Escape Techniques
Purpose:
Escape techniques are techniques that are used by a player to evade a player while advancing up the field. Escape techniques are primarily used by defensive players to evade the blocks of the offense, but these drills also apply to wide receivers trying to evade a “Jam” technique from a defensive player. Players use a series of these escape technique drills daily to create muscle memory in their arms while doing these drills with a partner.
Drill Set Up:
Drill should be set up on a line, the sideline or end-line. Players should partner up and stand facing each other approximately 2 feet from each other. Drill starts with one player placing his hand on the opposite player’s shoulder.
Salute Drill:
Salute drill is an “edge” rushing drill that players would use primarily in a “5” technique or wider. Defensive player starts with a hand on his shoulder, begins the drill by swinging his inside hand towards the outside of the offensive player’s wrist, knocking the O player’s hand from his shoulder. Defensive player then progresses by swinging his outside across his body towards the elbow of the O player while forward with their outside foot. This movement will serve to decrease the D player’s surface area and clear the body of the O player. Defensive player will then progress with their “Rip” move and pass the O player’s block. For the sake of the drill, players will reset with the defensive player’s hand on the offensive players shoulder thus becoming the offensive player for his partner’s turn in the drill.
Hook Drill:
The Hook Drill starts in the same position as the Salute Drill. The Hook Drill is the counter move to the Salute Drill. Defensive player starts with a hand on his shoulder, begins the drill by swinging his inside hand towards the inside of the offensive player’s wrist, knocking the O player’s hand from his shoulder. Defensive player then progresses by swinging his outside across his body towards the elbow of the O player while forward with their outside foot. This movement will serve to decrease the D player’s surface area and clear the body of the O player. Defensive player will then progress with their “Inside Swim” move and pass the O player’s block. For the sake of the drill, players will reset with the defensive player’s hand on the offensive players shoulder thus becoming the offensive player for his partner’s turn in the drill.
Club Move Drill:
The Club Move starts in the same position as the Salute Drill with the Offensive player’s hand on the Defensive player’s shoulder. The D player will swing his arm across his body, aiming for the O player’s shoulder with his hand. The D player will strike the O players hand off of his body while clearing the O player’s body by taking a step with their outside foot. The outside step will create space so that the D player will be able to progress in his pass rush with either a “Rip” or “Swim” move.
Swat Move:
The Swat Move starts in the drill start position with a player’s hand on the other player’s shoulder. The Swat Move is a variation of the Club Move. The Swat Move is a double club move. Player swings both arms up towards the O player’s arms. The D player will aim their inside arm in between the O player’s arm striking the O player’s away arm while striking the near arm with the D player’s far arm. D player’s arms will move in a circular motion together to strike the O players arms away from the D player.
Trap Move:
The Trap Move starts with the players in front of each other. One player will have both arms extended on the other player’s shoulders facing his partner. The D player will swing both of his arms around and over the O player’s arms striking the O player’s forearms thus clearing his hands from the D player’s body. The drill is finished with the D player striking the O player in the chest and obtaining inside position in their pass rush progression.
Forklift Move:
The Forklift Move starts with the players in front of each other. One player will have both arms extended on the other player’s shoulders facing his partner. The D player will swing both of his arms around and under the O player’s arms striking the O player’s elbows and lifting their arms up this will clear the o player’s hands from the D player’s body. The drill is finished with the D player striking the O player in the chest and obtaining inside position in their pass rush progression.
Hatchet:
The Hatchet Move is an “edge” rushing drill that players would use primarily in a “5” technique or wider. The players start in the drill’s start position with one players hand on the other player’s shoulder. The D player raises there arm above the outstretched arm of the O player. The D player then swings his arm down, striking the O player’s forearm and wrist with his hand. The D player then immediately swings up using his arm to clear the O players body and continue in his pass rush progression with a “rip” move.
Tags: coaching, defense, defensive line, escape, football done right, football drills, strategy, techniques
Tire Push/Pull Football Drill
Purpose:
The Tire Push/Pull drill is a combination drill that incorporates both conditioning and technique work. The Tire Push/Pull drill is used to aerobically build strength in an athletes entire body while developing strength in their Push/Pull and escape techniques from a block of an offensive player. I use repetitions of this drill daily to develop Push/Pull skills of my athletes.
Drill Set Up:
One standard car tire is needed for this drill. This drill is to be performed over a five yard area.
Drill:
Players position themselves in front of the tire. Player positions one hand on both sides of the tire and prepares themselves to push the tire with their arms and legs. At the coaches direction, player begins to push the tire forward, keeping their arms straight, running with their feet behind them to move the tire. The coach will then give the player the direction of “Right” or “Left”. When given the direction, the player will Push/Pull the tire in the corresponding direction and “Rip” off of the tire and continue to sprint for 5 yards. Then next player should position himself in the start position of the drill and continue the drill towards the start position of the first player.
