arm cock for o-linemen?

I always tell my linemen to cock their arms to their hips, like puling six shooters. Punch in an upward motion into the chest with hands close together as Coach Bugel teaches, should hit on second step on or under the numbers. This is to get the DL "up" and easier to drive. I have them do the same when pass blocking. Instead of punching or jabbing from their chest to the rushers chest, my OL all keep their hand low and punch upward. I got this from Paul Alexander at the C.O.O.L clinic. Google pictures of NFL O Linemen, you will not find any with their hands not low or cocked, at least not the good ones.

There may be some confusion on my post...we do not cock way back but do punch upwards, like an upper cut...aiming for the numbers hands in close. The offensive lineman has to get under the dl...and raise him up to drive him. I have heard Bugel, Grimm, ALexander, and others discuss this. OL do not shoot their hands straight like a DL does in my opinion...he has to get under him for leverage...does not need to worry as much about seperation as a DL does. I hope that clarifies things from my previous post. I agree with Coach Mountjoy and Coach Easton getting the second step down is crucial...as I stated in my previous post I will almost guarantee that you canot find a picture on the net of a pro OL with his hands high....always at hip level prior to contact...watch the Broncos, Redskins, Bengals...off the ball their elbows come back on the first step...that is what I am trying to describe.

We feel like blocking is 100% BLOW DELIVERY! The cock (to the holsters) occurs AS you take the first step, & the blow delivery occurs on the second step. When you play your O-Line as FAR OFF THE BALL as we do (& most everybody I know does today) it is EASY to teach, & insures one hell of a blow delivery! The "cock" of the arms is LIGHTNING FAST!!!!!

Coach Pierson made All-State as an "Off. Ctr" using this technique when he played for us in 1992.

The "HOGS" (perhaps the greatest O-Line unit in history) did it EXACTLY this way!

BASE DRIVE BLOCK

PURPOSE:

A) Used at the P.O.A.
B) 1 on 1 block.
C) Take defender where he wants to go.
D) Get movement – sustain.
E) Back – option run.



1. Explode out.

2. Short first step (1/2 way to fingers of down hand; knee rolls over toe – NOT behind). Cock the arms AS you take this step.

3. Back flat.

4. Bull neck.

5. Proper aiming point (aim face at throat of DLM; base of #’s of LB). Look the block in.

6. Second step MUST be beyond first step to win. Make contact on second step (most important step). Hit 1 yard through defender.

7. Whip the arms (arm pump).

8. Blocking surface (drive the elbows inside & make contact with a triangle of hat & hands (thumbs up) to a lockout; contact the short ribs & “lift him out of his socks” on a 45 degree angle with fork lift motion).

9. Shoot the hips (unlock the power).

10. Driving steps.

11. Feet under you – good base.

12. Maintain contact.

13. 2nd & 3rd effort.

Thank you Coach Mountjoy, That is the way I still teach it...I am sure there are other ways that work...stick to 'em...I just feel to deliver a blow you have to "cock" a little...

You don't need as much "cock" of the arms in pass pro cause you're not firing off the ball (on RUNS you time the "cock" with the first step FORWARD). If you play as far off the ball as we do & didn't "cock" on the first step - you would "shoot your wad" before the second step hits the ground (we time the PUNCH with the second step hitting the ground). PASS PRO: You DO still need to SNAP THE HANDS UP, GIVING YOU a hell of a PUNCH ! THEN (run OR pass) you hold like hell!

Here is how we teach pass pro. My two O-Line mentors were Joe Bugel (Redskins) & Jim Hanifan (Redskins AND Rams). These two writeups are theirs:

A) JOE BUGEL - PASS PRO TECHNIQUES (FEET & BALANCE = 2 MOST IMPORTANT THINGS):


1. Quick set (especially the Center & Guards – never drop back). Jump set – get hands on him as quick as possible – drop anchor – fight him. Explode thru ass & thighs – tight hands – neck bridge – then mirror (shuffle)!

2. Keep head back.

3. Keep a good pad level (knee bend).

4. Tight Hands (& know where to put hands). Press – hit & roll hips. If your hands get knocked off – come back under as quick as possible.

5. Use “steering wheel” technique to control your man. Lock onto jersey of defensive lineman, a hand on either side of his sternum, then use that grip and leverage to steer the man one way or another. As long as you keep your hands inside the defender’s shoulders, holding will not be called.

6. Jon Jansen: “It’s all a matter of position and angles and I’ve got to be a lot smarter and more efficient in what I do”. “I have to concentrate on specifically getting my hands in certain positions. My hand placement has to be a lot better because if I fall, there’s nothing to stop me. I fall right on my face”.

7. Jon Jansen: “All I can do is hit a guy, stay in front of him and keep hitting him and make sure I keep my hands inside, not because I don’t want to get called for holding, but because I need to use maximum power, and that’s how I have to do it.”

8. OT vs. edge rusher (wider than a tight 5 technique) – kick to an imaginary fence post and be able to cover 5 yards in 3 ½ steps (on both 5 & 7 step drops).

9. Once you get turned (perpendicular) it becomes a drive block.

10. Break on the ball when it is thrown (“your buddy needs your help down there”).

11. Play with toughness and intensity (“TOUGHNESS IS CONTAGIOUS”)!

****************************************************************************************

B) JIM HANIFAN:

PASS PRO


1. BE AGGRESSIVE (on 3, 5, & 7 step drops). Step & strike like a boxer.

2. Shuffle & slide – don’t cross over. Stay flat footed (not on balls of feet). Be like a defensive basketball player.

3. Get set QUICK (snap up quick – snap hands up – snap butt under you). (Your outside eye on his inside eye).

4. Jab step – get foot down – strike (come over foot) with power. Don’t come over both feet – keep one foot at home. (Keep post foot – inside foot – up).

5. Step and strike on the rise – strike up (not out). Do not overextend (over-extension is the biggest problem in pass protection). Don’t bend at the waist. Don’t wind up on punch.

6. Balance and feet: Give ground grudgingly – stay low (“sit down”) –don’t overextend.

7. OT vs. edge rusher – first step shouldn’t be too deep, or turn your shoulders. Use two cones to get the proper first step: OT doesn’t step back or laterally. Short first step on an angle between the cones (below).

RT-C
C



“THROUGH REPETITION YOU WILL ACHIEVE SUCCESS”

the other thing that throwing punch from hips seems to help with just screwing around this afternoon is keeping inside leverage. Like you guys said hands are never outside the frame of the the body. Watched a replay of a bengals game and Willie Anderson throws his punches just as you mentioned. Will start teaching this techinque in the fall. Pass Pro is a still a game of feet though but this will help, not getting over extended. Thanks Fellas.

George - send me your new email address. If you & "New Guy" contact me - I'll send you something interesting on pass pro.

c/o: billmountjoy@yahoo.com