Defensive Line Academy

You want to get your hand on the Offensive Line on your First or second step, Shorter Distance favors Defensive Line, Longer Distance favors Offense Line. Don't give them space to operate.

The defensive lineman's stance should be on which is feasible for the technique you are playing. The key factor in each stance is weight distribution. For instance, reading and movement fronts would require a more balanced stance, while an attacking front would require an elongated stance.
Balanced Stance.

1. Covered hand down – covered foot back; unless 5-tech out, then hand to the ball!

2 Toe to instep/heel stagger

3. Feet slightly shoulder-width apart

4. Weight on the inside balls of feet- Heels slightly out

5. Inside hand on front of eyes – All fingers in contact with ground

6. Crowd ball – NOT OFF SIDES!!!

7. Shoulders square – Tail slightly above shoulders

8. Head slightly up – looking through brow

9. Weight slightly forward (60% on hand – 40% on feet) – off hand in ready position as a weapon – thumb up!

1. Splits

1. Wide splits often mean inside run.

2. Narrow Splits Often Mean Outside Run,Pass unless it is Short Yardage or Goaline.

Down And Distance

Knowing Your Opponent Beforehand

1. STUDY THE SCOUTING REPORT!

2. Watch as many Film of your opponent as possible

Using your film study sheet, determine which moves will work against the blocker you will be facing and decide on counter moves, also know the strengths and weaknesses of the blocker you will be facing.

What Are Their Scouting Report Tendencies ?

1^st and 10 more likely to run, 3^rd and long pass situation etc.

Are they more likely to run to the wide side of the field

1. “THINK SMALL”

The first (and in my opinion), most important aspect to coming off the ball fast, is your vision. As you know, playing defensive line is based on movement, not the cadence of the offense. The first thing you need to do in every game is find a focus point.

What is a focus point ? A focus point will be the area you watch that will trigger you to fire off the ball. The smaller the target is, the quicker your reaction time will be.

FOCUS POINT EXAMPLES:

Noseguards: The very tip of the football flinches (breaks position from its beginning state) you are going fire off the ball.

Defensive Tackle or End: I suggest focusing on something small such as the fingernail of the blocker.

GOAL: Beat the OL out of their stance. By the time the ball reaches the Center’s tail, you should be striking / attacking OL & gap at the v of neck.

The power step is the most important fundamental of the defensive line techniques. A power step is 6' inch step with your dominant foot going forward towards your assigned gap or blocker. The foot should almost land where your hand previously was. Stay chest to knee, staying at the thigh pad level of the offensive lineman, re establishing the line of scrimmage. This step needs to be very quick and be combination with your punch.
Hand/Hat Placement

The next important aspect of get offs is the punch. Your target is a little higher than the sternum of the blocker. Your thumbs should be up with your wrist locked, using the heels of your hands using the muscle group of the biceps, triceps, deltoids, and pectorals. It is also very important that you keep your elbows in, meaning pointing towards the ground. As you make contact with the blocker, you want to grab cloth and push up. You must theoretically “punch through him”. This will be done in combination as you are maintaining proper…..

Your body needs to be in a good football stance. As you are grabbing cloth and pushing up you are maintaining a good bend in your knees, keeping a balanced stance (not leaning forward or back too much), staying low to maintain leverage, and slightly rolling the hips forward.

Outside runs, right and the wrong angle.




Stay on the line of scrimmage, do not go up-field. Keep the runner on your inside shoulder. Take the proper pursuit angle based on the speed of the runner. Attack from inside out. The image above illustrates the chase right angle.

This player broke too soon, did not keep the runner in his inside shoulder. The runner can easily outrun him. This is the wrong version.

TACKLE

They are 6 basic elements to every tackle. Incorporate these 6 elements into every tackling drill you do:

Feet- Your feet should never come together. Also, always run through the target. Have a wide base (feet about shoulder width apart).

Eyes- Your eyes should always be on the ball carriers numbers.
Head Placement- Your head should ALWAYS be up and across the ball. NEVER lead with the top of your
head.

Chest- You should lead with your chest not your head.

Grab Cloth- As you are finishing the tackle, throw your arms up and around the ball carrier, grabbing cloth.

Hip Roll- As you are exploding into the ball carrier, thrusting the pelvic region into the ball carrier as you are grabbing cloth which will force him off balance and to the ground.

