AFM RSS Feed Follow Us on Twitter       
AMERICAN FOOTBALL MONTHLY THE #1 RESOURCE FOR FOOTBALL COACHES
ABOUT |  CONTACT |  ADVERTISE |  HELP  



   User Name    Password 
      Password Help





Article Categories


AFM Magazine

AFM Magazine


Defensive Line Attack: Read Rules for 6 Offensive Line Steps

by: Dennis Truitt
© More from this issue

Click for Printer Friendly Version          

This article will focus on the reads for an attacking style defensive front. These reads are based on the idea of offensive linemen being able to take 6 initial steps that will tell the defensive lineman how to react. The reactions are based on whether the defensive player lines up in an inside shoulder technique (a 7 tech for example) or an outside shoulder technique (a 5 tech for example). The reads and techniques are the same for both outside and inside shoulder reads. The only difference is the blocker being read. If aligned as an outside shoulder player, the defender reads the blocker he is lined up on. If aligned as an inside shoulder player, the defender reads the first blocker inside from the blocker he is lined up on (See Diagrams 1A and 1B).


Diagram 1A/1B Inside Outside Shoulder Alignment

    The first step is a base step in which the blocker steps straight ahead and attempts to turn the defender after getting an initial push off of the LOS. In this case, the player will take his initial jab step forward and then attempt to push the blocker back in the direction that he came from and plugging the hole with his body while keeping the arm to his gap responsibility free (See Diagram 2).


Diagram 2 First Step

    The second step is an inside release or veer step. In this case, the player is going to take his initial jab step forward and then make contact with the shoulder pad area of the releasing player in an attempt to knock him off track. The player will then look inside for puller, fullback, play away, and reverse in that order. If puller is present, the player will “wrong shoulder” the puller and keep his inside arm free. The same technique will apply to a lead block by the FB. If the FB shows but does not block, the player should tackle the FB. Most often this will happen in the case of midline or veer play. If there is no puller, the defender should automatically expect and prepare to backdoor a down block by the player to his outside (See Diagam 3).


Diagram 3 Second Step

    The third step is a pull step away, either a roll over “short trap” step or a ninety degree “long trap” step. In this case, the player is going to take his initial jab step forward and then trail the puller down the LOS no deeper than one yard. While trailing the puller, the player will look for the ball coming to him behind the puller or attempt to disrupt the second puller if there is one (ex counter trap). The defender must be prepared to either backdoor or cross face the blocker filling for the puller (See Diagram 4).


Diagram 4 Third Step

    The fourth step is a reach step. In this case the player will take his initial jab step forward and then react to the outside read of the headgear of the offensive player by either ripping his inside arm across the blocker to get outside and maintain separation or by using a push-pull technique. Then the outside shoulder of the offensive player is pushed back while the inside shoulder is pulled toward the defender to maintain outside leverage and keep outside containment (See Diagram 5).


Diagram 5 Fourth Step

    The fifth step is a pull toward the defensive player (ex G block to a 3 technique). In this case, the player will take his initial jab step forward and upon reading the outside pull, redirect and take on the down block from the outside if there is one. He can either cross face or backdoor the down block. Once the down block is defeated, he should continue outside down the LOS and look for cutback runs (See Diagram 6).


Diagram 6 Fifth Step

    The last step is the pass drop stance. In this case the player will take his initial jab step forward and upon reading the head and shoulders of the blocker coming up to pass block immediately get into his pass rush lane and use the techniques he has been taught to rush the passer (See Diagram 7).


Diagram 7 Last Step

    As one will have noticed, all of the techniques begin with a short jab step forward to establish movement out of the stance. The defensive linemen are aligned so that all of them are in a shade on the opposing blocker with no one lining up directly across from a blocker. The exception to this is the NT in a 3 man or 5 man front. All of the linemen have the hand closest to the ball down and that foot back in their stance. The linemen should crowd the ball as much as possible.

Drills
     One of the most important drill factors to remember is teaching the linemen to never go deeper than one yard in the backfield. This puts them in better position to react to the trap, midline and counter plays. Almost every offensive line coach teaches the pullers when a defender is too far upfield to not waste the block on him, thus giving them an extra blocker at the point of attack. To teach this, the drills should be performed on a section of field where the following line scheme can be painted:

LOS:    __________________________________________________
1 yard deep:    _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  _ _ _ _  _ _ _ _  _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
 
    By giving the players a visual representation of where the imaginary line will be in a game situation, they can be conditioned to stop in the acceptable range.

    Sample drill setup (Inside Release and Pull Away shown (See Diagram 8).


Diagram 8 Inside Release and Pull Away Drill

    Each pair of linemen faces off with all linemen being shaded the same way. The coach stands on one side and gives the block signal to the “offensive” lineman. All of the linemen on that side then execute the block while all of the defensive linemen react to it. The dotted line should always be behind the “offensive” side. Once all six reads have been practiced, the sides switch. The drill should be done twice, once with everyone knowing what block is being worked on and therefore which technique to use ahead of time to practice technique. During the second repetition, only the “offensive” player should know what block to execute, forcing the defensive player to read and then use correct reaction techniques.

Special blocks
     Offensive linemen can also be set up into different alignments for working on special blocks such as double teams and down/down blocks. In a double team situation, the defender will play the base block first and then react to the down block of the second blocker. The ideal procedure is for the defender to grab the cloth of the blockers’ jerseys and fall into the hole between the two blockers at the LOS. If the defender is strong enough and good enough, he may also split the double team. The linemen should always try to occupy two blockers for as long as possible, thus creating an unblocked player at the second level.

    On a down/down scheme (such as used on a 5 technique in the G scheme), the defender will take his initial short jab step upfield. He will contact the blocker that he is reading and then look for puller, fullback, play away and reverse. As soon  as he sees no puller and no fullback, he should automatically begin reacting to the down block that is coming from his outside. The defender will most likely use a backdoor technique in which he goes underneath and behind the attempted block and then continues flat down the LOS to the outside. If the defender comes shallow to the LOS, then the defender will go across the blocker’s face and then flat down the LOS to the outside.





NEW BOOK!

AFM Videos Streaming Memberships Now Available Digital Download - 304 Pages of Football Forms for the Winning Coach



















HOME
MAGAZINE
SUBSCRIBE ONLINE COLUMNISTS COACHING VIDEOS


Copyright 2024, AmericanFootballMonthly.com
All Rights Reserved