Tags: coaching, defensive line, football done right, football drills, pull, push, tire
3 Cone Reaction Drill
Purpose:
The 3 Cone Reaction drill is an agility drill that builds a player’s change of direction speed while in movement. I use this drill as a conditioning drill to test my athlete’s focus and change of direction speed while they are on the move and fatigued. Players must be able to react and change direction at the speed of the game while on the field. The 3 cone reaction drill prepares them for such scenarios.
Drill Set Up:
4 cones are involved in this drill. The first cone is the start and finish cone and should be set up on a line at a given point. This is the cone that the player will be starting at and also returning to in between drill directions.
There will be 3 other cones set up 5-7 yards away from the start cone in a straight line going across from each other. These cones will be labeled cones 1, 2 and 3.
Drill:
Player will start at the start cone facing the 3 positioned cones in front of them. Coach will begin the drill by instructing the player to chop their feet in rapid succession, like the player is running while in place. The coach will then call out a number; either number 1, 2 or 3. Player will sprint to the corresponding cone, break their feet down, change direction and return to the start cone. Upon the player returning to the start cone the coach will give the player another number: 1, 2 or 3 and the player will, break down their feet, and sprint to the next number cone. The drill will continue with the coach calling out numbers and the player sprinting to the directed cone and returning to the start cone. The drill ends with the coach giving the direction to “break” the drill. When the player “breaks” the drill, the player finishes by sprinting through the start cone.
Tags: 3 cone reaction drill, coaching, defense, defensive line, football done right, football drills, strategy, teach
Hands, Hips, Rip & Run Football Drills
Purpose:
This series of drills is used with the purpose of developing quickness at the hands, shoulders and power at the hips and feet while coming out of the player’s stance at the point of attack. I use repetitions of these drills everyday to develop quickness and power in the player’s arms and legs that they will be using while playing football.
Set-Up:
These drills should be performed using a blocking sled. One, two or five man sleds are appropriate for use in this drill. Players should start on their knees lined up facing the blocking bag at an arms length away from the blocking bag. Players will progress from their knees into a full3-point stance towards the completion of the drill.
Hand Explosion Drill
Purpose:
The purpose of the Hand Explosion drill is to develop quickness and power in the player’s arms in making contact with the offensive player at the point of attack of a football play.
Drill:
Player will line up on their knees in front and facing the blocking sled bag. Coaches will direct the player to strike with their hands at every movement of the football. Coaches should start off the drill by slowly moving the football and having the player strike the bag thus setting the player’s hands correctly. Coaches should progress into rapidly moving the football and having their players strike the blocker bag in rapid succession thus maximizing player’s repetitions in the drill. Players should rotate upon the coach’s direction to “break” the drill.
Hip Explosion Drill
Purpose:
The purpose of the Hip Explosion drill is develop power in a players hips while delivering a strike to the offensive player at the point of attack. The player will generate most of the power of their initial strike from the movement at their hips. I use repetitions of this drill everyday to develop power and quickness in the initial explosion of a player’s get-off from a full 3-point stance.
Drill:
Player will line up on their knees in front and facing the blocking sled bag. Coaches will direct the player to strike with their hands and explosively extend from their hips driving through the blocker bag at every movement of the football. Coaches should start off the drill by moving the football, critiquing the movement and allowing the players to reset in front of the bag. Coaches should progress into rapidly moving the football and having their players strike the blocker bag and reset in rapid succession thus maximizing player’s repetitions in the drill. Players should rotate upon the coach’s direction to “break” the drill.
Rip & Run Drill
Purpose:
The Purpose of the Rip & Run Drill is to use repetitions to develop quickness and power in the player’s get-off from a full 3-point stance. The player will develop power in their hands and hips when driving their initial step out of their stance and continue to drive their feet through contact with the blocking sled bag. Finally, the player will use a rip technique to escape the offensive player’s block in a full get-off progression.
Drill:
Player will line up in front and facing the blocking sled bag. Coaches will direct the player to forcefully explode into the blocking sled bag through their get-off progression at the movement of the football. Players will forcefully explode through their get-off progression and rip off of the bag thus escaping the block of the offensive player. Coaches allow their players to reset on the next bag and continue with the drill at the next movement off the football.
Tags: coaching, defense, defensive line, football done right, football drills, hand, hand explosion drill, hip explosion drill, hips, rip & run, rip & run drill, strategy
Medicine Ball Hand Fighting Football Drill
Purpose:
Develop quick hand strike in defensive players. Develop muscle memory with hand striking the medicine ball.
Translate Movements functionality to the football field.
Area:
Usa a 10yd area from yard mark to yard mark. Line up 2 players one on each side of the line in a side stance, place large medicine ball between the players. Players should be approximately 2ft from each other facing each other.
Drills:
Players shuffle 10yds, Hand strike medicine ball with palms facing forward and thumbs up. Players repeat motion for 10yds then change direction and continue the same motions back 10yds.
Tags: coaching, defense, defensive line, football done right, football drills, medicine ball hand fight, strategy
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