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Up Front Offensive Line Development Camp

Coaching Drills

Hello Coaches: There will be 9 stations in the circuit around the field. Please review your stations for
the am and pm sessions and contact me if you have any questions or need clarification on anything.
The athletes will rotate from station to station every 12 minutes. In this way each athlete will receive
coaching from every coach for every skill set and we can maximize our use of time and learning for
the kids. Please check the station you are assigned to on Saturday before the circuit begins and notify
me or one of the Marauder assistants if you need anything. This year we will begin each session with a
stance period that every station will do before the rotation starts.

Warm-Up 8:50 am (Mike Long)

Run Blocking Drills - AM Session (9:00am – 11:15 am, Ron Joyce Stadium)

All stations will begin with Stance and Starts before the rotations begin
Emphasize balanced stance for run and pass. Line up players on the line and explain to them the
following check list for stance: 1. Feet slightly wider than shoulder width apart, slightly staggered
with back toe in line with opposite instep. 2. Weight on instep of feet, not on toes or heals 3. only at
most 20% of weight on down-hand, 4. off arm should rest on outside of knee (not on top),
5. back flat and head up. Coaches please check stances as instructions are given, as we have all skill
levels at the camp. Take offs – first three steps should be 6-8 inch power steps with wide base. First
step should always be with the play side foot (i.e. in the direction of their assignment). Finish with
three short power-steps or starts in each direction, running through to 5 yards.

Mike Long, Larry Guarascia, Dana Segin


Station 1: Ladder Drill
Emphasize quick feet and keeping forward body lean and good football position (i.e. shoulders
over knees and knees over toes). Pump the arms (hands connected to toes). Feet need to move
quickly and maintain one foot on the ground at all times (except backward hop). Start with the
following sequences and add your own if time permits: 1. Forward - one foot in alternate box, 2.
Forward - two feet in each box side to side then forward, 3. Sideways – begin with lead foot in box
and back foot out of ladder – power step with lead foot hitting every box - back foot stays out of
ladder and trails behind, 4. Sideways – two feet in each box front to back, 5. Backward hops – leap
backwards with both feet landing in side by side boxes - try to clear one box and land in next one.
Equipment: rope ladders

Ryan Donnelly, Lee Knight, Jason Kana


Station 2. Board Drill:
Emphasize wide base with 3 short power steps to start, „stepping with the play-side foot first‟,
and gain ground with the first step (ie step over the short board). Have players line up in three
lines opposite the boards and take them through the following, first with no resistance, then against
hand held bag holder: 1. drive-block (straight ahead), down-block left, down-block right, zone step (to
board slightly offset to right, then left).
Equipment: 3 long boards, 3 short boards, 3 hand held bags.
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Rob Fuciarelli, Ed Szpytma
Station 3. Drive Block - reverse progression:
Emphasize “bow the neck and eye the sky” and “stay lower than your opponent”. Pair the kids
up on the line facing each other.
Step 1. Begin in contact with defender. Use 3 points of contact [head and hands] with defender - „get
the fit‟. On command, drive opponent off the ball. On second command (when blockers have
established movement) lock out arms and rise up through defender to create momentum and accelerate
for 5 yards.
Step 2. Start one step back from contact - in two point stance, feet staggered, with hands up. On
command, step into opponent and make contact with 3 points – target the numbers and drive the
opponent off the ball. On the second command, „lock out‟ arms and rise up through opponent.
Step 3. Begin in 3 point stance with opponent 1 yard off ball. On command, come out of stance and
repeat step 2. Coaches please be mindful of time so that everyone gets reps.
Equipment: 3-4 hand held bags

Brian Brock, Mike Derks


Station 4. Down Block:
Emphasize importance of first step towards defender with near foot. Also, stress overall foot
quickness to prevent defender from „fighting over the top.‟ Pair up on the line with space to allow
movement and prevent injuries for this one. Line up defenders holding pads offset one man away
from the point of attack from the blocker. Aiming point is near shoulder with our „nose and hands‟.
Our intention is to pin the defender away from the ball as he recognizes the down block and attempts
to fight across our face to get to the ball. We must swing our hips around and point our tail to the ball
keeping our bodies between the ball and the defender until the ball is past us. Please repeat this drill to
both sides, then rotate players.
Equipment: 3-5 hand held bags.

