Drills and Skills for the Defensive Line
ANTHONY GRAZZINI
ELMHURST COLLEGE
Wheaton North Clinic
S.A.K.R.A.T.S.
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Stance
Alignment
Key
Reaction
Attack
Technique
Sustained Effort
Base Stance And Alignment
• Attack Stance
• Inside Hand Down &
Inside Foot Back
• Weight On Down Hand
And Ball Of Front Foot
• Off hand out in front with
thumb turned out
• Crowd Ball = Credit Card
• Align On inside eye on
outside eye of the visual
key
Loose and Jet
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LOOSE
Inside toe to outside toe
of OLM you are shaded
on
Flexed of the ball 6-10
inches off the ball
Know assignment and
technique
Attack and Penetrate
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Jet
Align 1 to 1 ½ Yards
outside EMOL
Take tilt out of stance—
Get in the blocks
Attack OLM set point and
beat them to the spot
React to run
(Interior linemen will align
in gap)
Ball Get-Off
Coaching Points
•Explode with your Hips
•Shoot your hands—Steel Rods
•Bring your feet
Replace down hand
Get your second foot in the ground
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No Fish Hooks
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Explode with Hips, Hands and Feet
Recognize stimulus
Plant on outside foot with your knee in your armpit
Snap your inside elbow in the direction you intend
to go
• Drive outside Arm and leg
– 4 Reactions Right, Left, Pass, Draw
Contact Fit
HAND PLACEMENT
HAT PLACEMENT
• Deliver blow into
• Eyes shoot to the “V”
inside of near numbers
of the neck
and outside shoulder
• Head up
• Thumbs up--Grab cloth • Keep head lower then
• Lock out and turn
OLM chin-strap
OLM shoulders
STAB DRILL
Stab Progression
–5 pt Extension
–4 pt Lock Out/Escapes
–2 pt Hip Strike
–3 pt Press/Squeeze/Shed
SHRUG DRILL
PUSH/PULL/THROW BY
• Fit Hands
• Hard pull with inside hand toward you
• Violent push with gap hand away from you
• Violent Shrug with both hands as you
swing hips into the hole and throw the
OLM by you
STEER DRILL
From Defeated
– Leverage Steer
– Leverage Steer Rip
• Execute steer
• Push/Pull to turn blockers shoulder
• Rip under with inside arm and get
hips through
– Leverage Steer Wipe
• Execute steer
• Break elbow by driving saw into
outside arm of the OLM and
driving wt into OLM
• Wipe across nose with a violent
circular striking movement and get
hips through
From Dominant Position
– Leverage Steer
– Leverage Steer Rip
– Leverage Steer Wipe
Clear Minds Equal Fast Feet
Three Questions
•Question #1
–Is he trying to block me?
•Yes, Push through my gap and control it
•No, go on to question #2
•Question # 2
–Is the “V” up?
•Yes, hit your pass rush move
•No, go on to question #3
Question #3
– Is the “V” is away with an inside threat?
–Yes-Spill all trappers or Kick out blocks, Tackle all backs in your path
–No—Down block coming; feel pressure ricochet back and control
1 ON 1 KEY PROGRESSION
Key Drill
– Reaction #1 Trying to Block Me
• Push through my gap and Control
– Reaction #2 Not Trying to Block Me—V is Up
• Execute pass rush move
– Reaction #3 Not Trying to Block and –V is Away
• Attack inside threat—Tackle all backs/Far Arm K.O.
