Rick Pennypacker Pottsgrove High School Pottstown, Pa.

19464
rpennypacker@pgsd.org

OFFENSIVE LINE
FUNDAMENTALS AND DRILLS

ZONE BLOCKING PROCEDURES

PHILOSOPHY OF COACHING OFFENSIVE LINE

No position in football require more discipline and technique Success of the offense depends on controlling the Line of Scrimmage Spend a tremendous amount of time on Fundamentals Blocking schemes we prepare are simple spend more time on fundamentals

Build a foundation of Unity and Pride have a gimmick Coach the Little Things Never accept poor technique Our Offensive line MUST Hustle and Hit and be a Team Player Blocking CAN be Taught Put in the time, summer lineman practice

PSYCOLOGICAL ADVANTAGES
We NEVER walk on the field practice or game Act tough- a little cocky Never allow our opponent to see us tired No one plays Defense- work together on scout team vs. defense Reduce Fundamentals to habits

PRACTICE PROCEDURES
Head Coach- I determine how much time our line has for fundamentals At least an hour for fundamentals and group work Coach on the run-never waste time with too much talking Develop and plan each fundamental into its simplest form Develop buzz words like Hippo, L-Step

Lineman Creed Make improvement every day Repetition is a way of life Blocking is an unnatural habit No one wants to practice blocking Coach on the RUN Talking is for meetings. Get in Reps

IN SEASON PRACTICE (Offense on Tuesdays)

2:55-3:10 3:10-3:30 3:30-3:45 3:45-4:45 4:45-5:30 5:30

Pre Practice Flex Special Teams Offensive Fundamentals Team Conditioning (if needed)

We want most of our conditioning to happen during practice

Two a Day practices

8:10 Chalk Talk 8:30 Pre Practice 8:50 Flex 9:10 Ind. Fundamentals 10:40 Team 11:10 OFF 11:30 Specialties Alternate Off and Def practices in am and pm

OFFENSIVE LINE PRACTICE

Warm Up-Shuffle, Duck Walk, Backward run-5 yards Chutes-Stances and Starts- GET OFF Step and Punch Combo Blocks- Ace, Deuce and Trey Pass Protection Assignment- Weekly Game Plan

BASE OR DRIVE BLOCK

Four Parts Approach Contact Drive Finish

1.
2. 3.

4.

APPROACH (Stance and Takeoff)

Stance- most important- least neglected Line up as far off the LOS as possible Base is shoulder width- Too wide causes false steps Feet- slightly pigeon toe- toes in heels out Stagger- Instep Back heel off ground no more then 2

Down hand on inside of ankle Free hand on outside of knee- Elbow in tight- do this to handle tension Semi bowed neck-not bull neck- cause tail to drop Shoulders parallel to LOS and Flat Back First step-short 6-8 depending on aiming point and scheme

Get first step out of ground and down quickly Hands go to Holsters Eyes on target keeping power angles GET OFF THE BALL- Film- Coming off as one unit- L step and GO

CONTACT

First Step Ties Second Step Wins

Hold ankle to reinforce the drive of the second step Second step the hands MUST come together Second step drives into crotch- Knee them in the stomach theory

Contact is made with HANDS Fingers together pointing up Elbows in - Nose will follow hands - See your aiming point Lifting action Hit through him, not at him Hit on the Rise Keep your power angles Arms extended 75%- Bull neck-helps drop tail Incline bench

DRIVE
The difference between a GREAT blocker and a Average blocker is the fraction of time between contact and DRIVE Arch back and get feet underneath you no leaning not overextended Sprint on the inside of your feet Be conscious of it

FINISH
Keep driving while maintaining contact Make the tackle PANCAKE HIM Go crazy when one occurs

COACHING POINTS

Never use dummies to teach blocking Will use shields and Flippers rarely Sled - rarely use it only use it for conditioning ( Buying Rogers Leverage Sled- will use more) Never allow loafing or poor technique Oklahoma Chute use all the time Put good on good Squat, Power Clean, Dead lift year round for power

