6 inch jab step

Our 6" first step is a "LEAD step" at the target. I agree with Alex Gibbs & Joe Bugel in that "drop stepping" is not the way to go.

If an OG drop stepped vs a quick 3 technique coming ahead at full blast - it would create a soft outside shoulder which you PROBABLY could not recover from.

This is a source of great debate among the great O-Line coaches (esp. at the "COOL CLINIC"), but it is OUR belief that a lead step is preferable to a drop step.

6" jab step...I think it is important because of it's placement. If you have 20 players run 10 yards out of the 3 point stances..all except the track athletes will step under themselves. Try it and see......

The 6" jab step reinforces that the player will keep his base, whether going forward or power stepping to an inside or outside shade.

I actually teach a 4 inch step. The reason I do this is because if you teach 6, they are gonna step 12. If you teach 4, psychologically they will take a smaller step and will be alot closer to 6 inches. First step ties, the 2nd step wins. I preach daily to get the 2nd step down. If we can get the 2nd step down before the DL, we can move to LOS.

Another way to skin the same cat!!! Whatever works, AS LONG AS IT IS SOUND.

Coach Easton-TIGER ONE

I think it's important to adjust the jab step to the defender, the tighter he is the more upfield you need to go w/the step, the wider he is the more lateral.

Interesting article from "Sporting News" a few years ago:

There are two kinds of offensive lines--those that bucket-step or drop-step, and those that do not.

The techniques, which are described in the accompanying story, get the seal of approval from the inner circle of the Mushroom Club, the organization of NFL offensive line coaches. Some of the most respected offensive line coaches in the game, including Howard Mudd and Jim McNally, advocate the technique. Other teams that use the step to some degree include the Giants, Packers, Dolphins, Bears, Bengals, Titans, Jets and Saints.

But there are those who are not in step with the drop step (Joe Bugel, Alex Gibbs, ETC.). Among the teams that prefer their linemen take their first step forward instead of sideways are the Bucs, Redskins, Vikings, Chiefs, Eagles and Panthers.

Critics of the drop step say it takes away from the aggressiveness of the offensive linemen and makes them "catchers" of hits instead of hitters. They also contend the technique allows backside penetration.

A lot depends on the type of offense being used. "It isn't good for the power `O's' because it allows defensive linemen to hit you in the mouth first," Cowboys defensive line coach Andre Patterson says. "If you want a straight downhill running game, you want to be able to push defensive linemen backward. But if you want to spread out the defensive front, it's fine."

Chiefs coach Gunther Cunningham, one of the league's premier authorities on defensive line play, believes the technique isn't effective except against a read-and-react defense. "Offensive linemen lose ground when they try to gain speed to hook a defensive lineman," he says. "... The key for the defense is to catch the offensive lineman after the drop step, because the next step is a crossover step. That is when the attacking defensive lineman wins. As the offensive lineman is in his crossover, he has lost his base, and when he gets contacted the defensive lineman will knock him up the field backward."

Although it's clearly evident that many offensive linemen who drop-step end up crossing their feet on their second step, Bears offensive line coach Bob Wylie said he teaches his linemen not to cross their feet. --D.P

I think your OL needs to be able to block both techniques. I agree that if it is 3rd and 1 and you are running dive you need to fire straight out, but at the same time, if a guard steps straight ahead trying to hook a b gap player on the toss you will probably be in trouble unless the DL is really slow. Your first step should be pretty short, I teach my kids that it is a positioning step and as a result it will change depending on alignment. It should never be a crossover step.