Ralph Scholz, Carm Genovese


Station 5. Sled Drill:
Emphasize low body position, arch the back and drive the head back as you strike the bag.
1. Form lines in front of each bag. Begin on knees with nose close to the sled and butt back on
heals. On coach‟s command, strike bag under the „armpits‟ with thumbs up, elbows in.
Remind blockers to arch back and drive head back as they punch.
2. From 2 point stance, blocker steps up with two power steps and strikes the bag on the numbers
with head up
3. Form single line at end of sled. Blockers power step sideways across the sled punching each
bag on the numbers with both hands, while keeping their lead foot forward. Repeat in opposite
direction.
4. Blockers go from 3 point stance and strike the first bag on the numbers, back-spin and skip one
bag and strike next bag, ect. Have one person hold a bag at the other end of the sled so this
drill can be culminated with a drive block as the blocker finishes. Repeat in opposite direction.
Equipment: blocking sled
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Mike MacDonald, Dale Sanderson


Station 6. Trap Blocking:
Emphasize „running the rail‟ and keeping head to the inside of defender being blocked. This is
one situation where the „chicken wing‟ technique is useful. Line up a centre and two guards on the
line. Place two defensive tackles opposite the guards. The DT being trapped holds a bag.
The centre steps first with his BS foot to down block the BS tackle. The play side guard rips across
the FS DT‟s face to the second level (middle linebacker). The BS Guard trap steps to mesh with the
centre and runs the rail to block the FS DT – position your head to the inside of the defender and make
contact with the outside shoulder and forearm (chicken wing). Wheel your tail around to the ball
staying between the ball and your opponent.
Equipment: 6 hand held bags

John Malinosky, Sean McKenna


Station 7. Run Take-off Ball Drill:
Emphasize quickness off the ball with hands up. Line players up in 3 lines of blockers with 3 kids
in front, one yard off, slightly offset on one knee holding tennis balls. On command, the ball holder
tosses the ball ahead of the blocker, who fires off to catch the ball and lock out arms with good low
take off. Remind the kids that they should be in a balanced stance to start, but they need to „fire out of
their stance‟ and create forward movement quickly in order to catch the ball (the ball is essentially the
opponent‟s numbers for this drill). After they do the take off they become the ball thrower and rotate
accordingly.
Equipment: 8 tennis balls

Mark Verbeek, Brian Hutchings


Station 8. Reach Block:
Emphasize „reach and rip‟ technique. In 4-5 lines, line up a defender offset in the gap to the front
side of the offensive lineman. Reach step down the line with play-side foot in the direction of the point
of attack and sprint across your opponent‟s face. On the third step, rip across his face with your up-
field arm and hook him placing your body between the ball and the defender. Keep your feet moving.
Equipment: none

John Salavantis, Matt O‟Meara, Bob Macdonald


Station 9. Double Teams:

i. Emphasize keeping hips together and pad level low so defender can‟t split the double team.
Have two adjacent blockers on the line with one defender opposite in two point stance and rotate
after each rep. Power Double: covered man post-block, uncovered man begin with a slide (lateral)
step toward his partner. Bring hips together so opponent doesn‟t split the double (one coach hold
the hand held bag between their hips so they can carry it as they move up field with hips together).
Stay low and shoulder to shoulder to drive opponent off ball.
ii. Zone Double: two adjacent linemen zone step to your play side and engage the first man who
threatens your play side gap (place defender opposite front side offensive lineman). Together, drive
the defender off the ball in the play-side direction.
iii. Slip Scoop or Reach Scoop: first blocker slips past the defender covering him and goes to the
second level (ie linebacker), second blocker reaches and hooks the defender that his partner passed
up.
Equipment: 4-5 hand held bags
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Pass Blocking Drills – PM Session (1:00 – 3:15, Ron Joyce Stadium)

