Run Blocking Progression Drills
Run Blocking Progression Drills
My coaches and I put our offensive linemen through run blocking progression drills. The first drill will be our fire-out drill. Following the fire-out drill, we will do our leverage & power step drill. The last drill of this 3-drill phase will be the drive-finish-compete drill. These drills are executed during our individual session. It is absolutely vital that you keep things moving. These drills should be executed with energy, passion, and a sense of urgency. You should not be spending 10-15 minutes on each drill phase. Everything must be done at full speed.
Phase 1: Stance and Splits (Fire-out)
We will put our players into two separate huddle lines. The starting 5 linemen will be the first group, then the second and third team will line up behind the second group. We will then make them get into the huddle, then break the huddle once the coach gives them a snap count. Lastly, the kids will get their splits and get right into their stance. Once they get their splits and are set we will fire out on our cadence (coach calls cadence). We will have the kids sprint 10 yards after they fire out of their stance. Once a group goes, the next group must be ready. Keep it rolling and mix up the snap counts. Each group will go roughly 5-8 times, depending how many mistakes occur. As the season goes on this drill will become very fluent.
Phase 2: Leverage and Power Step
After we put the players through the stance and splits drill, we will take them down to the two man sled. We will put all the linemen in one line and make them fire out of their stance on the cadence. As the players fire out, they will step and deliver a blow into the sled (sink the hips, sky the eyes, hands inside, thumbs up). It is vital that all the offensive linemen fire out and jolt the sled with proper run blocking technique. Once a player hits the first sled dummy, they then slide over and get back into their three point stance and hit the second sled dummy on the cadence. Coaches need to keep the drill moving, keep it up beat and intense.
Phase 3: Drive-Finish-Compete
Once we go through the stance/splits and leverage/power step drills we put it all together in our run blocking drive drill. This drill you will have your offensive linemen get into their stance, fire out on the snap count and drive a coach holding the blocking shield back. Coaches need to make sure all players have proper run blocking form: wide base, head up, hands inside with thumbs up, arms extending up, and feet pumping. Sink the hips, sky the eyes! Coaches can have the players hit blocking shields, the 5 man sled, or go live with player vs. player blocking. The first week we do not practice with pads, so we hit blocking shields and the sled.
(See Also) Offensive Line Blocking Technique
