Jim McNally - Offensive Line Run Blocking

2009 Charlotte Glazier Clinic Notes

1. STANCE: Knock-kneed is better than knees out. Weight should be on
the inside part of the toe & heel. Use the outside elbow to squeeze the
knee in. The deeper your stagger, the easier it is to go to that side. If
you are parallel in the stance, you can go either way - but not very well
either way.
2. SPLITS: Guards adjust the splits, get close to whoever he is going to
work with. IF THERE'S A MAN IN THE GAP, THERE IS NO GAP. The
defense knows that you are working together, but they don't know if it
is a front side double or a back side zone.
3. LEVELS:
1. ON - on the ball up tight; ON is for when a guard is pulling, or a
quick dive. The more your assignment is outside, the more off
the ball you need to be. Not everyone has to be on the same
level!
2. OFF - normal;
3. BACK - way back.
4. BLOCK ON THE ANGLE: Block them on the angle they are on from you.
Offensive linemen need to get the whole foot on the ground, and get
the lead foot out of the way. Move your body forward, drive off, knee
down, body is going into the guy. Hips are not locked. Don't use a lead
step. Get the lead foot out of the way so the 2nd foot can get into the
ground. Uncoil on the 2nd step.
5. WHERE IS THE DEFENDER: Open up deeper & wider for further out
defender. use the duck step drill to teach them to put the whole foot on
the ground.
6. ALWAYS USE 2 STEPS
7. LUNGE OFF 2ND STEP
8. FLEXED OUT LINEBACKER - DUCK TIMING
9. FEET OUT OF HOLE: Offensive linemen bring your hips under, climb the
body to get your feet out of the hole. Put your dick on his dick
instantly, when he tries to make the tackle you pancake him.
10.ZONE:
1. Use the double under (elbows in)
2. Grab or drag hand. Strong inside grab hand on the under side of
the pads.
3. Ball-Climb-Torque
4. Knee Bend-Climb-FINISH! Climb, and if he tries to run away from
him, shove him.
Once the guy you are blocking starts to move, shove him, twist him,
torque him or throw him. Use their momentum to get them out of the
play. It is extremely important to know where the ball is going.
This is zone blocking for the 2, 4, and 6 hole (Guard, Tackle or Tight
End - 8 is a sweep). For the running back, Turn the shoulders to turn
the Linebacker, use one cut to get back. For wider holes, use wider

shoulders - you have to make the LB move! On the 3rd step, put the
foot in the ground and cut.
11.OG IN 2 HOLE PLAY VS. 3 TECH: We're only talking about a Point of
Attack blocker now. Run the Inside Zone to the Tight End, makes the
cutback off 1 tech nose better. You have to get into him, dip the hips
and reset to hold on long enough for a back to get there from 7 yards
deep. reset the hat to move with him.
12.BALL AT 6 HOLE VS. 3 TECH: Move off the ball, deeper drop, head on
shoulder. SHUFFLE first to get him almost head up, then get the lead
foot out of the way. Always use strong inside hand, only strong outside
hand for the wide sweep. If the Running Back sees color, he's going to
cut back - and we don't want that.
13.STALEMATE: Dip & Get your bite back.
14.THE LAST SHOVE: Use a "GOOD! GOOD!" at the end of drills to prompt
the FINISH!!
15.TACKLE VS. 5 STRONG: At the Point, don't put your hat way out there
because you get flattened out.
16.USING SHOULDERS OR FOREARM: "Don't walk around the block," walk
through the guy. Use the shoulder or forearm to walk through the
block. Strain - get everything away from you, bring the hips. Same foot
- same shoulder - strain - bring the hips - go to 2nd level. "You get the
most movement on a Defensive Tackle with 2 high legs."
17.ANGLE TO LINEBACKERS: Take the perfect angle to the linebacker but
don't go to the 2nd level yet. Use the lazy forearm, you have time to
get there because the ball carrier is at 7 yards.
18.MAN IN THE GAP: If there is a man in the gap, there is no gap. Get the
guys close on the snap. The uncovered guy will shuffle over.
19.DOWN BLOCKING: Move laterally to get the down block, set up the
angle. If offensive linemen get too flat, they will knock you back. If
you're getting flattened out, shuffle first.
20.GUARDS PULLING: One-two back, pivot & go on an A-Gap pull. On an
outside pull, one two then shuffle, read around the double team. For
any penetration on the counter-pull when the hand-off is over the top head across the bow; otherwise use a same-shoulder block.
Jim McNally - Offensive Line Pass Blocking
2009 Charlotte Glazier Clinic
Drop Back Pass Blocking
1. STANCE: If moving to the right, weight is on the left foot. Take the
inside knee and drive it down. This pivots the foot and puts more
weight on that cheek. This lets you be light on your step. The
Defensive Line may get a read, but they don't know if you're going
inside or outside. The right-side linemen take a right handed stance.
Most blocks are on a 3 or a 5 technique. Left-side linemen would have
a left-handed stance. The outside foot is back. Centers are about
parallel. On a 3rd and long, the Tackles would takea narrow base.