All stations will begin with Pass Set before the rotations begin
Emphasize getting out of stance and into pass set as quickly as possible to avoid getting beat by
the speed rush (i.e. do not roll out of stance). Begin with balanced stance review with their outside
foot back, then snapping into pass set while driving the head back and snapping the punch. Players
must take two position steps (i.e. „take away the inside‟ with their first two steps depending on their
position) and drive their head back, while stabbing hands inside with thumbs up and maintaining low
body position. Line the players up in lines of 5 by position. Have the players take several pass sets on
coach‟s cadence. Ensure they are making proper quick sets and not rolling out of stance. Rotate
groups when all sets are corrected. If time permits, initial power steps or kick slides can be added.

Mike Long, Larry Guarascia, Dana Segin


Station 1. Quick Set Drill:
Emphasize that the first key to success in the pass game is the quickness with which we get out of
our stance and into our pass set. First, please review balanced stance concept from morning
session. Position pairs of linemen facing each other in a line at cones. One partner kneels at the cone
holding the tennis ball, while the other partner gets in a 3 pt. stance facing one yard away from the
ball. On command, the kneeling partner tosses the ball at the other‟s face as the blocker snaps out of
his stance, steps inside, throws head back, and punches hands out, while catching the ball (if he
doesn‟t catch the ball praise him for punching the ball). Remind the linemen to take two position
steps as they snap into their set. The tendency is for them to keep feet planted because they are
focusing on the ball. As they get the hang of it the thrower can increase the speed of the throw.
Rotate after 3 throws so all get reps.
Equipment: 3-4 cones, 8 tennis balls

Ryan Donnelly, Lee Knight, Jason Kana


Station 2. Medicine Ball Punch Drill:
Emphasize importance of quickness while punching with open hands. Position two linemen
opposite each other on the line. One (defender) holds the medicine ball about 11/2 yard from the line,
while the other faces the ball in a good football position. On command, the thrower throws the
medicine ball toward the blocker‟s face and the blocker punches the ball back to the thrower. Please
remind the blocker to stay low and to move his feet and step into the punch. Repeat this 10 times, and
then rotate until all have reps. Remember to use ball weight appropriate for the player size.
Equipment: medicine balls of various weights
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Rob Fuciarelli, Ed Szpytma
Station 3. Pass Protection Footwork:
Emphasize that we should always have one foot on the ground when pass blocking. Partner up on
a line. One side – the pass blockers- “Get the fit” by engaging and locking out arms with inside
position. They “squat and lock” with good body position, bending at knees with head up and tail
towards QB (drop back pass launch point).
1. On command, the „pass rusher‟ moves up the field to the „inside‟(give group a direction) and the
pass blocker is forced to Power Step up with the inside foot to take his lane away. In this way the
pass blocker power steps down the line without giving ground. Repeat the other way.
2. Next, the defender makes a move to the „outside‟ and the blocker must maintain the inside out
position (stay between the QB and the defender with tail pointed at the QB). The blocker Kick
Slides (keeps weight over inside foot and kicks outside foot, pick up and replace feet, don‟t cross
feet, don‟t click heels – always have one foot on the ground) in a 45 degree angle back to protect
the pocket (give ground grudgingly). Repeat the other way.
Equipment: none

Brian Brock, Mike Derks


Station 4. Play Action Pass:
Emphasize that the more aggressive the OL is the more the defence is convinced it‟s a running
play (we want their lbers to play the run so we can throw over the top). Set up 2-3 stations with
two bag holders opposite lines of OL. Out of 3 point stance, have two blockers do an agressive „run
cross-block‟, then settle and pass block the opponent. Make sure they know what line goes first so we
avoid possible injury. Remind them that at the end of the block they should be positioned with their
tail to the QB or launch point.