Blocks
• No inside threat—Ricochet back—Down block coming
Double Blocks
• DOWN/PULL
• REACH/SCOOP DOUBLE
• TRUE DOUBLE
CROSS FACE/SKI
Ski
• Explode with Hips, Hands, and Feet
– See to visual key pulling
– React to pressure Key
• Pressure key up-field at a 45
• ski the puller
Cross Face
• Explode with Hips, Hands, and Feet
– See to visual key pulling
– React to pressure Key
• Pressure key hard and flat to cut you off
• Cross face him
ANTI REACH
SLINGSHOT
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Pre-Fit Steer/Run Through
Pre-Fit Steer/Latch On/Run Through
Pre-Fit Steer/Latch On/Runt Through/Sling Shot
3 Pt Latch On/Run Through/Sling Shot
ANTI DOUBLE TEAM
SPLIT
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Pre-Fit Press the post
Pre-Fit Press the post/Hips to wheel
Pre-Fit Press the Post/Hips to wheel/Skinny the hole
Pre-Fit Press the post/Hips to wheel/Skinny the hole/Wipe
through
Screw
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Pre-Fit Press the post
Pre-Fit Press the post/Latch on inside number
Pre-Fit Press the Post/Latch on inside number/Seat roll
Pre-Fit Press the Post/Latch on inside number/Seat roll/Hot Stove
Combination Blocks
•TRAP/INFLUENCE TRAP
•POWER/COUNTER
FAR ARM PROGRESSION
• SPILL DRILL
– Visual Key Veers
• Plant and Bend
– Visual Key Veers
• Plant and Bend/Spill inside threat with far arm by ripping
hip to ribcage
– Visual Key Veers
• Plant and Bend/Spill inside threat with far arm by ripping
hip to ribcage/Drive inside foot vertical and pick off
second threat or make tackle
Trap/Influence Trap
Veer Trap
•As blocker veers or blocks back, Re-direct (Bend)
•expect a kick out block; snap eyes inside, plant outside foot, drive far elbow around
•Attack trapper, explode with far arm through the inside thigh of the OLM and rip up through the
rib cage drive your feet vertically and make the tackle.
Influence Trap
• Never believe a front-side puller
•As Visual Key pull outside; plant your outside foot and re-direct (Bend)
•expecting a kick out block; snap eyes inside, plant outside foot, drive far elbow around
•Attack trapper, explode with far arm through the inside thigh of the OLM and rip up through the
rib cage drive your feet vertically and make the tackle.
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Kick Out-Insert
•As locker veers or blocks back, Re-direct hard on 2nd step,
expecting a kick out block
•Snap eyes inside, plant outside foot, drive far elbow around
•Attack trapper, explode with far arm through the inside thigh of the
OLM
• Spill two (never one for one) cause the ball to bounce to the
leverage player hot stove and make a tackle
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Basic Pass Rush Concepts
Stance And Alignment
• Attack Stance
• Outside Hand Down
& Outside Foot Back
• Weight On Down
Hand And Ball Of
Front Foot
• Crowd Ball
• Align On Outside 1/3
Of The Man
Ball Get Off
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Explode with hips out of the blocks—fast ball
Low Body Lean
Burn The Cushion—get the TSL
Stay on an edge (Rush ½ A Man)
Vertical Push Feet Ripping Ground
Target--6 1/2 Yards Behind The Center
Power Rush
 Stab the cuff
 Extend arms and push off cuff until the OLM squats
to stop vertical push—if he doesn't sit drive him over
the QB
 Pull down and across the body with your outside arm
 Shuffle hips perpendicular to the LOS
 Arm over/under; step through; and run hoop to the
QB
Rip or Arm Under
• Used by a contain rusher or gap rusher
– Burn cushion
– Club the outside arm
– Rip with the inside arm—elbow to eye level
• Accelerate to the QB
• If OLM checks your hip and rides you once at qb
level
– Pull rip out and hump back
– Pull rip out and spin back
– Accelerate to the QB
Punch or Arm Over
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Used by a contain rusher when the defender has a low
base
– Burn cushion
– Club the outside arm
– Punch low and tight over the outside shoulder with the
inside arm
• Accelerate to the QB
• If OLM checks your hip and rides you
– Grab cloth on the outside shoulder with your off
hand and pull the defender down and away
– Execute hip flip technique
– Pull back punch and rip through
– Accelerate to the QB
Power Slip
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Used by and inside rusher
• Burn cushion
• Strike with your saw on the outside cuff of the
offensive lineman
– Extend saw and leverage offensive lineman
upward
– Grab cloth on the outside shoulder with your off
hand and pull the defender down and away
• Slip saw over the shoulder and clear with your
elbow
• Accelerate to the QB
Speed Slip
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Burn cushion
When offensive lineman punches for your near
breast plate redirect his punch using the Hook
technique.
– Strike the near arm with your near arm in a
downward circling motion
– Swat and pin the elbow of the near arm with the
outside arm
• Finish the move with a punch, rip, or wipe
depending on the height advantage of the OLM
• Accelerate to the QB
Spin
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Spin
• Burn cushion
• When offensive lineman punches for your near
breast plate set the Hook.
