Getting off blocks

Our most effective drill is premised on block destruction and maintaining the responsibility of outside force.

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we rep this everyday in practice and do it in pre game, just like a martial arts drill....very relaxed....sometimes we get highly competitive about it. The whole point is attacking the LOS (pressing) and working the half-man with an escape to become the force element. The blocker works to keep his outside leverage on the defender. The defender works to position himself outside the blocker. Both players are moving (shuffling) down laterally.

MORE DRILLS....
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We feel that teaching the "half-man" concept is what we're really after.

Destroying a block is how we neutralize a blocker's leverage / momentum. Two basic ones (that morph into larger drills) are as follows;

1) Hit & Shed This is more for our inside the box players and is our primary weapon against Iso.
Emphasize four areas (of success) for defeating lead blocks (could be from a lineman, too);
a) Approach The approach must be aggressive but under control and must learn to time their feet to set up for #2.

b) Kick In The Nuts This is to plant the lead foot down the center of the blocker as close as possible. Too far away and you'll get planted - plant the outside foot and you'll get pancaked...gotta be right between his feet and at the depth of his insole

c) Pad Level Pad Level must naturally be lower than the blocker, who is running is also approaching upright. This is where the hips coil up and create inertia.

d) Hip Explosion / Separate Preach hip EXPLOSION like the cleans / like a great night out with the girlfriend....the 'jump' from the hips / thrust has to be violent and exaggerated. Driving up through the blocker allows the backer to separate / SHED with a flipper, hand or shoulder.

You can walk through each element of these steps, but the biggest one to 'master' is the planting the inside foot as this sets the base. Some kids get this right away, others it takes 4-5 weeks to get a grip with. Once they 'get it', they won't be timid to attack the lead block. It's our job to equip them with the tools for their job - those Inside backers have to rep this everyday.

2) Extension Escape We use this everywhere on the field as we attack a gap. The main emphasis here is on acquiring an outside aiming point and coming free.

a) Extension - We start the kids off in a separated position (arms extended) - benching the blocker with hands inside and on command, they mirror / shuffle outside with blocker who is trying to reach them. Once they get this down, the concept of keeping your hips away from the blocker, they will naturally learn to work for separation with a strike (after repping extensions with the 1-man dummy).

b) Escape - once the moment of opportunity arises, we go for the 'kill shot' or escape. We just want our guys ALWAYS ripping VIOLENTLY with their inside bicep to the blocker's outside earhole once he gains outside position. We tell our guys to get the strike to put him on his heels (neutralize leverage) then work as fast as possible to fight the HALF MAN, not the full man - your body versus his outside arm (it's a matchup we CAN win). VIOLENCE has to be stressed every time we rep this. It is a psychological imprinting we want to instill in this action.

3) Cut / Machine Gun

OLB
1 On the snap the TE attempts to reach the LB, who defeats the block with a rip
2 Next the LB defeats a low block from the FB with a hand shiver
3 After defeating the two blockers, the LB executes a form tackle on the RB and drives him back five yards.
**another FB can be added to the backfield for an additional block. The first OL block is high, all subsequent blocks are low, cut blocks.
**On the Defenders approach, stress the importance of planting the inside foot on contact.
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