Combo Blocking : Please Help

Rookie,
To some coaches the terms double team and combo mean the same thing, but to me there is a real difference. DBLE TEAM = 2 linemen, hip to hip, drive blocking straight ahead. COMBO BLOCK= one blocker hitting DL belt high while the other hits him shoulder high and proceeds to 2nd level defender. For this technique, I use the words "slam and slide". What determines who slides after the combo's first phase is the location of the LB. If a guard - tkle combo finds the LB on the outside of the tackle, then the tackle would slide to him. If he is inside of the tackle, then the guard would slide to him. This technique is vitally important to the success of any play that the 2nd level defender much be reached. My favorite way of teaching any technique, is to master the basics and then work through the progression from start to finish. Lots of coaches teaching blocking techniques like to do it exactly the opposite. They start with the finished block and work back to the beginning. I have a rule that tells me that whatever works best for my guys, is the route I take. Nobody has the ONLY way to do anything on a football field, the truth being that there are lots of ways to get the same objective accomplished. At any rate, I teach the tech described above in the following progression; I spot the DL in a 3 tech on the guard, first with the LB outside. We then have the 2 OL step to the block with the tackle hitting high and the Guard hitting at belt height and taking over the block, while the tackle steps to the 2nd level defender. WE increase the drill speed with each rep and after three reps or so we are at full throttle. We then change up the positon of the LB, give the guard his walkthrough on the slam and slide and then progress as in the first set of reps. MY BEST SUCCESS IS BUILT AROUND THE THEORY THAT PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT WAS NEVER CORRECT, BUT RATHER THAT PERFECT PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT! WE REP IT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN EVERY PRACTICE THROUGHOUT THE OFF SEASON, AS WELL AS, IN SEASON! WE change up scenarios, giving looks that the OL will be able to recognize immediately on game night and feel confident in their assignment of knowing who and how to block the opponent. Just my way.

Coach Easton

I should also point out that we tell our guys to sink the combo on the DL first, and push him into the LB. We won't chase the LB. We let him show which side/gap he's going to take, then we'll slide off when we get to that second level... not early unless he comes early.

Hope this helps.