RB Drills

Coach,

I have coached backs for 10 years, and we do a number of drills that are all pretty simple and focus on fundamental execution:

BALL SECURITY:

1. MONKEY ROLLS- Have 3 backs execute monkey rolls while each of them holds a football. Teaches them to concentrate on keeping the ball tight to the body, and it's kind of a fun drill.

2. BALL WRESTLE- Pair your backs up, standing on the goal line. Have the partner draped over the ballcarrier's back (shoulders-NOT piggy back). On the whistle, the ballcarrier must drive forward while the defender slaps and claws at the football. The ballcarrier must drive to the 10 yard line like this. Repeat coming back with the ball in the opposite arm. Switch partners. Penalize for fumbles.

3. 2-ARMED GAUNTLET- Run a standard gauntlet drill, but with each back carrying two footballs (one in each arm). Forces the back to focus on ball security.

BLOCKING DRILLS:

1. FORM BLOCKING- I put two lines of running backs facing each other (designating one side offense and the other defense) and we work this drill on the first day as a "step by step" drill. In other words, I break the entire approach down by each step, and then I have them execute it from their stance. I literally yell "HIT!" and watch the offensive side take their first step and hold it, then "HIT!" again and watch them take their second step and hold it...etc. As they are within about 2-3 steps from the defender the "hit" command becomes "WIDEN!" to remind them to sink their hips and widen their base, getting ready to "STRIKE", which is the next command I give, once the blockers are right on top of their men. Again, the strike is a violent punch with both fists through the base of the numbers and up through the defender at 45 degrees. The final command is, "DRIVE!" and the backs fit into the defender, maintain a low base for superior leverage, and drive him back and out of the point of attack. Our technique is described in good detail in my response to a post titled "Lead Blocker Basics" under the Installing the Run Game forum.

2. HALF SPEED / FULL SPEED- Once our form is correct, we go "half speed" without the step-by-step commands. Next is a full speed progression against shields. Finally, we put it all together and line up on the spacing hose and run with QB's and ballcarriers.

3. FIND THE BACKER- We run our Iso (we call it "Lead") on the spacing hoses with all backs and the QB. We put big bags up in place of where the OL will be. We then have 2 backs on the other side of the line in LB positions with shields. We run our Lead out of various sets and have each back practice as a blocker and ballcarrier. The LB's attack just as they would in real life, and the backs get the simulation of finding them as they come through a crowded line.

4. PASS PRO- Work the inside-out double read aganist ILB's and OLB's / Inverts on the spacing hose.

* All of our Iso blocking drills can be translated to blocking on the sweep or a kick-out block on a DE by simply changing the path and angle of the blocker.


GENERAL RUNNING BACK SKILL AND AGILITY DRILLS:

1. PLANT AND CUT- The standard agility drill that has the back zig-zagging to the next cone. We may switch the ball at each cone.

2. SAND HILL- We have a nice 50-yard long, steep sand hill to run. We will go up 2 or 3 times, or we will do suicides up and down.

3. SIDELINE TIGHTROPE- Put 3 players at 3 yards from the sideline, each about 5 yards apart. Have them straddle cones (so they don't cheat) and hold shields. Execute a pitch-out to a RB using whatever style of pitch you need to practice receiving (dead ball, option, spiral, etc). Have the back field the ball using the proper technique and head up into the funnel in between the shields and the sideline. The back must drop his shoulder and rip up through the shields as the players strike him and attempt to knock him out of bounds. The back tightropes the sideline and tries to stay in bounds. Punish for stepping out.

4. HI-LO BAGS- Run the backs through a standard "step over the bags" drill after receiving a handoff. As the backs run over the bags, however, have a coach positioned on each side with a bag. One coach will strike the player high, the other will strike down at thigh level. The back must maintain his balance and north-south focus while running over the bags.

5. TIRE TUNNEL- We have a custom-built "blaser" made out of wood, piping, and old tires. Run those boys through that thing rapid-fire.

6. ANCHOR- Same set up as the "Ball Wrestle" drill, except this time, the defender is holding the ballcarrier at the back collar of the shoulder pads. The ball carrier must drive through 10 yards by pumping his knees and striving to gain the needed yardage.


These are our base drills. Again, nothing fancy or outrageous. We work on the fundamentals and we believe in being good at a few simple drills in each category. I hope this helps you, coach.