– Pivot on Inside foot
– Drive outside elbow into the OLM’s sternum
– Snap you butt into the inside hip of the OLM
(Sit down when he give you his knee)
– Clear with elbow
• Finish the move by “throwing home” to get you
back into your rush lane
• Accelerate to the QB
Pass Rush Drill Progressions
USC CLOTH PROGRESSION
• USC Cloth Progression
– BFCO
– BFCO Flip
– Stab/BFCO
– Stab/BFCO/Flip
– Stab/BFCO/Flip/Throw by/wipe
– Hop/Retreat/Spar
KARATE PROGRESSION
• Karate Progression
– Hook
– Cut
– Saw
– Strike
– Snakes
– Doors
– Hook/Saw combos
– Speed Slip
– Power Slip
– Walk and Spin
– Walk and Spar
– Spar Conditioning
Hook
• DL1 extends left hand to the right shoulder of DL2
• DL2 makes a downward chop with his right arm
turning his wrist outward to hook the arm of DL1
• DL2 open hand swats the elbow of DL1 pinning the
elbow to the body
• DL2 replaces his hand on the shoulder of DL1
• DL1 Repeats the drill
• 5X each
Cut
• DL1 extends left hand to the right shoulder of DL2
• DL2 makes an outward chop with his right arm turning
his wrist outward to cut the arm of DL1
• DL2 open hand swats the elbow of DL1 pinning the
elbow to the body
• DL2 replaces his hand on the shoulder of DL1
• DL1 Repeats the drill
• 5X each
Sharpen the Saw
• Drill begins with two linemen facing each other
• DL1 extends left forearm to the right forearm of DL2
• DL1 and DL2 alternate bring their forearms up in a circular
movement with their palms facing up
• DL1 and DL2 maintain constant pressure on each others
forearms as they work to circle each other
• Switch arms and repeat the drill
• 5X each
Strike
• Drill begins with two linemen facing each other
• DL2 Holds a blocking shield for DL1
• DL1 makes and upward strike with his saw into the
blocking shield; at the same time as the strike he will
bring his back leg through and press DL2 backward
• DL1 will now alternate the technique with the other
arm
• 5X each
Snakes
Over Snake
• With his inside hand DL1 snakes his arm over the inside arm and under the outside
arm of DL2, pins DL2’s elbow to his body and finishes with a punch or rip and at
the same time he will bring his inside leg through and separate from his partner
• DL1 will now alternate the technique with the other arm
• 5X each
Under Snake
• With his inside hand DL1 snakes his arm under the inside arm and over the outside
arm of DL2 grabbing and breaking down DL2’s elbow; he will then pins DL2’s
elbow to his body with his outside arm and finishes with a punch or rip and at the
same time he will bring his inside leg through and separate from his partner
• DL1 will now alternate the technique with the other arm
• 5X each
Doors and Fork-lifts
Open Doors
• With his inside hand DL1 will hook the inside hand of the
DL2, simultaneously DL1 will push up the wrist of DL2
and then step through the door created under DL2’s armpit
with a rip and at the same time he will bring his inside leg
through and separate from his partner
• DL1 will now alternate the technique with the other arm
• 5X each
Hook/Saw Combo’s
Hook/Saw Punch
• With his inside hand DL1 hooks the wrist of DL2, flips his hips and strikes the arm
of DL2 with his saw to pin it to his body and finishes with a punch, and at the same
time he will bring his inside leg through and separate from his partner
• DL1 will now alternate the technique with the other arm
• 5X each
Hook/Saw Punch
• With his inside hand DL1 hooks the wrist of DL2, flips his hips and strikes the arm
of DL2 with his saw to pin it to his body and finishes with a Rip, and at the same
time he will bring his inside leg through and separate from his partner
• DL1 will now alternate the technique with the other arm
• 5X each
Speed Slip
• Drill begins with two linemen facing each other on one
knee
• DL1 is on an outside shade of DL2
• DL2 extends his outside hand to DL1
• DL1 sets the hook on the outside had of DL2, strikes
the outside elbow with his saw, and flips his hip as he
punches through the hole, and reaches for his back foot
as he drive his inside knee through the hole
• Repeat 5X each
Power Slip
• Drill begins with two linemen facing each other on one knee
• DL1 is on an outside shade of DL2
• DL1 assumes a pre-fit position with his saw on ht outside
number of DL2 and his outside hand grabbing cloth on the
shoulder
