Get Off Drill

Purpose
To develop the ability of the defensive linemen to explode off the ball.

Description
Let players form two lines.
The defensive linemen who play on the left side of the ball will form the left line and the defensive linemen playing on the
right side of the ball form the right line.
The coach kneels between the players and simulates the snap of the ball.
As the ball moves the defensive linemen get off on the movement and sprint for 5 to 10 yards straight ahead.
Each player should anticipate ball movement while taking the proper first step as he explodes from his stance.
Coaching Points
Check for perfect stance of each player.
Watch the pad level of the players as the get off the ball.
Provide input to each player on his first step.
You can have the entire defensive unit perform the drill together.
Equipment
Football

4-pt wave drill

Purpose
The purpose of this drill is to get the players used to stay low and keep their feet moving all of the time. It also strengthens
the shoulders and arms.
Description
Players get into a good 4-pt stance about 2 to 3 yards apart. The coach stands in front of them, holding a ball on the
ground. The coach shouts out a cadence, and when he moves the ball they start moving their feet, watching the coach,
and shuffling into the indicated direction, always keeping their hands on the ground. On command the players will sprint
past the coach.

Instead of a command and the final sprint, the coach can drop the football and have the players recover the fumble.
Coaching Points
Feet and hands should always be at a wide base.
Quick change of direction is more important than speed on the lateral movement.
Equipment
Ball

Shuffle with medicine ball

Purpose
To develop quickness with the feet while keeping the pad level of defensive line down, and the use of the hands of a low
cut block.
Description
Defensive lineman assumes good football position, on coaches command the defensive lineman steps over dummies,
leading with the front foot with his eyes up and pads down, as lineman comes off of last dummy, the coach throws a
medicine ball at DL feet, while the DL uses his hands to defend himself of ball.
Coaching Points
Pad level, quick feet, eyes up, push level on ball
Equipment
Medicine ball
Read the head drill
Purpose
To teach the DL to read and recognize the type of block of the opposing OL by his first head movement, and condition the
correct response.
Description
This is a progression drill,
first have 3 DL at a time lineup facing the coach, who will do the head motions. Have the DL react to the motions quickly.
The second progression will be to pair up the DL, and a coach standing behind the designated DL signaling the kind of
block and snap count to the designated OL. Have the DL react to the movement of the opposing OL.
The third progression will be to line up one DL to three OL to work on correct reaction on away- and combination blocks
(i.e. trap- or double-team blocks). Again the coach will stand behind the DL and signal block and snap count. (To extend
this you also can include linebackers.)
Coaching Points
Make sure DL focus on a point of the head/helmet.
Have them react as quick as possible.
Work more on quickness and correct technique, than on overpowering the blocker.

Read
Purpose
The purpose of this drill is to improve the reaction of the defensive lineman to the movement of the offensive lineman.
Description
Set up 3 cones in a triangle about 10 yards apart. Put two linemen facing each other in the middle between two cones, put
a designated ball carrier at the third cone. The player facing the ball carrier will be the defender, the other player the OL.
The coach should stand behind the DL and signaling the direction and the snap count. On the command, the ball carrier
runs in a straight line to the designated cone, while the OL blocks accordingly. The DL reacts to the movement of the OL,
controls & escapes the OL and makes the tackle before the ball carrier reaches the cone. (After the DL got comfortable
with the drill, you might bring in 'real' OL and Running backs to increase intensity and speed.)
Coaching Points
Defenders shoulders and hips should stay square to LOS.
Check for proper hand and arm technique to control and escape OL,
Feet should be moving all the time and never get close together.
Equipment
3 cones
Ball, if run with offensive personnel
Contain drill
Purpose
Drill to teach the proper technique of playing the outside contain for DE and OLB.
Description
Mark an offensive line with cones or use a line-strip, have a participating player lining up as the offensive last man on the
line (LMOL) and a RB or WR lining up in the backfield to run sweeps. Now put the contain man in his position, on
command have the backfield player run parallel to the LOS to the contain man's side and only turn upfield outside the
contain man, while the offensive LMOL tries to block the contain man to the inside. The contain man should force the ball
carrier wide, never letting him get outside.
Coaching Points
Make sure the defender first gets into the backfield and only when he recognizes that the play goes wide charges to the
outside, always staying outside the ball carrier. Make sure he's not to wide outside the ball carrier, and rather have him
give some ground than letting the ball carrier to his outside.
Equipment
Ball
Cones
Block recognition drill
Purpose
To teach and practice to recognize the block the offense tries to set and how to fight and escape it.
Description
2 SPOT:

1. 2 to 3 offenders and 1 defender, depending on what blocks we will simulate.

