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AFM Magazine


The Drills Report: Defensive Line Drills

by: Malik Hall
Defensive Line Coach, Hofstra University
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Here are the physical and mental characteristics we look for in defensive linemen as well as our philosophy of the D-Line attack:

Physical:
• Play with his hands.
• React on the action.
• Play with toughness.
• Play the run first.
• Attack at every snap of the ball.

Mental:
• Must be violent in the trenches.
• Understands the role of a D-lineman.
• Always plays at a high tempo but is under control.
• In clutch situations, maintains techniques as well as discipline.
• Must be an athlete.

Philosophy of Attack:
• Stance: the arm is extended with a flat back and balanced weight.
• Always pursue and ‘crowd’ the football.
• Get off on the football on its first movement.
• Key the V of your opponent’s neck.
• Visualize yourself hitting your target (breastplate and shoulder).
• Play with violent hands.
• Trust your target and keys.
• Be physical and aggressive on every snap.

Here are four drills we do daily with our defensive linemen: the Flat Step/Redirect, Get Offs, Line Drills, and Hand Placement Drills.

Flat Step/Redirect Drill

This is terminology for our movement technique. This drill is intended to develop the footwork needed for us to be effective in our movements. The flat step allows us to stay square with low pad level. We align ourselves on a shade of the bag as if it were an offensive lineman. On my cadence, we take a flat step trying to stay square and low crossing the bag. The first step should be a lateral step across the body of the offensive lineman into the next gap. This drill also allows us to redirect with zone blocks so we're not overtaken by the offensive lineman’s block (See Diagram 1).

Diagram 1: Flat Step/Redirect Drill

Get Off Drills

Get Offs are the single most important aspect of D-line play. Without it, we’re acceptable to any and every type of block. Done daily in practice, the players line up according to position while I give a cadence, then stem around as they would do in games. At the movement of the ball the linemen get off as fast as possible shooting violent hands for about three yards (See Diagram 2).

Diagram 2: Get off drills

Line Drills

The line drills are recognize-and-react drills. We align in our three-point stance and on my first movement the D-Linemen get off the ball. The second movement then determines the direction of the ball; that is, left or right.

Once I determine the direction, they quickly plant their foot and bend down the line as if it were a toss sweep or outside zone play. This drill enables them not to get too far upfield on an outside run which would allow the ball to out-leverage them (See Diagram 3).

Diagram 3: Line drills

Hand Placement Drills

HP’s are a drill we do to focus on our target. The progression of this drill is to start on your knees and shoot violent hands at the target. We then get into our three-point stance and take our first step (power step) along with the shooting hands. The D-linemen should have flat backs, a heel-toe relationship step and a low hat. This drill incorporates getting off the snap by using your hands and taking the appropriate steps to defeating blocks (See Diagram 4).

Diagram 4: Hand placement drill (with sled)






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