A good offensive line is absolutely essential to a good run game. As they say "No Line. No Shine." Practice time is where the line is built and hones the skills needed to dominate. This post includes a good starting list of the run blocking drills you can utilize in your practices. It will provide step-by-step execution instructions, the required equipment/setup, and a brief reasoning behind each drill.
Note: The linemen can practice the basic blocks and steps without a defender in pre-practice or practice each day to help make sure they are comfortable with the fundamentals. Each lineman can go through the steps for drive blocks, zone blocks, and angle drive blocks on air or with just a board.
Stance and Start Drill
Why It's Important: A strong start from a balanced stance can provide the initial advantage needed to successfully block a defender. This drill helps to perfect that initial burst.
Setup/Equipment: An offensive lineman and a football.
Execution:
- The lineman assumes a balanced, powerful stance.
- At the snap, the lineman explodes forward, focusing on first-step quickness and hand placement.
Coaching Points: Encourage the lineman to adopt a comfortable stance allowing for quick, powerful movements. The importance of a quick first step and proper hand placement cannot be overstated.
Example: Stance and Start Drill
Drive Block Drill
Why It's Important: The Drive Block is a fundamental skill for an offensive lineman. It forms the core of many run blocking schemes and helps to directly open up lanes.
Setup/Equipment: A board or step over bag on the ground straight out in front of the lineman.
Execution:
- The offensive lineman starts in a balanced stance with the board slightly to the left or the right of their midline.
- On the coach's whistle, he powers out of his stance with his first 2 steps on either side of the board/bag.
- Work down the length of the board using powerful, choppy steps. Make sure hands are in front at chest height.
- At the end of the board, finish the block by bringing hips through and lifting the hands as if picking up a defender in front.
Coaching Points: Encourage the players to stay low to maintain leverage. It's crucial to keep their feet moving after contact and control the defender using their hands. This drill can progress to having a 2nd player act as a defender (with a bag if not in pads).
Example: Drive Block Drill
Zone Block Drill
Why It's Important: The Zone Block Drill is crucial for teams implementing a zone running scheme. It creates movement along the line of scrimmage, offering the running back multiple lane options.
Setup/Equipment: A board or step over bag on the ground laid in the direction of the zone to be blocked.
Execution:
- The offensive lineman assumes his stance.
- At the whistle, the lineman steps to the direction of the zone so that the first step
- Their goal is to create movement and space for the running back to choose the best running lane.
Coaching Points: Reinforce the importance of a balanced stance, quick first step, maintaining inside leverage, and effective communication.
Example: Inside Zone Footwork Drill
Quick note about Double Team and Combo blocks: there are a lot of similarities to this two types of blocks. The main difference is that the double team finishes with two offensive linemen staying on the D lineman until he's out of the play or pancaked while the combo block displaces the DL backwards and one of the OL comes of the block to pick up the second level defender, usually a linebacker.
Double Team Drill
Why It's Important: A successful double team can neutralize a particularly strong defensive player and open up significant running lanes.
Setup/Equipment: Three players and a football. Arrange a defensive lineman opposite two offensive linemen on the line of scrimmage.
Execution:
- The offensive linemen simultaneously burst out from their stance at the sound of the whistle.
- They coordinate their movements to maintain shoulder-to-shoulder contact.
- Together, they drive their feet and push the defensive lineman away from the ball.
Coaching Points: Reinforce the importance of synchronization and communication. Linemen must act as one cohesive unit to open a pathway for the running back.
Example: Double Team Drill
Combo Block Drill
Why It's Important: Mastering the combo block is crucial to dealing with complex defensive formations and keeping the run game unpredictable.
Setup/Equipment: Three players, a football, and a designated second-level defender.
Execution:
- Two offensive linemen initiate by blocking a defensive lineman.
- Following the initial contact, one of the offensive linemen disengages.
- The lineman who disengaged then quickly moves to block the second-level defender.
Coaching Points: Emphasize timing and a fluid transition. Effective communication between the linemen is key, along with swift identification of the second-level defender.
Example: Combo Block Drill
Pulling Drill
Why It's Important: The ability to pull effectively allows teams to add an extra blocker to the point of attack on running plays, creating mismatches and opening up wider lanes.
Setup/Equipment: An offensive lineman, a football, and a dummy or a defensive player on the opposite side of the center.
Execution:
- At the snap, the lineman steps back off the line.
- He pivots and moves laterally across the line of scrimmage.
- He proceeds to block a defender on the other side of the center.
Coaching Points: Emphasize on speed, footwork, and head position. The lineman should maintain a low pad level during the pull and keep his head up to identify the target quickly. This is an open/flat pull where the lineman is facing the sideline while he moves behind the line of scrimmage. It is usually used for long pulls when the lineman needs to move farther, faster. The skip pull variation keeps the lineman square to the LOS and is used for shorter pulls and let's the lineman see more of what's developing in front of him.
Example (Open/Flat): Pulling Drill
Example (Skip): Skip Pull
Chip Block Drill
Why It's Important: Chip blocking allows an offensive lineman to momentarily assist a teammate with a block before moving on to another blocking assignment. This is key in certain offensive schemes to effectively block multiple defenders.
Setup/Equipment: Two offensive linemen, a player designated as a defensive lineman, and a designated second-level defender.
Execution:
- The linemen bursts out of their stance at the snap.
- One lineman takes on the defensive lineman with a drive block while the other delivers a quick 'chip' block to a defensive lineman to knock him back towards the other offensive lineman.
- Immediately afterward, the chipping lineman shifts focus and engages the second-level defender.
Coaching Points: This drill requires powerful initial contact and the ability to swiftly redirect attention to the second-level defender. Good communication with the fellow lineman is also crucial.
Example: Chip Block Drill
Trap Block Drill
Why It's Important: The Trap Block is designed to trick a defensive lineman into thinking he is unblocked, only to be blocked from the side by a pulling guard. It's a strategic way to open running lanes and keep the defense guessing.
Setup/Equipment: Three players and a football. The offensive lineman lines up opposite a dummy or defensive lineman, with another player (representing a pulling guard) off to the side.
Execution:
- At the snap, the lineman initiates a step to the side or back, baiting the defensive lineman into the backfield.
- Simultaneously, the "pulling guard" moves across the line to block the now displaced defender.
Coaching Points: The timing and coordination between the initial lineman and the pulling guard are critical to executing a successful trap block. Both players must act as a cohesive unit to deceive the defender and open the running lane.
Example: Teaching the Trap Block
By practicing these drills consistently and with the right technique, offensive linemen can significantly enhance their skill sets and help to improve the team's overall offense. These drills form the cornerstone of building lineman for the rigors of the run game. An unstoppable offensive line is the key to a successful football team.
Savage Style has you covered in and out of practice
