Chowan University DefenseDefensive Line Fundamental Techniques & DrillsRicky Coon, Co-Defensive Coordinator

MentalityREFUSE TO BE BLOCKED!!

One man cannot block us.

Two men cannot move us.

Three Rs RELAX Do not tense up. Be ready to explode.

REHEARSE Know your assignment

REACT Quick movement to diagnose and defeat blocker.

AlignmentAlways Align for Success!

Five Types of Alignment:

Normal Nose to the shoulder pad of the OL.Heavy Nose to the V of the neck of the OL.Gap Nose to the middle of Gap.Head Up Nose to nose with the OL.Tilt Nose to the hip of OL

Stance Comfortable, powerful, functional.Man (shade) hand is down. Down hand is front of face for two reasons:Ensures we fire out and not upAs long as our hand is in front of our face, we are never off-sides. Feet are shoulder width apart to slightly wider. Toe to instep stagger. Can use toe to heel stagger in passing situation.Weight is distributed on the outside foot.Off Hand is cocked and ready to fire.

Footwork Short read step

Explode off of power foot and get the second foot in the ground ASAP. If not, we become a one legged defender

Must maintain balance for re-direct. Never stop feet

In a passing situation, we make a Rocket call which allows a bigger first step to close distance on blocker

Attack Attack Point = spot in which we place our hands

Stab the sternum of the OL with the man (power) hand

Gap (leverage) hand grab and control the outside shoulder (Stab & Grab)

Must be violent with punch

Grab as much cloth as possible

Shoot the hands to the attack point, feet will follow hands

Pass Rush Principles Pre-Determine your move. Have a plan! No lateral steps, always work toes towards QB. Get off on ball movement! Close the gap on the OL right now!Flip your hips as you get to the blocker and start your move.Work a half man technique with all moves.Work move close to blocker, know his set. No WASTED movement.Use violent hands on ALL moves.Rush with a fiery passion, REFUSE TO BE BLOCKED!!

Keys for Success10 Keys that I believe are vital for success:Align for SuccessKnow your assignment this comes through making the most of your reps in practice. Read and understand the scouting report.GET OFF on movement!!Be Physical with Your Hands Do not catch, punch VIOLENTLY. Stab & Grab.Keep the feet moving Accelerate the feet on contact!

Keys for SuccessBe Coachable use the technique taught. Take pride in being a technician.Know The Situation Understand the personnel and down & distance. Use provided information to maximize performance.Watch Film Must know the opponent. Run! When in doubt, RUN TO THE BALL!. Motor cannot stop until off the field.REFUSE TO BE BLOCKED! One man cannot block us. Two men cannot move us. Take pride in being unblockable, be tenacious. Accept the challenge.

DRILL WORKFootwork and Movement

Base Steps working lateral through the chute while maintaining a good pad level while working to develop a strong base.Step Recover working diagonal through the chute while maintaining a good pad level while working to develop a good base when reacting to an inside release.Man Step Working vertical through the chute in 3 or 4 lines. Begin in a great stance. Get off low and get in as many steps as possible halfway through the chute, then reset and finish through the end.

Chute Footwork

4 DL line up on LOS 5 yards from coach.On coaches movement, DL will rush to coach.On coaches signal, the DL will redirect accordingly.No wasted movement. Looking for plant, sink, point toe, drive, finish Will work lateral, screen, draw, pass

Re-Direct

DRILL WORKRun Progression

Start in the fit position, which is man hand on the sternum and gap hand on the outside shoulder pad, with your nose on the bottom of the OL numbers. Grab as much cloth as possible. On command, accelerate your feet with while maintaining a good base and obtain lockout position. Maintain position and accelerate feet until whistle blows.

Fit & Lock

Begin in three point stance facing OLOn movement, execute get off, stabbing man hand to the sternum, grabbing outside shoulder of OL with gap hand, facemask in between. (3 Points of Contact)As 3 points of contact are made, accelerate feet and work for full extension with hands slightly above the eyes.Maintain position and foot drive until whistle is blown.