• DL1 pushes with his saw and pulls with his outside arm
• DL1Punches his inside hand over the outside shoulder of DL2
and reaches for his back foot as he drive his inside knee through
the hole
• Repeat 5X each
Walk and Spin
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Drill begins with two linemen facing each other
DL1 stands five yards from DL2
DL1 and DL2 walk toward each other
DL1 executes a spin move (chops with inside arm,
plants and sinks near hip, drive far hip around into the
body of DL2, executes a rip to clear, and throws home
• Both DLM Alternate turns
• 5X each
Walk and Spar
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Drill begins with two linemen facing each other
DL1 stands five yards from DL2
DL1 and DL2 walk toward each other
DL1 executes the appropriate pass rush
technique when the Offensive Player give him a
stimulus
• 5X each
Spar Conditioning
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Drill begins with two linemen facing each other
DL1 stands one yard from DL2
DL1 and DL2 walk toward each other
DL1 executes the appropriate pass rush
technique when the Offensive Player give him a
stimulus
• DL1 and DL2 quickly turn around and repeat
• 5X each
COUNTER COMBATIVES
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Rip to Punch
Punch to Rip
Chop (Hook) to Spin
Rip to Hump
Boxing in the Quarterback
High Number Position
1. Burst up field
2. At 5 yards—DLM should be hip to hip in a high number
position; continue over the top to QB
Even After 5 Yards
1. Turn and power down OLM to QB
2. Collapse the Pocket
3. Contain the QB—Alert for QB to Bail Out
Low Number Position
1. If Low Number after 5 yards come under
2. USE HUMP OR SPIN
PRE PRACTICE
___Warm Up Drills
Hot Stove Progression
No Fish Hooks
Step Over Bags
Speed Ladder
TRASH CANS
___ Alignment Assignment
Technique
Fronts
Stunts
Dogs
Blitzes
Zone Pressure
HOOPS
___Hip Mobility Drills
Single
Figure Eight
Chase
Circle Strip
Washington State
FIT DRILLS
Butt & Bench
6 Point Progression
Pre - Fit Escape
Press, Squeeze, Shed
Knock Off Escape
___Leverage Drills
Pipe Progression
Pre - Fit Reach/Scoop
Typewriter Drill
___ Steer Drills
Stab Progression
Steer Progression
Latch on the Zone Block
PASS RUSH
Anti Cut Drills
• Push and Give
• Nose in the camera
• Knee Cut Drill
• Dummy Cut Drill
• Live chop
• Rip - N - Redirect
• Pogo
Pass Rush Drills
Hand Fight
Arizona Progression
Gauntlet Progression
Close Drill
Rub Towel Drill
One Yard Box
Double The Outside Rush
Spy, Draw Screen
High, Even, Low Numbers
TACKLING AND TAKE
AWAYS
Tackling Drills
• Form Progression
• 0,1,2
• Knee Roll Over
• Angle
• Goal Line Tackle
• Finish Tackle
• Escape tackle
• Stunt/Movement Tackle
• Hot Stove Tackle
• Chicken in the Ring
___Individual
Form Pull
QB Strip
Punch Out from behind
Secure and Strip
Nose on football
___ Partner
• Second Man Rip
• Convoy
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GROUP DRILLS
___Pass Protection
One on One
Team Pass Rush
Pass Under Pressure
___ Run Game
• Inside Run Fit
• Perimeter Run Fit
• Half Line Option
• Games & Stunts
INDIVIDUAL DRILLS
___ Pursuit
• Pop Up Pursuit
• Pop Up/One Less
Block Protection
Keys & Reads
1 On 1 Block Recognition
3 On 2 Block Recognition
Anti
- Trap/Kick
• Cross Face/Pull Collision
• Spill
• Effort Spill
• Scwartz
__ Double Team
• Split, Spin, Corkscrew
NOTES
SLED DRILLS
___2 Man Sled
Fit Progression
Hot Stove Form Tackle
___ Run Game
• Movement Fit
TRAP CHUTE DRILLS
___Cage Drills
Pursue In Trash
Trash Cut
Trash Scoop and Score
___ Run Game
• Movement and Stunts
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Movements
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Pressure
• ____________________
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• ____________________
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TEAM DRILLS
__ _Run Game
• Team Pursuit
• String Out
• 3 Ball Option
• Offense/Defense Wins
___ Passing Game
• Oskie
• Screen/Draw
___ Competitive Period
• Team Blitz
• Green Zone
• Redzone
• Two Minute
• Goal Line
• Short Yardage
• Last Drive
• Dick
em
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Fronts
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Practice Schedule
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- out Drills
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