engaging hips, hat in chest)). The reach drills or outside zone blocks are hard to replicate with high school players, however involving the d-line working against down, base and zone looks helps to get both sides a good look. Pulls I have found working under chutes helps for pad levels and working my helmet to the backside of the defender I am pulling to. This forces the OL to use downhill angles and making the DL bubble over the top (hopefully making the block the D side of the line of scrimmage). Pinning (down block by center towards the pulling guards DL) is making sure there is correct footwork and hat placement. Pass blocking I have fallen in love this spring with Wide, Wider, Widest, o-linemen lines up with a defender in a Shade, 2i, 3, 4i or 5 technique (depending position), then the defender in a 2i, 3, 5 or 7 technique and then in a 3, 7 or 9 technique. On cadance the first rep is getting proper position against the DL, with most likely a kick set (one kick, post foot staying place) or jumping the inside player, then the next rep for the same offensive lineman is against a 7 technique (kick set almost vertically to cut off angle to the QB, while keeping inside leverage), then likewise against a 9 technique. While working this drill I focus hat leaning to the inside which helps with inside leverage and being able to punch upwards to the DL which directly relates low hips so there can be an upward punch. Sorry for such a lengthy response, once again anything that is "gamelike".