Hat & Hands

KneesRead Step and Hold (three point)Full w/ finish on whistle (three point)

5 Man Sled Progression

Start in the fit positionWhen the DL feels drive pressure, he accelerates his feet while maintaining a strong base and locks out his man arm right now, while keeping his hands above his eyes working to squeeze the blocker into the gap.Eventually work in Gap and Cross face release (Rip or Wipe).

1 on 1 Fit Base/Drive

Start in the fit positionWhen DL feels the OL trying to get to his outside shoulder, he must attain lock out right away with heavy outside hand pressure while working his hips to the heat, trying to work the OL vertical and keep the gap as small as possible.Eventually work in Gap and Cross face release (Rip or Wipe).

1 on 1 Fit Reach

Start in the fit positionWhen the DL feels the OL going away from him, must lock the man arm out right now and work hips and feet lateral and square into a position that blocks the OL from climbing to the second level right away. Must stay square and work blocker vertical!

1 on 1 Fit Inside Release

Begin in three point stance.Align with nose to the V of the neck.Eyes are on the outside/inside knee of the OL.When the outside/inside leg comes to you, strike the OL with the man hand to the sternum and the gap hand to the outside shoulder pad (stab & grab) and accelerate feet while maintaining a strong base and lock out the inside arm right now, while keeping the hands above the eyes working to squeeze the blocker into the gap.Eventually work in Gap and Cross face release (Rip or Wipe).1 on 1 Read Base / Drive

Begin in three point stance.Align with nose to the V of the neck.Eyes are on the outside/inside knee of the OL.When the outside/inside knee comes at an angle, strike the OL with the man hand to the sternum and the gap hand to the outside shoulder pad (stab & grab) and attain lock out right away with heavy outside hand pressure while working the hips to the heat, trying to work the OL vertical and keep the gap as small as possible.Eventually work in Gap and Cross face release (Rip or Wipe).1 on 1 Read Reach

Begin in three point stance.Align with nose to the V of the neck.Eyes are on the outside/inside knee of the OL.When the outside/inside knee breaks away, strike the OL with the man hand to the sternum and the gap hand to the outside shoulder pad (stab & grab), must lock the inside arm out right now and work hips and feet lateral and square into a position that blocks the OL from climbing to the second level right away. Must stay square and work blocker vertical!1 on 1 Read Inside Release

Start in the fit positionWhen the DL feels drive pressure, he accelerates his feet while maintaining a strong base and locks out his man arm right now, while keeping his hands above his eyes working to squeeze the blocker into the gap.As soon as the defender gets the OG on a different level, get skinny to split the blockers and immediately square up, throwing the elbow to knock the tackle off the wash angle.2 on 1 Fit Double Team

Start in the fit positionWhen the DL feels down pressure, he accelerates his feet while maintaining a strong base and locks out his man arm right now, while keeping his hands above his eyes working to squeeze the blocker into the gap. As you see the flash (Puller), after squeezing the OL, work to cross his face (Squeeze & Cross).2 on 1 Fit Down / Pull

Start in the fit positionWhen the DL feels inside release, lock the man arm out right now and work hips and feet lateral and square into a position that blocks the OL from climbing to the second level right away. Must stay square and work blocker vertical!When DL feels OL trying to wash down, must come off inside release. Transition gap hand and eyes into down blocking OL and squeeze him back, must stay square!If the DL gets a good squeeze, he may work across the face.2 on 1 Fit Down / Down

Start in the fit positionWhen the DL feels inside release, lock the man arm out right now and work hips and feet lateral and square into a position that blocks the OL from climbing to the second level right away. Must stay square and work blocker vertical!As the DL feel the OL trying to cut him off (Scoop), play through the inside releasing OL. Never get cut off (Scooped). We always play through the Scoop block.2 on 1 Fit Scoop

