Hand position

Coach Taylor,
Thanks for the information. One more quick question. Are you instructing your lineman to watch the "v" of the neck from pre-snap until the punch is delivered? I've coached some high school ball before, but this will be my first time working on the defensive side of the ball. Do you have any suggestions for books to read or videos to watch. I've ordered the three video tapes from Coach Golla and I'm looking forward to watching them.

Thanks again,

Coach Perales

Coach,

Thanks for the info. I just ordered the Coach Golla's videos on Sunday, so I might be waiting a few more days. I've got one more question for you. In our scheme, we have the defensive lineman on the left side of the center keep their right foot back and right hand down, and on the right side, they keep their left foot back and left hand down. My question is this, are you and Coach Golla teaching a quick six inch power step with the back foot, or are you teaching them some other technique for that first movement?

Thanks,

Mike

Hi guys,
I talked about this with the DC of a D III playoff team this winter. He runs a gap responsibility 4-4 and he always has the D line shoot their hands to the chest of the blocker and push-pull like Jrcoach suggests (unless they're stunting with the intent to penetrate). Keeping a free hand in the gap has two problems as I see it. First, the player may not actually be controlling the gap. Body position and balance are far more important to controlling the LOS than hand position. You can't control a gap with your arm. I teach linemen to get their hips into the gap they are responsible for. Second, having an arm in a gap will lead to a lot of arm tackles. Players will assume they have the gap controlled because they have been taught to have their gap hand free and will be unable to bring down a ball carrier.

Just another note about the pass rush. I believe you shouldn't be trying to force the QB out of the pocket. You try to collapse the pocket on the QB. If the QB is getting out of the pocket, you are giving the opportunity for a player to be in the open field who is often one of the best athletes on the team. Now you have to try and chase him down with players who are often not chosen for their speed or agility. You are going to drive your secondary coach (ME!) nuts. You need to stress keeping the pash rush "lanes". Two players are assigned to "contain" (usually the ends, but stunts and blitzes will change that), while the inside rushers are to collapse the pocket to the QB. We teach all pass rush moves (e.g., club/rip, swim, etc.) from the initial hands to the chest position and not from the stance. Players are further drilled on keeping their lanes during the pass rush. We actually paint the lines for the lanes on the practice field and have players practice pass rush moves while maintaining their lanes on the rush.

i think one answer to your question is against a non-aggressive pass setter.... especially for interior tackles. they can start with a bull and collapse the pocket before bring a secondary move to lose the blocker.

iF YOUR PLAYING A GAP CONTROL DEFENCEYOU SHOULD PLAY YOUR FIRST STEP AND DOWN HAND INTO THE BREAST PLATE. YOUR SECOND STEP AND OTHER HAND SHOULD BE ON THE SHOLDER IN YOUR GAP. THIS WILL PUT YOU IN GOOD HEAD POSITION. AFTER YOUR FIRST 2 STEPS ARE COMPLETE YOUR HEAD SHOULD BE IN THE GAP, FORCING THE BACK TO EITHER BOUNCE IT OUTSIDE OR CUT BACK. iT IS ALSO EFFECTIVE BECAUSE IT ALLOWS YOUR LINEMAN TO GET SKINNY AND ADMINISTER A RIP OR A SWIM MOVE. YOU MUST MAKE SURE YOUR FOOT THAT UP IS IN THE GAP AND YOUR BACK FOOT IS SPLITING THE CROCH OF THE LINEMAN. ALSO MAKE SURE YOU USE A RIGHT AND LEFT STANCE. tHE DOWN HAND SHOULD BE THE HAND WITH YOUR FOOT BACK.

coaches I think contacting the breast plate is very important but you have to be something like a martial arts fighter in that the hands are always moving. For example if m being reached the ol is trying to gain position on me and I would have to readjust my hands ( using pressure and movement) in order to maintain gap responsibility

Coach Easton, You bring up a good point. Since every fraction of second delayed, works in favor of the offense, why put one's hands where they are ineffective? Another question to raise would be,"Why do players attack and attempt to manipulate the heaviest part of the man during the standard rip-move?"Every athlete who has had a lower limb injury KNOWS that the weight of a man is best supported at the armpit because that's where THEY PUT THE THE CRUTCH! Where they don't put it is at the elbow because their balance will be compromised.In the Samurai Football system we teach to contact the inside part of the elbow (the medial epicondyle of the humerous) and push it outward and then up and forward in a crescent pattern. If properly done, this forces the blocker DOWNFIELD at first contact! Since most coaches on this website seem to be genuine in their desire to learn new and better ways to win,then every part of the game should be thoroughly examined. I'll jump off my soapbox and thank you for your various informative posts and I look forward to future communication. Markm,FootballSamurai

Coach, Thank you for input.I completely agree that the armpit is easier to lock onto.However the defender (even a stronger, faster one) still must take the time and focus his effort on shedding the block before he moves upfield. In a properly executed Samurai rip-move we hook-lock-lead the blocker downfield as we move upfield.If you were surrounded by a bunch of thugs armed with edged-weapons, your best chance of survival would be to use the least amount of time and muscle possible to get to the rear of an attacker and RUN (we call this nike-jitsu). As a way of minimizing your concern we employ an interesting tactic;when th blocker's hand makes contact with the defender's chestplate,try placing your mirror-image hand over his and gently but firmly press both hands to your chest.We call this the "hook".This movement does two things: 1 This greatly inhibits the blocker's ability to "re-load" to strike again,2 The arm is more stable and it will be easier to locate and then "lock" the elbow. If you get this far the blocker is no longer able to counter and you can then"lead" him downfield.If you are willing to try this, please practice slowly. Slow movements are safer and allows the players to use less muscle and "feel" how to move around power and yet still control the man.

Coach,

My response in above post was not very kind, please forgive me. But, I am just sick of these people trying to be thugs 24 hours a day!

Coach Easton