Defensive Line Drills | FBCP S10E20

Defensive line drills can be a key piece to having your big boys playing their most efficient, most effective football. They’re not the only tool you need in your toolbox, but one you need without a doubt.

In this episode we’re talking ways to improve your players with defensive line drills and focusing on the fundamentals of D-Line play.

The Purpose of Defensive Line Drills

• Especially in HS, O-Line can be slow, clumsy, and unable to make decisions on the fly. A well taught D-lineman can take advantage of this and really wreck shop
• HS teams generally rely on the run game to be successful. Having D-linemen that are sound in their technique, you can shut down the majority of the teams you’re going to face.

Defensive Line Drills Do’s and Don’ts

• Defensive Line is all about reaction and key reads. It has to happen by feel. There is not enough time to see.
• Never ask defensive linemen to look in the backfield. They must defeat the man in front of them. 
• You don’t want defensive linemen to run up the field. Without key reads they’re an easy kickout.

The Key Components of Defensive Line Drills

• Block Reactions you need to teach…
  • Base Block
  • Reach Block
  • Down Block
  • Pass Read
  • Screen Retrace
• Attack the half-man to get an advantage. Even if you are 2-gap, once you get the two gap read you do not stay head-up to the man. 
• There is no reason to waste time running defensive line drills for defeating double teams. Defeat the half-man and split it. 
• Most high school coaches spend too much time on defensive line drills for pass rush. You don’t see that much drop back pass in most areas. Get good at one or two rush moves (Michael Strahan had two moves).

Related Links

• Listen to Solving 5 Defensive Line Problems from Season 7, Episode 14 of The Football Coaching Podcast:
• Read this article about keeping your base drills exciting
• Listen to Episode 78 of the FBCP for 4 Defensive Line Drills You Can Use Now