Equipment: 3 pairs of hand held bags

Ralph Scholz, Carm Genovese


Station 5. Pass Protection Progression - Drop back (This drill is broken into 2 stations for the sake of time
– See 6):
Emphasize that there are only 4 basic pass rush moves or combinations thereof – bull rush, rip,
swim, spin. Please teach the kids that if they can counter these 4 moves, they can defeat any pass
rusher. Pair up players facing each other on the line.
Bull-rush: Have the defender hold a hand held bag for this one, so they don‟t bang heads. On
command, defender pushes straight up field. The blocker must: 1. widen base (feet) and drop his
anchor (tail) 2. May have to hop both feet back to gain position and stop the charge, 3. then locks out
arms and drives own head back to create separation (Squat and Lock), 4. while keeping tail pointed to
the QB.
Rip: On command, the defender sinks one arm and shoulder down to a side of the blocker and pushes
up field. If the rusher is ripping to the blocker‟s left, 1. the blocker places his left hand on defender‟s
near chest/shoulder and his right hand on his near hip (tell him he should feel the hip bone). 2. lock
out arms and power step on 45 degree angle backwards against the resistance, keeping tail pointed at
QB as you drive defender past QB.
Equipment: 5 hand held bags
6

Mike MacDonald, Dale Sanderson


Station 6. (5 con‟t.) Pass Protection Progression (This drill is broken into 2 stations for the sake of time -
See 5):
Emphasize that there are only 4 basic pass rush moves or combinations thereof – bull rush, rip,
swim, spin. Teach the kids that if they can counter these 4 moves, they can defeat any pass rusher.
Swim: on command, rusher swims to right of the blocker. Blocker keeps head up to recognize swim
move, then power steps to the right toward defender and punches the near armpit with his left hand
and the near chest with his right hand. Push with left hand and pull with right hand while stepping to
put defender off balance. Repeat drill in opposite direction and rotate so all get reps.
Spin: emphasize that this is the one time in football that we want to be passive. When we recognize
the spin (see the back of defender) give ground and slide in the direction of the spin. When the
defender comes around, square him up and block him aggressively, while we maintain our relationship
between the defender and the QB.
Equipment: none

John Malinosky, Sean McKenna


Station 7. Twist Drill:
Emphasize that they must take an honest pass set and read the defenders before they can force
the switch. We only force the switch in pass protection when two defenders are adjacent, if they are
separated by more than one man we can use man blocking and stay with our own man. When we
recognize the twist (T-E, E-T, T-T) from two adjacent linemen we will “force the switch”. We must
jump the penetrater if he is aligned over us to stop his penetration. The blocker with the looper aligned
over him must slide and force his partner off onto the looper, then take over the penetrater. To force
the switch, we must stay at the same level. Conversely, if the defenders are not adjacent it is too
difficult to stay on the same level so we can jump the penetrater and track the looper – use a man to
man scheme. Please walk through these concepts with the kids first and ensure they use good
footwork and hand placement. Coaches please remind kids we have no pads and to keep their bodies
under control for this one.
Equipment: none

Mark Verbeek, Brian Hutchings


Station 8. Mirror Drill:
Emphasize the importance of changing direction quickly in a good football position. Place two
linemen facing each other between the cones (cones should be about 3 yards apart). The blocker gets
in a good football position, with wide base, good squat, and head up, but must place his hands behind
him. On command, the defender slides back and forth between the cones attempting to avoid the
blocker. The blocker must try to stay nose to nose with the defender without losing his balance or
body control. Please rotate the players after 15 – 20 second reps.
Equipment: small cones, stop watch
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John Salavantis, Matt O‟Meara, Bob Macdonald
Station 9. Snap the Punch Drill
Emphasize thumbs up and elbows in. 5 players hold the hand held bags. Have players line up in 5
lines opposite the bags. When one player is done, he holds the bag for the next blocker. Remind
players to hold their hands with thumbs up and to keep their hands up in front of them with arms
partially extended. Don‟t place hands too close to chest to prevent having too long a punch. Also,
punch with an open hand and make contact with the heal of the hand not the palm of the hand. Snap
the wrist on the punch to deliver the most impact, similar to a Martial Arts punch. Go through a punch
progression of 15 second sets: 1. Single punches straight ahead (use the first set to correct the
technique) 2. High-Low: punch high on the bag then low with both hands, 3. Alternating corners of
bag – high right, low left, high left, low right. Rotate the group after each set of 15 seconds.
Epuipment: 5 hand held bags

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