2. Coach will point out the blocking scheme to the offenders and the offense will execute, while the defender reacts
to the blocks.
3. We will alway finish the drill with an escape.
BIG BALL DOUBLE TEAM

1. The big ball will act as the post player and an offender will act as the drive block.
2. Coach will roll the big ball at the defender, simultaneously, the offender will simulate the post and release, by
placing his hands on the hips of the defender.
3. The defender will work his hip technique into the drive block until he feels the offender release.
4. He will use his hands and work around the ball.
5. When the offender releases, the defender will finish with an escape.
BIG BALL POWER SCOOP

1. Play the backside cut block by collision with the big ball and we will finish by working down the line.
BIG ARM SLIDE THE HIP

1. This drill will simulate playing the reach or zone blocking scheme.
2. The key is to start off in a defeated position and make the defender work back to his gap responsibility by using
the big arm and slide the hip.
3. We will finish with an escape.
Coaching Points
don't allow defenders to cheat
stress good body position and good technique

Equipment
Big Ball

2 SPOT

BIG BALL DOUBLE TEAM

BIG BALL POWER SCOOP

One-on-One Read Drill

Purpose
Defensive Line Drill to work on and automate the correct reaction to the different blocking attempts of the offensive
linemen.
Description & Coaching Points

1. Coach gives direction to Offensive Line

2. Defensive Linemen assume their proper stance

3. Coach "snaps" the ball

4. Get off on snap with correct foot

5. Take a six inch step. Don't stand up!!

6. Get off at a good pad level

7. Read the helmet direction of the offensive lineman

8. Use your hands, lockout

Equipment
Three-on-One Read Drills
Purpose
Defensive Line Drills to work on and automate the correct reaction to the different blocking schemes of the offense. The 3-
on-1 Read Drills work especially on the correct reaction to combination blocks, and also give the defensive line a better
understanding about what will happen around them...
Description & Coaching Points

1. 3 Offensive Linemen line up at a given line

2. Defensive Lineman lines up in his stance on the man in the middle

3. Coach signals blocking scheme to the offensive line.

4. On command Center snaps or snap will be simulated and the offensive line runs their "play"/scheme.
 5. Defensive Lineman reacts according to his rules.

Equipment
Shed Drill

Objective - Teach correct hand technique when shedding blockers.

Action - Pair up defensive linemen (one on offense, the other is the defender) and have them line up on a line of
scrimmage. On the coach's signal, the offensive player drives his helmet beyond the defensive player's right side in order
to try and knock him off the line. The defender should shuffle to the right and shove his hands into the blocker's numbers
in order to try and negate the block. Once he's locked up, the defender should then try to escape from the blocker.
Coaching Details - Watch for correct starting stances and run the defensive line drill from both directions. Emphasize
quick foot movement to your defenders and correct hand placement in order to get good leverage.

Attack Blocking Schemes

Objective - Teach defensive linemen fundamentals of beating various blocking schemes.

Action - Section defensive linemen into groups of three (two blockers and one defender). The coach will identify a blocking
scheme, such as a pull, double team, reach block, etc., as well as whether to go off the ball or man movement. On the
signal, the defender attacks the whatever block has been called, using the proper technique for that blocking scheme.
Coaching Details - Emphasize and teach proper fundamentals for defeating the various blocking schemes.

Contain Responsibility Drill

Objective - Teach the fundamentals of keeping contain responsibility.

Action - Align two blockers: one on the line with the other positioned right behind him, both facing the defender who is
lined up "head up" over the first blocker. For this example, we'll run the drill to the defender's right, so line up a running
back behind the blockers and offset to the defender's left. On the coach's signal, the first blocker tries to hook the
defender inside as the running back sweeps out the defender's right side. After the defender gets around the first block,
the second blocker tries to chop block him as the RB tries to get outside. The defender gets through the second block,
then moves in to tackle the running back behind the line.

Coaching Details - Emphasize to the defender the need to keep his outside leg and arm free. Run the defensive line drill
to both sides. Be sure the defender attacks up field, concentrates on one blocker at a time until he's free to attack the next
block, then takes down the RB with an angle tackle.

Reaction Drill

Objective - Teach better reaction skills to offensive linemen movement.

 Action - Position 3 cones into a triangle, each about 7-10 yards apart. Put a running back at one cone, with a blocker
facing the defensive lineman down between the other two cones. The coach stands behind the defender and signals to
the running back and blocker whether to run to the right or left cone. On the signal, the RB runs to a cone while the
defensive lineman fights off the block and prevents the ball carrier from reaching the cone.

Coaching Details - Emphasize and teach proper fundamentals for defeating the block.

How to Defend the Trap in Football Drills

Watch films of your opponents every week. You need to know what type of plays your opponent likes to run and you want
to avoid being surprised. Even if they don't show it on film, you may suspect that your opponents will try to run a trap play
if they have quick, small, and fast offensive linemen. Teams with bigger linemen that try to overpower tacklers generally
don't try to trap opposing defenses.
o
Have your head on a swivel. This is a phrase that is used in football by coaches at the earliest stages. It means to keep
both eyes open and survey the entire field and not just what is right in front of you. That's because you want to see what is
coming from the sides and where the big hits could develop. On a trap play, you will get hit from the side and you have to
be prepared.
o
Prepare to take on a blocker if you get through a center, guard, or tackle too easily. That's the "trap" in a trap play. The
offensive lineman lets you through the hole only to have you get blasted by another player, such as a tight end or a
fullback. As you charge through the hole realize another blocker may be coming to take you on from an angle that will
leave you in a very vulnerable position.
o
Get low. Not only is this the best tackling position, it makes it hard for your opponents to block you. The lower you get, the
less likely your opponent will be able to trap you.