2. DUCK: Knees are in, work a wave drill. Emphasize power angles. Move
forward, back and sideways with short steps. Kick outside, or post
inside. Lateral movement is pass protection. Arms are moving, you are
teaching balance and body control. Tight feet at all times, with very
little movement on the kick - just a few inches. In drills, stress "How
tight are my feet," which elps to change directions easily.
3. KICK-STEP: Step to the outside. Used in dealing with a 3-tech or a 5tech. Step the foot out to the side and slightly back for depth. Hit the
ground light. Always put the whole foot in the ground. The weight stays
on the inside foot and centered. The 2nd step is a slide on the ground
with the inside foot. Shoulders always stay square, toes pointed in the
same direction they started. You get in front of the guy by losing
ground.
4. TILT: On a kick step out, the shoulders will have a slight tilt in, to keep
balance. Feet move before the hands. Don't reach! Kids with short
arms will especially have this problem. They try to make up distance
with a reach, but they need to learn to get to the guy with their feet.
Continue to move as you punch. Your head is always on an inside-out
relationship, but you've got him with your feet.
5. PUNCH: Punch off your inside foot. Make the punch as the outside foot
is off the ground. If you make the punch with your outside foot in the
ground, your outside leg will be locked - and you will get beat around
the edge because you cannot recover!
6. STRETCH: Shoot the inside hand to the inside shoulder of the defender.
You want to widen the rusher from inside-out. The blocker will always
feel like he is positioned inside-out, but he's on him wtih his feet.
Coaching point: Get all of him with your feet! Don't let the outside foot
drop to widen him. There's some angle with the feet, more for the
tackles.
7. A+ FOR OTs: Tackles with a wide rusher take a more narrow stance, a
deeper set, and they set on the toe. But always widen the pocket. Do
not simply go straight back, as this is where the Quarterback is!
Anywhere there is a looser guy, the lineman will have to take a deeper
angle.
8. POST STEP: To play an Inside-I player. The inside foot stays strong.
Simply stomp the foot in the ground. Do not let him go inside. The tilt
of the shoulders is going to be to the outside. Have a stronger post foot
to deny the inside and trip him up.
9. KNIFING PUNCH: You can't get inside of most rushers with the hand
punch. They have their hands together as they fire off the ball. Its not
realistic. BUT, if you can, when you can, you want the hands to get
locked out then bring them back slightly. Make a knifing punch with the
heels of your hands.
10.SEPARATION: Give ground to regain the natural separation. Give just
enough to get the space you need.
11.PUSH-PULL-COG: Put your player in a stance. Teach him center of
gravity by pushing and pulling on him in his stance. Teach him balance.
12.QUICK SET: Quick Set Drill from stance. Coach says "GO!" - kick step
and get handsup. The Coach (standing in front) tries to knock his hands

