Building a Dominant

Offensive Line
Some people try to find things
in this game that dont exist
but football is only
two things
blocking and tackling.

Vince Lombardi
Successful offenses start
with successful blocking.
Focus on Intensity,
Execution, Technique.

Jack Gregory
Attitude, Behavior, Character - Nothing can
replace hard work and 100% effort. If you
give 100% effort to the team, then you will
get 100% effort from the team. In this area
above all others, your players will reflect
their coaches. If you handle adversity
poorly then so will they.
Attitude Reflects Leadership
~ Remember The Titans
ABCs of Coaching
3 Building Blocks of a
Dominant Offensive Line
Simple Schemes

Pride in the O-line

Better, Stronger, Faster

Simple Schemes
SIMPLICITY + REPETITION = CONFIDENCE

There are a lot of Blocking Schemes out there and a lot

depends on the offense you run as well as what each
play is designed to do. Here are a few:

1. Down & Kick used by Marion HS in S. Carolina

2. TKO Track & Kick Out used by my teams and a
lot of others based on the Power Off Tackle.
3. Rules Based ex. GOD (Gap, On, Double Down).
These simple rules help answer any question a young
lineman might have during a game.
We constantly work to develop pride in the hearts of
our linemen. We make sure they understand that our
offense belongs to them and they are the most
important players on the team. There are many ways to
express this to your linemen:
-
HC & OC alway spend more time with the linemen
than the backs. Attitude Reflects Leadership.
-
Always use more linemen than backs as game day
team captains. 7 linemen & 4 backs.
-
Always show them special attention whenever
possible. Extra-long breaks in the shade.
-
Always talk about what they will do or what they
did do to help us win before discussing anything
else during pre-game and post-game speeches.
Pride in the O-line
All the great offensive linemen I have seen in my
life from youth teams all the way to the NFL have
exhibited certain traits.
1st - FUNDAMENTALS !!!
-
Great technique ... every time.
2nd - PHYSICAL !!!
-
Be the bully on the field.
3rd - SPEED !!!
-
Get off the ball FAST.
Great Offensive Linemen
Stronger Bodies
Better, Stronger, Faster
Better Techniques
Faster Off The Ball
Better Technique - Stance
STANCE PROGRESSION

1. FEET ... feet are even, shoulder width apart, toes pointing forward.

2. 2 PT (READY or BREAKDOWN POSITION ) ... bend knees to get the butt
down, hands ready, elbows bent, head up, chest out, eyes straight ahead.

3. 4 PT ... while lowering the butt even farther, reach out and place both
hands down on the ground slightly ahead of the nose and inside the
knees ... keep the back flat and head up ... fingers flexed and forming a
tent. Get the lower body right in step #2. That is the most important
part. The part where we put the hands down just sort of happens
naturally once the feet are right.

4. 3 PT ... pick up 1 hand and create a loose fist close to the wrist of
the down hand ... if you staggered your feet make sure you pick up the
hand on the side with the foot that is farther forward.
5 yards
5 yards
5 yards
Better Technique
LEG Load, Explode, Go

This is absolutely the most important thing we

teach our linemen and in fact all of our
players. We teach this to the entire team because
we believe it is helpful in many aspects of the
game including all blocking and most of our
tackling techniques.

We incorporate LEG into most of our drills.

Better Technique - LEG

Better Technique
LEG Load, Explode, Go

Ultra important at the LOS and equally important when

blocking on the run. We want our players to attack with:
-
explosion of chest and hands into the defender
-
low to high motion (elevate the defender to his toes)
-
rolling hips (drive your belly button through his belly
button)
-
power stomps (7 cleats in the ground)

We drill this like crazy, until the boys no longer think

about the steps involved and muscle memory takes over so
they can just fly off the ball full speed.
Better Technique - LEG
LOAD STEP

3 Step with your lead foot (right foot when blocking to

the right or left foot when blocking to the left).

