Defensive Line Teaching Progression
Shaler Area HS Defensive Line
Teaching Progression
Pre Snap Checklist
A. Stance
(of OL)
(of OL)
B. Eyes
(of OL)
(of OL)
D. Formation
strength – (Run Strength)
strength – (Run Strength)
I.
Knowledge
Knowledge
A.
Stance – “Rip-Charge”
Stance – “Rip-Charge”
1.
Covered hand down – covered foot back; unless 5-tech
out, then hand to the ball!
Covered hand down – covered foot back; unless 5-tech
out, then hand to the ball!
2.
toe to instep/heel stagger
toe to instep/heel stagger
3.
Feet slightly shoulder-width apart
Feet slightly shoulder-width apart
4.
Weight on the inside balls of feet- Heels slightly
out – “Eagle-Claw”
Weight on the inside balls of feet- Heels slightly
out – “Eagle-Claw”
5.
Inside hand on front of eyes – All fingers in contact
with ground
Inside hand on front of eyes – All fingers in contact
with ground
6.
Crowd ball – NOT OFF SIDES!!!
Crowd ball – NOT OFF SIDES!!!
8.
Head slightly up – looking through brow
Head slightly up – looking through brow
9.
Weight slightly forward (60% on hand – 40% on feet) –
off hand in ready position as a weapon – thumb up!
Weight slightly forward (60% on hand – 40% on feet) –
off hand in ready position as a weapon – thumb up!
B.
Alignment
Alignment
1.
Inside foot splits the crotch of offensive lineman
Inside foot splits the crotch of offensive lineman
2.
Covered shoulder pad tip to OL shoulder pad tip unless
hand to the ball in 5-tech out!
Covered shoulder pad tip to OL shoulder pad tip unless
hand to the ball in 5-tech out!
C.
Assignment – KNOW
YOUR DEFENSE!!!
Assignment – KNOW
YOUR DEFENSE!!!
1.
Know your defensive fronts
Know your defensive fronts
2.
Know ahead what your movement will be to defeat
blocks
Know ahead what your movement will be to defeat
blocks
3.
Know your gap assignment – Know when these change
due to blitzes
Know your gap assignment – Know when these change
due to blitzes
GOAL: Establish new line of scrimmage through the OL gap side; STRIKE V
of neck with strike hand & shoulder pad tip with offhand! We want
one yard deep in the backfield to be OURS!!
of neck with strike hand & shoulder pad tip with offhand! We want
one yard deep in the backfield to be OURS!!
II.
Fundamentals
Fundamentals
A.
Get-off
Get-off
1.
Key the ball – Strike when ball moves; (All drills will
begin with ball movement when possible)
Key the ball – Strike when ball moves; (All drills will
begin with ball movement when possible)
2.
Attack with inside foot; short 6 inch power step,
looking to get 3 steps before the down hand and assume a great strike
position!!
Attack with inside foot; short 6 inch power step,
looking to get 3 steps before the down hand and assume a great strike
position!!
3.
Pad level down, eyes at the numbers of OL & STAY
LOW!!!
Pad level down, eyes at the numbers of OL & STAY
LOW!!!
GOAL: Beat the OL out of their stance. By
the time the ball reaches the
the time the ball reaches the
Center’s
tail, we should be striking / attacking OL & gap @ v of neck
tail, we should be striking / attacking OL & gap @ v of neck
B.
Hand/Hat Placement
Hand/Hat Placement
1.
Hands explode from ground up – Elbows in, thumbs up
Hands explode from ground up – Elbows in, thumbs up
2.
Aiming for V of the neck / breastplate of OL – Be
quick, inside hand replacement wins
Aiming for V of the neck / breastplate of OL – Be
quick, inside hand replacement wins
3.
Helmet attacks and stays to gap side V of neck – critical on reach blocks
Helmet attacks and stays to gap side V of neck – critical on reach blocks
4.
Feet must NEVER stop moving / win the battle of the
hands!
Feet must NEVER stop moving / win the battle of the
hands!
5.
Pad level down & STAY LOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pad level down & STAY LOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!
C.
Separation
Separation
1.
Strike- Zone @ full extension of arm, Lock elbows so
arms are straight!!
Strike- Zone @ full extension of arm, Lock elbows so
arms are straight!!
2.
Use power hand/trail hand technique to turn shoulders
of OL.
Use power hand/trail hand technique to turn shoulders
of OL.
a.