TYPES OF BLOCKS WE USE

Base or Drive Inside Zone Outside Zone Combo Block Reach Cut Off Trap and Gut Pass Protection 3 and 5 step Sprint out Reach and hinge backside

Offensive Line Drills

STANCE STANCE AND L STEP BIRD DOG L STEP AND PUNCH L STEP AND CONTACT FORM FIT DRIVE BIRD DOG L STEP PUNCH AND DRIVE DRIVE AND FINISH ON WHISTLE L STEP CONTACT - DRIVE

COMBO BLOCK FUNDAMENTALS

First step-

6 L step to defender Guns to holster See aiming point

Aiming point is near number of down defender

Second Step - drive to crotch whip fists or palms into defender use lifting action

Head on the outside of the defender looking at second level linebacker

Inside Man
Linebacker comes inside Get off block and get head across front and drive Linebacker goes over the top Now he becomes outside blockers man Slowly rotate hips to the play Get hand placement to outside number Move hips Communicate with outside man you / me

Outside Man
Stay on block-Hip to hip with inside man Head and eyes to the outside Look for linebacker coming over the top Drive until linebacker comes to you-Never

Chase

Get off block and engage linebacker and drive

Pound feet into ground Balls of feet Like pushing a car NEVER stop moving your feet Take him where he wants to go Step on his toes Never leave your feet Uniform clean at the end of game

OFFENSIVE LINE COMBO BLOCK PRACTICE

Deuce Ram Trey Deuce Lion Trey Outside Zone

10 min. 10 min. 10 min.

COMBO BLOCK ROTATIONS

WORK DUECE
B

LT

LG

COMBO BLOCK ROTATIONS

WORK ACE-RAM

RG

COMBO BLOCK ROTATIONS

B
WORK TREY

5-6-7 TECH

RT

TE

COMBO BLOCK ROTATIONS

TE LT

LG

RG RT

WORK TREY
5-6-7 TECH

WORK ACE
LION

WORK
DUECE

COMBO BLOCK ROTATIONS

ACE
COMBO BLOCK WITH CENTER AND GUARD

ACE LION CENTER AND LEFT GUARD ACE RAM CENTER AND RT GUARD

COMBO BLOCK ROTATIONS

DUECE
COMBO BLOCK WITH GUARD AND TACKLE

BACKER RUNS THROUGH B GAP- GUARD COMES OFF AND BLOCKS HIM

COMBO BLOCK ROTATIONS

TREY
COMBO BLOCK WITH TACKLE AND TIGHT END

TREY A 5 OR 7 TECHNIQUE

TE

COMBO BLOCK ROTATIONS

COMBO BLOCK WITH TACKLE AND TIGHT END

TREY

BACKER RUNS THROUGH C GAP TACKLE CLIMBS OFF AND BLOCKS HIM

TE

OUTSIDE ZONE
Fast rotating zone block Blocking designed for running back to break at first daylight from play side tackle outside We use a Drop step, crossover, rip through

Covered Lineman
Drop step and eye aiming point Aiming point is outside number of down lineman Second step come off with power ripping backside arm through his outside number Must keep backside hip close to defender throughout contact

Must keep his helmet on the outside hip and number and use rip technique Lift through the defender to keep driving him off LOS Unless the uncovered lineman next to you has a run through blitz, he will join you Must have head and eyes looking at second level for linebacker to show to your side If LB shows, come off square on backer

Do not chase or come off too early will get no push If lineman slants, come off square on backer If you pin him, turn inside him and wall him off If defender plays out, stay square and stretch him outside A wide defender will widen when drop step occurs

Uncovered Lineman
Step with near foot of the combo block Get shoulders perpendicular with your track Look down the track Key near hip of down defender If hip goes away, track up to the linebacker

Read all actions of defenders while drop stepping If linebacker runs through, drive off your drop step and block him with a backside rip through technique Drive him back inside

Versus Slant Defender

Block slanting lineman with helmet to play side Flatten slanter away from point of attack and work him off LOS

No Slant- No Run Through

Drive off drop step foot and get helmet on near hip If engaged with covered lineman block, drive, rip through, lift and drive him down track of second level defender

Defender Stretches

Work to second level and pin linebacker away from point of attack