Begin in three point stance.Align with nose to the V of the neck.Eyes are on the outside/inside knee of the OL.When the outside/inside leg comes to you, strike the OL with the man hand to the sternum and the gap hand to the outside shoulder pad (stab & grab) and accelerate feet while maintaining a strong base and lock out the man arm right now, while keeping the hands above the eyes working to squeeze the blocker into the gap.As soon as the defender gets the OG on a different level, get skinny to split the blockers and immediately square up, throwing the elbow to knock the tackle off the wash angle.2 on 1 Read Double Team

Begin in three point stance.Align with nose to the V of the neck.Eyes are on the outside/inside knee of the OL.When the outside/inside leg comes to you, strike the OL with the man hand to the sternum and the gap hand to the outside shoulder pad (stab & grab) and accelerate feet while maintaining a strong base and lock out the inside arm right now, while keeping the hands above the eyes working to squeeze the blocker into the gap.As you see the flash (Puller), after squeezing the OL, work to cross his face (Squeeze & Cross).2 on 1 Read Down / Pull

Begin in three point stance.Align with nose to the V of the neck.Eyes are on the outside/inside knee of the OL.When the outside/inside knee breaks away, strike the OL with the man hand to the sternum and the gap hand to the outside shoulder pad (stab & grab), must lock the gap arm out right now and work hips and feet lateral and square into a position that blocks the OL from climbing to the second level right away. Must stay square and work blocker vertical!When DL feels OL trying to wash down, must come off inside release. Transition outside hand and eyes into down blocking OL and squeeze him back, must stay square!If the DL gets a good squeeze, he may work across the face.2 on 1 Read Down / Down

Begin in three point stance.Align with nose to the V of the neck.Eyes are on the outside/inside knee of the OL.When the outside/inside knee breaks away, strike the OL with the man hand to the sternum and the gap hand to the outside shoulder pad (stab & grab), must lock the man arm out right now and work hips and feet lateral and square into a position that blocks the OL from climbing to the second level right away. Must stay square and work blocker vertical!As the DL feel the OL trying to cut him off (Scoop), play through the inside releasing OL. Never get cut off (Scooped). We always play through the Scoop block.2 on 1 Read Scoop

Work blocking schemes in a bigger piece, using multiple combinations of OL and DL.Block Recognition - PODS

Work blocking schemes in a bigger piece, using multiple combinations of OL and DL.Block Recognition - PODS

Work blocking schemes vs. a full OLBlock Recognition Full Line

Combo drill with DE & LB vs. Zone Read SchemeGap Exchange / Squeeze

DRILL WORKPass Rush

Start in three point stance.Align with nose to gap.OL will line up in two point stance, 2-3 yards away. When ready the OL will run backwards to create separation.The DL will react to movement and work to close the gap as quick as possible and tag the OL on the shoulder.Close The Gap

Two DL in three point stance facing the coach 5 yards away.On movement, rush to QB (Coach)The DL that sees the QB chest with put near hand up.The DL that sees the QB butt will not put hands up and just run through the QB.Near Hand Bat

Two DL in three point stance facing the coach 5 yards away.On movement, rush to QB (Coach)As QB hand comes off the ball, the DL will leap vertical while putting the gap hand up.The man hand must stay on OL to protect DL.Quick Game Reaction

Stab DrillSling ShotArm OverArm UnderThrow By (Counter)3 Whistle Drill (Tempo)Power Progression

Slab ClubSlap RipFast Hands Slap Club, Slap RipClub RipSpeed Drill (Clear Hips)Counter ClubSpeed Progression

DRILL WORKTackling

Come to BalanceOne Way Go (Come to Balance w/ Lateral Step and Finish Vertical!!)Two Way Go (Come to Balance w/ Lateral Step and Finish Vertical!!) AngleBox Tackle

Work with Reach and DriveStay up on the Tackle!Shed & Tackle

Work off a blockerExecute a low (Gator) tackle on ball carrier (Bag).Gator Tackle

Ricky CoonCo-Defensive CoordinatorChowan UniversityOne University PlaceMurfreesboro, NC 27855(641) 373-8184coonr@chowan.edu

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