Power hand lock out and stop pressure of OL using
“Push-Pull” technique to turn OL shoulders & “Drive-Away” from block!!
Power hand lock out and stop pressure of OL using
“Push-Pull” technique to turn OL shoulders & “Drive-Away” from block!!
b.
Trail hand pull
Trail hand pull
3.
Separation will occur up field
Separation will occur up field
D.
Escape
Escape
1.
Violent pull – disrupt blocker from his responsibility
Violent pull – disrupt blocker from his responsibility
2.
Rip under –
power hand press, trail hand under
Rip under –
power hand press, trail hand under
3.
Arm over – Power hand grab, trail hand over
Arm over – Power hand grab, trail hand over
4.
Play to backside (away), squeeze 1 gap
Play to backside (away), squeeze 1 gap
1.
Covered hand down – covered foot back; unless 5-tech
out, then hand to the ball!
Covered hand down – covered foot back; unless 5-tech
out, then hand to the ball!
2.
Toe to heel stagger
Toe to heel stagger
3.
Feet slightly narrower than shoulder-width apart
Feet slightly narrower than shoulder-width apart
4.
Weight on the inside balls of feet- Heels slightly
out – Back toe is a toe tap ready position!!
Weight on the inside balls of feet- Heels slightly
out – Back toe is a toe tap ready position!!
5.
Inside hand on front of eyes – All fingers in contact
with ground
Inside hand on front of eyes – All fingers in contact
with ground
6.
Crowd ball – NOT OFFSIDES!!!
Crowd ball – NOT OFFSIDES!!!
7.
Shoulders square – Tail slightly above shoulders
Shoulders square – Tail slightly above shoulders
a.
Head slightly up – looking through brow Weight slightly
forward (70% on hand – 30% on feet) – off hand in ready position as a weapon –
thumb up!
Head slightly up – looking through brow Weight slightly
forward (70% on hand – 30% on feet) – off hand in ready position as a weapon –
thumb up!
8.
Know your rush lane
Know your rush lane
9.
Concentrate on defeating the blocker – never stop
feet!!
Concentrate on defeating the blocker – never stop
feet!!
10.
Break blocker down with mechanism – never stop feet!!
Break blocker down with mechanism – never stop feet!!
11.
Execute rush with technique – dispose of blocker;
Execute rush with technique – dispose of blocker;
A.
Speed
Speed
B.
Speed – Power
Speed – Power
C.
Speed – Counter
Speed – Counter
12.
QB fronts to you – Hands tall & up in passing lane!
QB fronts to you – Hands tall & up in passing lane!
13.
QB fronts away – close hard & drive to finish
rush!!
QB fronts away – close hard & drive to finish
rush!!
III.
Effort
Effort
A.
Pursuit
Pursuit
1.
ALWAYS 110% effort to the ball on every play
ALWAYS 110% effort to the ball on every play
2.
use correct pursuit angles
use correct pursuit angles
3.
Expect to make every play
Expect to make every play
4.
Swarm and PUNISH all ball carriers
Swarm and PUNISH all ball carriers
5.
Pass contain
Pass contain
6.
Pursuit Laterally
Pursuit Laterally
7.
Trail play to backside
Trail play to backside
8.
Strip ball – cause turnovers
Strip ball – cause turnovers
B.
Tackling
Tackling
1.
Explode through ball carrier from ground up
Explode through ball carrier from ground up
2.
Bull neck, club arms, grab cloth
Bull neck, club arms, grab cloth
3.
Never Stop FEET!!
Never Stop FEET!!
4.
Drive ball carrier back
Drive ball carrier back
5.
Force turnover, creating Takeaways!
Force turnover, creating Takeaways!
BE ALERT FOR:
A.
Long snap counts – KEY BALL
Long snap counts – KEY BALL
B.
Quick counts –
KEY BALL
Quick counts –
KEY BALL
C.
No huddle
No huddle
D.
OL Subs
OL Subs
E.
Fumble (recover/ score)
Fumble (recover/ score)
ON
THE PRACTICE FIELD AND DURING A GAME ALWAYS REMEMBER
THE PRACTICE FIELD AND DURING A GAME ALWAYS REMEMBER
A.
Encourage each other
Encourage each other
B.
Communicate with each other
Communicate with each other
C.
Teach with each other
Teach with each other
D.
Teach each other
Teach each other
E.
Learn from each other.
Learn from each other.
“Feet Never Stop Moving! Win the Battle of the Hands!”
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