When developing drills you should focus on the skill you want your players to improve on and make your drills as specific to that skill as possible.

​

Lets focus on 3 run blocking skills every great offensive lineman needs:

1. Finish

2. Drive

3. Strike

​

1. Finish

A great run block ends with the defensive player on the ground. 

​

Drill= Pancake

Goals= 1. Give our players a feel for when defensive players come off our block to make a tackle

             2. Give our players an understanding that vs good players a tie can turn into a win at the point                     of attack.

             3. Give our players the proper fundamentals for finishing blocks with pancakes. 

Equipment= Landing pad

Procedure=

- Start with an offensive player in a proper run fit vs a defensive player. The defensive player should have his heels against the edge of the landing pad.

- The defensive player should lean against the offensive player as if they are in a stalemate. 

- The coach will give a signal to the defensive player to get off the block. 

- When the offensive player feels the defensive players weight leave him, he should RUN HIS FEET, SHOOT HIS HIPS and PRESS HIS ARMS, resulting in pancaking the defensive player onto the landing pad.

​

2. Drive

A great run block has the offensive player moving/pushing the defensive player.

​

Drill= Fit and Drive

Goals= 1. Give our players a feel for how defensive players will try to get off blocks

             2. Give our players a feel for how to take defensive players "where they want to go"

             3. Give our players proper technique for staying on blocks 

Equipment= None

Procedure=

- Start with an offensive player in  a proper run fit vs a defensive player. Defensive players should work to not get pushed and have a hold of the offensive player's jersey on the outside of his shoulders.

- On a go call from the coach, the offensive player should begin pounding his feet and pushing the defensive player.

- The defensive player should then try to cross face the offensive player.

- The offensive player will keep his eyes, hands and feet in proper position as the defensive player tries to cross his face continually. Each rep should last about 3 seconds.​

- Make sure the offensive player is not using his upper body to try to muscle the defensive player. He should use his feet to "take the players where he wants to go"= Continue your push in the direction the defensive player is moving.

​

3. Strike

A great run block has the offensive player knocking the defensive player off the line of scrimmage.

​

Drill= Jam and Whip

Goals= 1. Give our players a feel for striking a moving target.

             2. Give our players a feel for moving balistically 

             3. Give our players the proper technique for knocking defensive players heads back

Equipment= Shield bag

Procedure=

- Start with an offensive and defensive player lined up across from each other. Have the defensive player bend his knees and back to get his pad level to that at which a defensive lineman would have his.

- On a go call from the coach the offensive player will execute his first 2 steps for the assigned run block.

- The defensive player will take one step in a given direction forcing the offensive player to adjust on his second step.

- Once the offensive player has Jammed his second step in the ground, he will Whip his hands and hips forward into the defensive player with as much force as can be generated.