Get it up and get it down. Quick feet make great blocks.

Keep your back flat during this step and violently LOAD
your arms back past your hips. When we practice this step
we want the players chest on his knee.

This is the first step when coming off the LOS into a
defender and it is the last step prior to contact if you are
running and blocking in space.
Better Technique
Better Technique
EXPLODE STEP

6 Step with your back foot while you EXPLODE your chest and hands
into the defender.

Get it up and get it down. Quick feet make great blocks.

Your head is up and your eyes are aiming for the far armpit so that
your helmet gets across in front of the defender.

Roll your hips for power and elevation. A great way to teach rolling
the hips is to drive your belly button through his belly button. Not
only do you roll your hips, but you also continue to drive your
hands up, lifting the defenders shoulder pads to get elevation. We
want our blockers to hit low to high. ELEVATE the defender by
hitting LOW to HIGH !!!
Better Technique
GO STEPS

6 Power Stomp your feet with a wide base and all 7 cleats in the
ground and GO, GO, GO until the echo of the whistle.

It doesnt have to be fast but you must maintain contact with the
defender. If you are TKO blocking, you must GO to your
landmark. If you are Reach blocking, you GO to the outside
shoulder of the defender. If you are pulling and /or blocking in
space, you GO into the defender until he falls over backward
onto the ground.

GO is a very powerful word and we want to use it often when

coaching our players to teach them our aggressive attitude
towards hitting and blocking.
Better Technique
Stronger Bodies
STRENGTH, SPEED & AGILITY DRILLS Every Day

Yes, I know you are limited on time. Just keep up the

pace at practice and dont stay on any one drill for too
long. Remember I am telling you that most of these
things need to be done EVERY DAY. Not just because we
do important things more often. But also because we
cant afford to stop practice when they struggle. They
will get to do it again tomorrow. Move On Coach.

Pushups, Dips, Bulldozer Drills, Step Over Dummies and

Ladders for quick feet can also be used for quick &
strong hands.
Faster Off The Ball
SLEDS & CHUTES Every Day

I realize very few youth teams have access to Sleds or Chutes.

DON'T MAKE EXCUSES !!!

If you dont have a sled, get 2 dummies. If you dont have dummies,
get 2 shields. If you dont have shields, get 2 couch cushions.

If you dont have a chute, get some PVC pipe and make one. If you
dont have PVC, get 2 broom sticks and name them Coach GetLow
& Coach StayLow

Do whatever you have to do but working full speed on your GET

OFF and LEG steps MUST BE DONE EVERY DAY !!! And nothing
provides immediate feedback to a lineman like a Sled or a Chute.
LEG REGRESSION
10 yards
LEG REGRESSION
SLED DRILLS
OBJECTIVES:
Power at the LOS.
Develop muscle memory
of hitting 'low to high'.
6 Reps (2 for each
alignment)

ALIGNMENT:
We use 3 different
alignments:
Straight
Angle 45 Right
Angle 45 Left.
CHUTE DRILLS
OBJECTIVES:
Speed at the LOS.
Develop muscle memory
for fast 'get off'.
6 Reps (2 for each
alignment)

ALIGNMENT:
We use 3 different
alignments:
Straight
Angle 45 Right
Angle 45 Left.
OBJECTIVES:
Develop muscle memory for
directional steps.
Load, Explode & Go past the cone ...
Coach is only watching Load &
Explode.
Next player gets in stance before last
player reaches cone.
2 reps in each direction.

ALIGNMENT:
Players get in a straight 3 pt. Stance
no matter which direction they move.
Cones are 3 yards away ... aiming
points for 0, 45 & 90 degrees.
0 - Drive Block
45 - Down Block
90 - Trap Block

2-STEP DRILL
Live Demo
Lets get some volunteers

Stance Progression

Load Explode Go

Round Table Discussion Period

What are some drills YOU run ???

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Dominant O-Line Manual

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