Help with OL firing off the ball

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by o_line_coach on August 22, 2010 at 10:50am

Hi coach,

Here's a few ways i manage this, hope this helps.

1. I use my 5-men sled as a mesure to how fast they get out of their stances. I'll just give them the count and tell them that i need to hear just one single sound as they all hit the sled. Most of the time it's not all of your guys that are slow to get out of stance so having them hit the sled in sync is a good way to make sure the slowest ones get up to the pace of the others.

2. The second drill (the one i honestly prefer) requires no equipment at all. I have all of my 9 OL lilne up in their stance and fire up on different counts and sprint out of stance for 5 yds. I stand on the line 5 yds further and identify the one that gets to the line the fastest. This guy gets a break and watches the rest of the drill. As for the remainding 8, the line up back on the line and i repeat the drill. I have the fastest of the remainding 8 take a break afterwards...and so on. As you can imagine, the slowest guys end up running all the sprints and they hate it like hell. That makes them try harder everytime. You'll be surprised of the results!

3. Finally, if you are in a gym you can have them line up in their stance one at a time. You have a tennis ball in hand and have them watch you hold the tennis ball. You stand about 3 to 5 yds away from your guys. As you drop the ball, the players are instructed to fire off their stance and run to catch the ball after only one rebound. You will have to gauge the distance and then, slowly move further away to force them to be faster off their position.

Hope this helps, have a great season coach.

o_line_coach@hotmail.com

Permalink Reply by LeCharles Bentley on August 22, 2010 at 10:50am

How old are they? Everybody wants to look good in the drills. The difficulty comes in the transitioning from drills to live action. This is purely a mentality. There isnt a drill in the world that can transform your linemen from nails into hammers. The onus is on you as the coach to engrain the idea of delivering the punishment to the defender into their psyche. This is by far the most difficult component of coaching oline. Sometimes you get lucky and have a guy that is naturally aggressive and he becomes the shining example of what to do. It sounds like you are stuck with a platoon of soft guys/kids that you have to turn into dogs. Unfortunately, somebody has to be pissed off. Its either going to be you or them. You being pissed off equates to high blood pressure. When you get your crew pissed off this eqautes to your guys becoming the hammer and not the nail. I prefer the latter as Im sure you do as well.

Permalink Reply by Robert Ely Glidewell Jr. on August 22, 2010 at 1:45pm

Coach I use a three pop drive drill on the 5 man and also a scoop drill on the 5 man but in a game the DL will be across the neutral zone before my guys are out of their stances. On scoop blocks the DL will already be across their faces before they get out of their stances. Also on scoop blocks they won't scoop low and get that grass in their belly button that I need for an effective block. I wonder if I could combine the fire out drill you described with the sled? For example move them off the sled about 5 yards and give the first one to reach it a rest?

o_line_coach said:

Hi coach,

Here's a few ways i manage this, hope this helps.

1. I use my 5-men sled as a mesure to how fast they get out of their stances. I'll just give them the count and tell them that i need to hear just one single sound as they all hit the sled. Most of the time it's not all of your guys that are slow to get out of stance so having them hit the sled in sync is a good way to make sure the slowest ones get up to the pace of the others.

2. The second drill (the one i honestly prefer) requires no equipment at all. I have all of my 9 OL lilne up in their stance and fire up on different counts and sprint out of stance for 5 yds. I stand on the line 5 yds further and identify the one that gets to the line the fastest. This guy gets a break and watches the rest of the drill. As for the remainding 8, the line up back on the line and i repeat the drill. I have the fastest of the remainding 8 take a break afterwards...and so on. As you can imagine, the slowest guys end up running all the sprints and they hate it like hell. That makes them try harder everytime. You'll be surprised of the results!

3. Finally, if you are in a gym you can have them line up in their stance one at a time. You have a tennis ball in hand and have them watch you hold the tennis ball. You stand about 3 to 5 yds away from your guys. As you drop the ball, the players are instructed to fire off their stance and run to catch the ball after only one rebound. You will have to gauge the distance and then, slowly move further away to force them to be faster off their position.

Hope this helps, have a great season coach.

o_line_coach@hotmail.com

Permalink Reply by o_line_coach on August 22, 2010 at 1:54pm

I never combined both drills but i like the idea. Depending on the size of your guys and the size of the sled it could be a great way to "force them" into contact. If you're coaching young kids, the sled might be a bit heavy for the contact after a 5 yds rush.
One thing i can emphasize on is never get satisfied with a drill until they get it the way YOU want. Go one guy at a time if you have to, but they have to understand that you will not accept them "cheating". Use their pride in what they do to make them do it again. Coach Bentley's comment about nails and hammers is pretty accurate. They have to decide which one they become.

If the DL always beats them to the count, it could also mean that your QB doesn't vary the snap count often enough. Make them DL uncertain by going on "color", "set", "numbers" , etc trying to force offsides on the defense. That way, the offense will earn more respect and a bit of time. That is especially true a lower levels as kids really tend to steal the count.