1. Technique. We must be in our lanes as we approach that depth. For example Pass Rush Objectives

A. PUT VIOLENT HITS ON THE QB

B. DISRUPT QB’S TIMING

C. FORCE THE QB TO CHECK DOWN

D. LIMIT QB READ PROGRESSION OF THE SECONDARY

E. RESTRICT QB’S VISION (HANDS & BODIES)

F. FORCE TAKEAWAYS

G. CONTAIN RUNNING QBs

H. CREATE INTERCEPTIONS

I. SACKS

1. Individual Techniques Notes:

Body Position- Weight forward, attacking with hands-hips-feet in that order. May use 3 point “sprinters stance” with coach’s permission

QB Depth- Know the depth of the QB’s drops. Based on our scouting report you will know whether he will use 1,3,5, Sprint Out, etc. step drop:

Fire Off- The average QB will get rid of the ball within 2.7- 3.3 seconds. Through mental and physical preparation and using your technique, you must fire off the ball and get to him.

1. 3 Types of Pass Rush Moves

Speed- beating offensive lineman at the point of attack

A. Better against big slow tackles or centers,

Power- Bullrush, used to physically dominate the blocker,

B. Better against tall, fairly skinny lineman. If the blocker is giving you ground, use power moves

Finesse- technical moves, for example: rips, swim, clubs

C. If the blocker is meeting you on the line, use finesse moves

Remember: Your opponent will reveal his weakness in movement eventually. Get him to move!

Push Pull:

Any good offensive lineman is taught to sit down in a balanced stance with pass blocking, the Push Pull move is designed to take advantage of offensive lineman that are not disciplined enough and either lean forward or backward too much

1- Fire out of stance taking power step and shooting hands at the blocker’s breastplate, delivering a sharp and violent blow

2- Take 8-12 inch step forward with foot nearest to assigned gap, as you are stepping forward grab cloth and push as hard as possible to draw resistance from blocker

3- As you feel the blocker start to put weight forward and lean towards you, quickly jerk him forward, turning your body to make yourself skinny and rip/swim/club past him

4- Get to heels depth and pursue to the ball

NOTES:

1. This works great for those who bullrush often as a changeup

-Have a counter move in mind in case it does not work (club and swim)

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Other moves:

Bull Rush- Taking power step, with inside hand (of assigned gap) punch the outside 1/3^rd of the blocker, grabbing cloth. Keep opposite hand and feet moving and drive the blocker into the backfield. Be sure to keep head down focusing on what is going on in the backfield.

Club- Coming out of stance, with outside (of assigned gap) or both hands, club away blockers hands. Can also be used to set up other moves such as rip, swim,

Club & Rip- Coming out of your stance, with the outside hand (of the assigned gap) club away the blocker’s hands and then execute a rip technique.

Rip & Pick- when ripping the OL and he is holding you by the neck. Take the off arm and pick it off

Jab Rip/Swim- Head/foot fake to opposite gap then cross back performing a rip or swim move. Only to be used by quicker defensive lineman.

Jab Ole- Only to be used by quicker defensive lineman. Head / foot fake to opposite gap then cross back to your assigned gap, turning hips if needed

COMMON PASS RUSHING MISTAKES

1. Waiting too late to execute pass rush maneuver. There needs to be at least 10-12 inches in between you and the blocker at beginning moment of execution

2. Too much weight forward/on legs. By having too much weight forward/on legs it will slow down your first step and reduce your chances of getting to the Q.B.

3. Feet too far forward. By having your feet too far forward, it will cause you to stand up higher thus giving the offensive lineman a better chance of blocking you.

4. Feet too far back. By having your feet too far back, it will cause you to take extra steps than needed thus slowing you down and reducing your chances of rushing the Q.B.

5. Getting too far up field. This is a big one. Make sure once you have defeated the offensive lineman, that you stop at heels depth.

6. “Motorcycle Starting” . When firing off the ball, make sure that you are on the balls of your feet and your heels do not touch the ground even after the snap. 95 % of players do this and it is another way of reducing your speed.

7. Being unprepared. Have a move in mind every time you come to the line. Master 2-3 moves with a counter move for them. Know what works for you.

