Its easy to work a receiver, Quarterback or Defensive back in off-season drills. But coming up with quality drills for Defensive Linemen can sometimes be tough. If you’re a DL Coach, you know the dread of those first few days when you can only wear helmets, too. It’s a high-contact position! The detail necessary for Offensive Line doesn’t exist either. A few ideas for you:
1. Hand fighting: To work hand quickness, this Defensive Line drill is going to give a nice, light activity for linemen to work any time. Have one player attempt to fit his hands, acting as the offensive lineman. The Defensive lineman quickly knocks those hands off with chops and rips to work past the OL. What is more important in this drill is hand quickness, their feet do not need to move. Work one player, then the other.
2. Stance & Starts: Stance should never be an in-season issue. Make sure your linemen have their stance down in BEFORE August. Teach them to start every off-season sprint with a picture perfect stance, and firing off ball movement. If you get players used to moving on audible commands (“GO!”) in the off-season, you can be sure you’ll be breaking the habit once they put pads on.
3. Bending and wrong-arm: Teach players to re-direct their initial momentum. If you are a wrong-arm team, you know that your players have to learn to come flat down the L.O.S. upon recognizing the down block by the opposing offensive lineman. Drill this with your Defensive Linemen in the off-season, there is no contact!! Add in a pad holder to work the actual wrong arm. Focus on the concept and the fit, not the collision. Anyone can beat up a pad!
4. Pass Rush Moves: Working off of the hand fighting, teach a few simple pass rush moves and let players work them at half or 3/4 speed versus pads, bags, and other players. Teach them the feel of the rip or the swim, and let them decide which one’s they prefer. Work to make good habits by having the Offensive Lineman give a convincing pass set.
5. Seat Rolls: From my playing days I know that these were a favorite of Defensive Line Coaches in the past. They may not seem applicable to your scheme, but it teachers a player to continue moving on the ground. Finish with a sprint from the seat roll position to teach getting up and continuing a play after losing your feet.
6. Ropes: If you can get the Running Backs away from them, use the ropes. Use rope drills for your Defensive Linemen to teach running with high knees. There’s a lot of traffic and bodies down in the trenches sometimes, be able to run over it! Can help with cut blocks too!
7. Pass Rush Lanes: A pursuit drill for the line! Teach fits on the pass rush, use a skill player to scramble around and force the big boys to keep their rush lanes, and contain a speedy gun slinger. They will learn to re-direct their bodies and maintain body control.
8. Strip Drills: No ball necessary. Wrap up a towel in some duct tape. Chances are, you’re using other Defensive Linemen to strip from, and they don’t know how to hold a football anyway. Separate the “ball” from the ball carrier’s body, use punches and clubs from behind to get it on the ground. Another set of drills that can be done indoors or out!
9. Zone Blitz Pass Drops: If you’re a Zone Blitz team, take advantage of 7 on 7 to work your Defensive Linemen. With the prevalence of the 3-5, more and more teams are running 8 guys in 7 on 7 and just blitzing one out. Some coaches (those who aren’t trying to win the State Championship in March) will appreciate the chance for their Quarterback to see some sophisticated defensive structure. Play one series with a Left End, another with the Right End, and only drop them occasionally. Teach them to fire off on every snap they are not dropping, and run past the QB. If you also drop a Tackle or Nose Guard, incorporate them as well. 7 on 7 isn’t just for the skinny kids anymore!
Check out more Defensive drills and techniques at gridironchat.com
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