Iowa's Offensive Line Techniques

Coach... would you mind elaborating on the system they use at IOWA?

I'm very interested!

I have used this system for about 10 years and I love it. It comes from the philosophies of Joe Moore. It keeps your players in a more athletic position. I spend a lot more time on footwork than they do as we man block a lot more. I teach 1 run block and that is the drive. Every block is essentially that. Big key is also do not try and coach the hands like you talked about. One of the big points Coach Moore always talked about was to NOT roll the hips. If you do that you lose power. The hips will come through naturally. Hope this helps.

interesting concept.

on Rolling the hips, i have taught that technique and used that terminology for years. although when i use it, i refer to doing it when 'finishing' a block - or after you hahve the DL on his heels. With that said, i agre rolling the hips during a stalemate on the lOS would lose leverage and give the DL the advantage.

why would they not concentrate on hand placement? this puzzles me.

i'd like to hear more info on this concept.

The big emphasis is on the elbows. If you were to stand behind, it should be hard to see them. It is the same idea as pushing a car. You do not want the elbows way out as you have no power. You want inside levrage on the defender. I always talk to my guys about squeezing the elbows. For the finish, what you want to do is explode the arms and legs into the defender, especially when he tries to get off the block. At the end of every block that is what you should try and do. If you look at the success that Moore and and now the OL at Iowa...hard to argue against it.

Is this the Crowther technique? I heard Bill Williams talk about combo blocks for the IZ and he constantly used this term.

keep it coming. one thing i tell my guys is "to make cleavage" by keeping your elbows in. sounds silly, but if their elbows are tight, they are doing what i am asking. oh, the silly things we coaches say...

I'll admit that I do not UNDERSTAND the technique, & would have to see it on film, but I'll be darned if I am going to let a DLM get his hands into MY chest before I get my hands into HIS chest, anymore than I would "lead with my chin" in BOXING! That flies against the teaching of EVERY good O-Line coach I ever knew (Bugel, A Gibbs, Grimm, ETC.)!

As for getting the shoulder into the block - the very REASON people got away from that in the FIRST place (in College & NFL) was that it caused you to get OVER-EXTENDED!

THIS is the way the "good ones" are teaching it:

BUGEL BLOCKING TECHNIQUE

Bugel's current and former players believe his success stems from masterful motivational skills, communication ability and teaching acumen. Returning Redskins say they have improved markedly through Bugel's emphasis on hand techniques to hinder defenders.

Last season, Thomas, a gifted athlete who is agile despite his 6-foot-5, 306-pound frame, relied on a flawed blocking method -- blocking wide, with his hands several inches apart. It left Thomas' chest open to defenders, making him more vulnerable. A lineman has more control over the defender by keeping his hands close together inside the chest area -- "tight hands," Bugel explained -- before punching out.

The Redskins also have incorporated one of Bugel's trademark techniques: the arm pump, which is used in run blocking. The lineman cocks, or pumps, his arms to his sides before forcefully pushing upward -- "like a fork lift," Bugel said -- into the defender's chest area. It diminishes the chances of holding and keeps the lineman from being passive.

"He wants us to hit 'em in the chest and make their heartbeat stop," Thomas said. "It stuns them at the line because the defense is taught to hit you in your chest, so it's better if you hit them first."

Bugel used imaginary handcuffs, teaching his players through repetition and constant reminders. Thomas, a sixth-year veteran, had previously known a similar technique but stopped using it last season because it wasn't emphasized. Samuels, who is coming off perhaps his worst NFL season, picked up damaging tendencies in recent years -- dropping his head and using his hands improperly.

To prevent overextending, film the players and carefully watch where their eyes are leading them. If the eyes are looking to the ground they will overextend and easily fall down. If the eyes are locked onto the aiming point they are less likely to overextend.

Make contact with the front to top of shoulder pad, not the top of the shoulder pad exclusively. This, in my mind, would look a lot like a great form tackle, almost making contact with the chest.

Then, if they drive their knee through the crotch of the defender, not simply trying to run but actually trying to drive the knee up (like in the ropes), players shouldn't get caught lunging.

Note: This is only for run blocking, NOT pass pro, that is a whole different strategy!

If anyone would like notes and perhaps video, try contacting the Iowa football staff. www.hawkeyefootball.com

Above all else, coach what makes sense to you and your players. I will be using this technique next season. It makes sense to me and our wing-t offense and, most importantly, it fits my players.

Grimm was a master of the "wind up & punch". Two of my former players are currently WITH Grimm & the Steelers. One as a PLAYER, & another as an assistant coach!

I have to agree with coaches Mountjoy and Easton!

I came into college from a shoulder blocking HS coach - in fact I had to teach him how to use the hands when I came back from a technique camp in my Jr year of HS.

It significantly put me behind when I went to college!

Again... I think I would have to see it on tape to determine what is going on with the block. Obviously it works for Iowa.

Coach Ferentz is speaking about blocking at the Nike Pittsburgh clinic in March - I'll be there (hopefully). Perhaps that will help me a little bit in understanding the technique.

But it might be an interesting arguement to get into...

As they say "Iron sharpens Iron...."

gking, we are all about keeping the elbows in and bent/not extended! I love seeing Olineman with long arms as a defensive coach!

quote:

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Originally posted by: Football Samurai
For those of you that are familiar with my Samurai Football system, you already know that I'm a huge believer in controlling the attacker's (O or D,it doesn't matter) entire body via the hands/arms.The example of the car pushing nicely demonstrates the bio-mechanical efficiency of directing a bull-rushers' elbows outwards and nuetralizing his upfield momentum in pass-pro. For run blocking,contacting the outer edge of the humerous (upper arm bone) and driving it into and "through" him will either turn him (he'll show you his back) or force his weight downfield depending on the angle. The O-lineman can use any upper body part as a contact point. He MUST keep pressure against the humerous and it must be the lead position as he moves into the defender's space. This tactic is used by bodygards to protect royalty (or whomever) from unruly persons.

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"Stay between your guy and the ball carrier" Jim Hanifan