___________________________________________________

1- Fire out of stance taking power step and shooting hands at the blocker’s breastplate, delivering a sharp and violent blow

2- Take 6-8 inch step at assigned gap with inside foot, as you are taking the step, slightly cock the inside arm (nearest to defender)

3- With outside arm, make a fist and club the shoulder of the blocker that is going to be swam over

4- As you are bringing outside foot through, slightly turn body (make yourself skinny) and swim inside arm over the shoulder of the blocker, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR FEET ! As you are bringing your swim arm over, with your hand in a fist, bring the fist down on the blockers back for extra push off

5- As you complete swim move, sit down at heels depth and read play

NOTES:

· You must fire out of your stance low

· The actual swim move must be quick as a good offensive lineman can easily defend it

· Have a counter move in mind such as a rip move

1- Fire out of stance taking power step and shooting hands at the blocker’s breastplate, delivering a sharp and violent blow

2- Take 6-8 inch step at assigned gap with outside foot, as you are taking the step, slightly cock the inside arm (nearest to defender)

3- As you are bringing your back foot through the assigned gap, you want to rip your inside arm through the armpit of the defender in a uppercut-like style, punching to the sky with your bicep going through his armpit area

NOTES:

-It must be a quick and violent rip

-Have a counter move in mind in case it does not work (club and swim)

- As your arm is upper cutting, be sure to keep chin down, eyes focused on the ball carrier

Coming out of stance, with outside (of assigned gap) or both hands, club away blockers hands. Can also be used to set up other moves such as rip, swim,

If you happen to get into a “wrestling match” with the offensive lineman or he is getting away with holding you, you will need to use our hand fighting techniques. When executing these techniques, you need to also concentrate on gaining ground, making one or two moves.

- These moves should be performed inside an imaginary box that starts at the belly button and vertically stretches to the top of the nose and is horizontally shoulder to shoulder.

HANDFIGHTING PROGRESSION:

Recognize pass set (high hat, sit back etc.) > Get on an edge, try to get to the hips of the blocker> engage in hand fighting technique and attempt escape move > pursue to the ball

Double Sweep- Sweep with both arms, outside arm is the sweep arm, inside hand is the hook hand. Get the hook hand in between the arms of the blocker. You want to aim deep and snag his wrist with the hook hand. As you are doing this, begin to bring your feet through with the inside arm. Burst through the hip, making sure you stay tight to his hip as well. Stay in your rush lane and knock the blocker’s momentum away from yours.

Single Sweep- Aim with single sweep hand (your outside hand). Inside arm and hand needs to pin behind the blocker’s outside bicep. As you sweep, rip with the inside arm.

Hammer- In a “wax on-wax off” like motion, with your hands in fists, club away at the wrists of the blocker

Get your hand up when you cannot get the Quarterback and try to knock the ball down.

Always raise the opposite hand up when trying to deflect a pass.

When fitted up on a blocker, don’t jump because the offensive lineman is taught to either pull you down or throw you down causing you to be ineffective in your attempt to alter the pass

If there is a blocker in between you and the QB and you are not fitted up, then you are allow to jump and use whichever hand needed to deflect the ball

If there is a clear path to the QB, continue to converge without jumping while using the opposite hand up to deflect the pass. You must be able to tackle the QB with the other arm if he decides to pull the ball down.

The team that commits the least amount of turnovers will win the game the majority of the time. In addition to gaining possession of the ball, turnovers create momentum that can be used to crush the opposition. You should work on creating turnovers at least once a week during individual period in addition to team turnover circuit.

If the QB is in the pocket: When you are getting close to the QB, use a “chopping” technique with the outside free arm. Aim for the wrists if possible. You must be able to make the tackle with your down arm.

If the QB is on the run: If the ball is being carried loosely, away from the body, you should use the chopping technique across the ball carrying hand. If it is being held close to the body we want to wrap up if possible and either punch at the ball or rip at the ball.

This is when the offensive lineman fires out and attempts to drive his shoulder pads into anywhere between your shins and thighs, attempting to take you off your feet. If you see this coming, staying low with a good bend of the knees, quickly push their heads into the ground and step on/over them on your way to making the play.

Grading Scale

Excellent 2-Above Average 3-Average 4-Poor

1.The Basics

Who will you be going up against ?

Does he have any noticeable weaknesses ?

What must you do to defeat this player ?

2. Agility- Body Control 1 2 3 4

Does he play with good bend of knees ?

Can he maintain balance ?

3.Speed / Quickness 1 2 3 4

Does he have a quick first step ?

4. Strength / Explosion 1 2 3 4

Does he have a good punch ?

Does he make contact then sustain drives well ?

Does he have good lower body strength ?

Does he have good upper body strength ?

5. Pass Blocking 1 2 3 4

Does carry his hands high ?

Does he absorb or attach the rush ?

Does he have quick hands ?

Does he sustain blocks ?

Does he have a good punch ?

6. Run Blocking 1 2 3 4

Does he have good initial contact?

Does he sustain blocks well?

Does he lean when pulling?

Does he change his stance for runs to pass?

Is he disciplined ?

Any other comments or notes: