OL PUll

Regardless of the scheme, I hear your problem. It is tough to get a big linemen to open his hips to the sideline, move parallel to the line, and then square his hips and move upfield. We get depth when pulling on the first two steps of the progression and open to the hole not to the sideline. Mental weight is on the away foot. Player steps deep and wide with the near foot, pointing toes to the hole, and mirrors it with his second step. The steps are not parallel, his hips are aimed at his target (where he enters the L.O.S.) and the third step goes that way. His body/hips don't have to readjust. The arguement is - that takes too much time and the back will beat you to the hole, but that is not true. If done correctly, the movement to and throuth the entry point will be quicker.

Another technique - which I don't teach but is just as worthy of discussion - is the skip pull. The lineman pushes straight back off his near foot. Sets himself with his away foot, opens his hips to the hole and plants his second step. Then he begins his forward movement. This is quicker than the technique described above but in my opinion it takes a more athletic individual to do it well. Just some thoughts.

skip pull

If the lineman is pulling to the right the lineman's first step will be with the the left foot; directly behind the right foot. The second step is a drop step with the right foot trying to gain width and depth. The third step is a slight cross over step with the left foot in front of the right foot; the heel of the inside foot (cross over foot) should be in the front of the toes of the outside foot. The lineman's shoulders are back and parallel to the L.O.S. . On the third step the offensive lineman should have his eyes on the landmark area of the defender he is blocking. The skip pull allows offensive lineman performing the technique to get depth and width so when he attacks the L.O.S the shoulders are square.

kw