Best of luck,

Robert Ely Glidewell Jr. said:

Coach I use a three pop drive drill on the 5 man and also a scoop drill on the 5 man but in a game the DL will be across the neutral zone before my guys are out of their stances. On scoop blocks the DL will already be across their faces before they get out of their stances. Also on scoop blocks they won't scoop low and get that grass in their belly button that I need for an effective block. I wonder if I could combine the fire out drill you described with the sled? For example move them off the sled about 5 yards and give the first one to reach it a rest?

o_line_coach said:

Hi coach,

Here's a few ways i manage this, hope this helps.

1. I use my 5-men sled as a mesure to how fast they get out of their stances. I'll just give them the count and tell them that i need to hear just one single sound as they all hit the sled. Most of the time it's not all of your guys that are slow to get out of stance so having them hit the sled in sync is a good way to make sure the slowest ones get up to the pace of the others.

2. The second drill (the one i honestly prefer) requires no equipment at all. I have all of my 9 OL lilne up in their stance and fire up on different counts and sprint out of stance for 5 yds. I stand on the line 5 yds further and identify the one that gets to the line the fastest. This guy gets a break and watches the rest of the drill. As for the remainding 8, the line up back on the line and i repeat the drill. I have the fastest of the remainding 8 take a break afterwards...and so on. As you can imagine, the slowest guys end up running all the sprints and they hate it like hell. That makes them try harder everytime. You'll be surprised of the results!

3. Finally, if you are in a gym you can have them line up in their stance one at a time. You have a tennis ball in hand and have them watch you hold the tennis ball. You stand about 3 to 5 yds away from your guys. As you drop the ball, the players are instructed to fire off their stance and run to catch the ball after only one rebound. You will have to gauge the distance and then, slowly move further away to force them to be faster off their position.

Hope this helps, have a great season coach.

o_line_coach@hotmail.com

Permalink Reply by Robert Ely Glidewell Jr. on August 22, 2010 at 1:54pm

Coach these guys are from 9th grade to 12th grade. I am having just as much trouble with the seniors as I am the freshmen. It is like they go through their individual drills correctly in order to keep me from making them do extra but when we get to the Team O part of practice or under the lights , they revert back to what we have been trying to correct. I don't think that an appeal to their pride would do any good because they are used to loosing and they don't have that great of a self esteem. I can't understand the mentality of a group of guys who get upset when they loose but will not do what they have been coached to do to win. It is almost like they want to win on their own terms, taking shortcuts and freelancing but yet being upset when they don't get what they want.

LeCharles Bentley said:

How old are they? Everybody wants to look good in the drills. The difficulty comes in the transitioning from drills to live action. This is purely a mentality. There isnt a drill in the world that can transform your linemen from nails into hammers. The onus is on you as the coach to engrain the idea of delivering the punishment to the defender into their psyche. This is by far the most difficult component of coaching oline. Sometimes you get lucky and have a guy that is naturally aggressive and he becomes the shining example of what to do. It sounds like you are stuck with a platoon of soft guys/kids that you have to turn into dogs. Unfortunately, somebody has to be pissed off. Its either going to be you or them. You being pissed off equates to . When you get your crew pissed off this eqautes to your guys becoming the hammer and not the nail. I prefer the latter as Im sure you do as well.

Permalink Reply by LeCharles Bentley on August 22, 2010 at 5:26pm

Robert,

I don't want you to think I was implying be tougher on them. I apologize if it came off that way. Its difficult enough to get young athletes to believe in you when things are going well!

The point I was trying to make was for you to go beyond the scope of drills and into their minds. Jim Tressel of The Ohio State University is by far the best coach I have ever been around that leveraged the mind in order to reach peak athletic performance. Annually, he creates a "winners manual" that is as thick as a New York City phone book that is given out before the playbooks. This manual is full of quotes and stories on successful individuals that may or may not have been involved in athletics. The most important portion of this manual is the "goal setting" chapters. The players are expected to write down daily goals that will aid in the achievement of the ultimate goals. Suddenly the intensity level on the practice field and in the classroom skyrockets. The players now understand the value of every day, practice, rep and drill. Instead of guys just trying to "get through" they are trying to get better.

My suggestion to you is to have the guys write down their personal goals and share them with you. You in return write down your goals for the group and share with them. This will provide a clear picture of whats expected of them and athletes need that. Its great for your guys to know what you expect from them and what they are trying to achieve for themselves. No body wants to let you down, the guy next to them or themselves. The "herd" mentality they are exercising now in trying to "get through" practice will now lend itself to guys trying to get better. The problem you are having isnt based on the lack of drills. The guys will get better at the drills and more efficient in ways to get through them. This is a mental issue and bonding together through accountability wont fail you.

There should be one goal everyday that YOU want the guys to work to achieve. The entire individual period is focused on that goal. The true test of rather or not the goal was reached is how they perform in live team situations. Know what personal goals your guys have and push them to achieve those as well. It would be great if the entire group knew what each other wanted to achieve and your TRUE leaders will step up and hold the guys accountable to themselves and the group.

If they can do it in individual that means the ability is there. Whats left as the culprit, the mind.

One last thought: Pick up the intensity during individual. Make the drills as live as possible. Its the approach I take towards training: Train hard enough to where playing is easy. I would make my drills as intense as possible so when they get to team action its easy.

Permalink Reply by corey diab on August 28, 2010 at 10:46am

Another good drill is the hex drill. Make a hex with marking paint make it about 4-6 times bigger than a stop sign.Both guys are on offense heals on the back line of the hex it is north and south blocking no throwing one another to the side.The first kid to drive the other kid behind the back line wins usually the kid that fires of the ball the fastest wins.This is not a head on head drill they will have about a 6 foot start in between them.Who ever the loser is has to give me 5 busters or a 20 yard sprint and back.This drill really puts some fire under there butt because they dont like the punishment they get when they lose the drill so it makes them work a bit harder.

goodluck hope it works!

Permalink Reply by mike young on September 8, 2010 at 11:36am

LeCharles Bentley i really appreciate the piece on getting in the kids mentallity i'm a first year o-line/d-line coach and i have been put in a good place with kids that have good size and even better feet but they play the game buttery soft n in practice they abuse the scout team but when the lights come on its like they turn into a different kind of ball player do u have any more suggestions on how to help turn their attitudes around thanks for your help

mike young
oberlin high school
GO PHOENIX

LeCharles Bentley said:

Robert,

I don't want you to think I was implying be tougher on them. I apologize if it came off that way. Its difficult enough to get young athletes to believe in you when things are going well!

The point I was trying to make was for you to go beyond the scope of drills and into their minds. Jim Tressel of The Ohio State University is by far the best coach I have ever been around that leveraged the mind in order to reach peak athletic performance. Annually, he creates a "winners manual" that is as thick as a New York City phone book that is given out before the playbooks. This manual is full of quotes and stories on successful individuals that may or may not have been involved in athletics. The most important portion of this manual is the "goal setting" chapters. The players are expected to write down daily goals that will aid in the achievement of the ultimate goals. Suddenly the intensity level on the practice field and in the classroom skyrockets. The players now understand the value of every day, practice, rep and drill. Instead of guys just trying to "get through" they are trying to get better.

My suggestion to you is to have the guys write down their personal goals and share them with you. You in return write down your goals for the group and share with them. This will provide a clear picture of whats expected of them and athletes need that. Its great for your guys to know what you expect from them and what they are trying to achieve for themselves. No body wants to let you down, the guy next to them or themselves. The "herd" mentality they are exercising now in trying to "get through" practice will now lend itself to guys trying to get better. The problem you are having isnt based on the lack of drills. The guys will get better at the drills and more efficient in ways to get through them. This is a mental issue and bonding together through accountability wont fail you.

There should be one goal everyday that YOU want the guys to work to achieve. The entire individual period is focused on that goal. The true test of rather or not the goal was reached is how they perform in live team situations. Know what personal goals your guys have and push them to achieve those as well. It would be great if the entire group knew what each other wanted to achieve and your TRUE leaders will step up and hold the guys accountable to themselves and the group.

If they can do it in individual that means the ability is there. Whats left as the culprit, the mind.

One last thought: Pick up the intensity during individual. Make the drills as live as possible. Its the approach I take towards training: Train hard enough to where playing is easy. I would make my drills as intense as possible so when they get to team action its easy.

Permalink Reply by Marcos Hoff on October 15, 2010 at 10:11pm

Coach - I know how you feel. I think I could have done a better job of evaluating kids when I picked my OL this year. Next year - if the kid doesn't display killer instinct I WILL NOT play them on OL. Unless I just don't have anyone :>.

I like what LeCharles said about "getting pissed". Some kids will react well - but others - well....

I like to do board drills with the DL once in a while to try and get the agression level up.

Take care
Marcos

Permalink Reply by Robert Ely Glidewell Jr. on October 16, 2010 at 12:51pm

Hey Coach
Thanks for the reply. I agree with you about aggression in the players. Our only problem is that we do board drill and really get after each other but we get in a game and refuse to fire off the ball, lock in on our blocks and run our feet till the echo of the whistle.
Thanks, Coach Rob Glidewell




Marcos Hoff said:

Coach - I know how you feel. I think I could have done a better job of evaluating kids when I picked my OL this year. Next year - if the kid doesn't display killer instinct I WILL NOT play them on OL. Unless I just don't have anyone :>.

I like what LeCharles said about "getting pissed". Some kids will react well - but others - well....

I like to do board drills with the DL once in a while to try and get the agression level up.

Take care
Marcos

Permalink Reply by Paul Horne on February 13, 2012 at 6:56pm

Coach-

Some great suggestions here... I have a regime that my guys do everyday on the sled. Sled is the best way to get physical, aggressive and feet pumping to and through the blocks. We will practice drive blocks, zone blocks, pull blocks, LB drive blocks, and LB reach blocks with about 25 OL in abot 8-10 minutes. I have an "up-tempo" pace and my guys are gassed at the end of it the routine. I expect a gun shot sound at impact on the sled and not a typewriter sound.

Bottom line is this... you want them to drive throught the block you have to practice driving through the block!

Coach horne

thetrenchdoctor.com