down. The objective is to see how fast the OL can get his hands up and
set. Work from both the kick and the post.
13.TARGET: Eyes are on the target - which is the armpit area. The purpose
of the target is that you get the target between your hands (if he is in a
regular 3 or 5-tech, you get the armpit area between your hands). To
help teach watching the target, hold your finger out and have the guy
watch it, as he slides his feet (like a wave drill), moving with your hand.
14.HANDS: Vesus a 3-tech, on your edge (or a 5).
1. It is unrealistic to get the hands inside. The blocker's inside hand
is the "POINT" hand and the outside hand is the "COUNTERPOINT" hand. Punch and grab the inside shoulder with the point
hand. If you punch across to the mid-chest, he will beat you to
the inside. The counter point hand is going to counter any
moves by DL to get his hands off of you. Reset the hands to the
inside of the chest.
2. Versus a bull rusher, go to under hands inverted, that's where
you want to be. Hop the hips back once, then hit the double
under.
3. If he tries a swim move, use the counter point and run-block
him. his feet are too tight on that.
4. Be strong with the inside hand, and soft with the outside hand. If
he gets both hands inside on you, come with double under
(inverted hands, palms up). If he gives you chest, take chest. If
he gives you shoulder, counter it.
5. Versus a rip move, the hands go down to the hip and push him.
6. Versus an inside move, to to the under with the inside hand, and
pull yourself and torque him. Block him with your butt if you
need to. Work to pull yourself in, but if he's beating you inside
get your tail underneath him.
15.TIGHT 3: A player that is almost in a 2 (head up). Shorter steps, but the
feet are always in action - tight feet but almost the same
16.2 TECHNIQUE: Same feet, but you may move your inside foot first.
17.LOOSE 3: As described before, you need to take a deeper set - but
never go straight back. Always widen the rusher.
18.VS. TILT: On an inside move, your inside hand is now the counterpoint
and the outside hand is the point hand.
19.DEPTH OF ALIGNMENT: By aligning closer to the line, you are stronger
to the inside, but weaker outside. You have to cut the angle down vs.
wide rushers by aligning deeper. A shorter QB Drop gives you more
room to get beat outside. Always keep the inside foot firm, you can use
it to trip the guy.
20.T-E GAME FOR OG: Stretch him and flatten the DT out so the OT doesn't
get picked. Throw him from the hip or shoulder to prevent the pick.
(Pick - the Tackle is going to slam into the OT with the End coming over
top of him). Carry him over, drop the outside foot and throw him. If you
can't get back to the End, spin to get him with your backside or give
ground. Hop back to get him if you need to. Everyone on the LOS must
know how to stretch a defender.

21.T-T GAME FOR CENTER: The Center has to get behind the Guard on his
slide. He needs to read the LB and if he's not coming, the Center can
stay in the middle to help both sides.
22.DON'T CHASE A LOOPERTurn and switch, give a little ground, and block
the penetrator. Never chase a looper. Loopers are crossing over two
other DL. Don't see much of that in High School.
23.JUMPING: get yourself halfwawy to him and close the space on him,
then step.
1. Close the space, with the feet always moving. If he goes outside,
convert to the pass block. This takes away the ability to use all
the fancy moves.
2. If he's outside, use a kick-slide to make up the space.
3. Never jump a 1-technique.
4. Jumping makes you easier to pick on line games!
24.OT'S JUMP A LOOSE DEFENDER: On a wide rusher, have tight feet. Take
a deeper kick. Get up on the toe. Pigeon toe your outside fot. Tilt your
shoulder. Don't turn til he gets bast the center of your body. Pumping
the outside arm will also help to keep your shoulders square.
The following were a part of Coach McNally's overview, but were not
discusses due to time.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Bull-Hop, Trap, Climb

Rip
Spin
Always Mirror - AFT Contact
Mirror Dodge
OTS: -A, A+, B, -LAG
Middle - RT-LT IN, OFF, RIP-LIZ; Rocco-Leo-Stays.
Gap-Shove Defender