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


Boise State\'s Defensive Line - Teaching Progression

by: Pete Kwiatkowski
Defensive Line Coach, Boise State
© More from this issue

Click for Printer Friendly Version          

At Boise State, we break down our teaching progression for the defensive line into three distinct areas: knowledge, fundamentals and effort. Knowledge consists of stance, alignment and assignment. Knowledge is a mental emphasis that will be covered in meetings and players will process it pre-snap. Fundamentals include keys, get off, block protection, footwork, block releases, escape and pass rush. In this article I will concentrate on general knowledge, get offs and block protection and effort.

There are two keys:
1. MAN KEY
2. BALL KEY

Keys are a critical fundamental for D-linemen. We have to train our eyes to be disciplined so we can react and explode decisively.

• We cannot react to what we don’t see.
• We cannot hit what we don’t see.
• Do not let your eyes wander.


1. MAN KEY: The eyes should be focused on the collarbone of the offensive lineman. Make sure you see the football and the adjacent lineman by using your peripheral vision. You should always keep your eyes on the target point until pad control is attained.

2. BALL KEY: Again, you must eye the football by using your peripheral vision. You must then explode on the snap of the football or offensive movement.
GREAT KEYS LEAD TO GREAT GET OFF
On every play we’re getting off the ball to do one of the following:

1. NEUTRALIZE - KNOCKOFF - BLUNT: THE LOS - In this situation, the D-Lineman reads the play on the move technique or the vertical blast technique.

2. PENETRATE & DISRUPT: In this situation, the D-Lineman uses either a slant technique or a jam technique.

3. PASS RUSH: For the most effective pass rush, the D-Lineman should use the Jet Technique. We will always get off the ball with a visual key; that is, man key or ball key.

TECHNIQUES DICTATE THE KEY: a read on the move as well as the vertical blast technique are man keys. The slant, jam and jet techniques are all ball keys.

READ ON THE MOVE (ROM) TECHNIQUE
(See Diagrams 1A-1C)
Assignment Execution: This is a man key in which the D-Lineman mirrors the angle of departure of the offensive lineman. In order to get off the ball to neutralize or blunt the offensive lineman he must attack the angle of departure with his near foot which is a reaction step; have his second step, a power step, placed in the ground through contact; and then gap side his foot back through the block.

Diagram 1A - Inside Release

Diagram 1B - Drive

Diagram 1C - Reach

VERTICAL BLAST (VB) TECHNIQUE
(See Diagrams 2A-2C)
Assignment Execution: This is also a man key in which the D-Lineman attacks the horizontal alignment vertically. In order to get off the ball to neutralize or blunt the O-lineman he must attack the horizontal alignment with covered foot (a power step); make adjustments in flight if necessary; and take a second reaction step.

Diagram 2A - Inside Release

Diagram 2B - Drive

Diagram 2C - Reach

SLANT TECHNIQUE
(See Diagrams 3A and 3B)
Assignment Execution: This is a ball and not a man key situation. In order to get off the ball for a penetrating gap or gap exchange charge, the D-Lineman must attack the LOS with the inside foot that your gap assignment dictates. The first step is as long or short as it needs to be while the second step crosses over and is placed in the ground on contact. The foot should be pointed up field or at a specific target. The D-Lineman should also get his hips square into the gap or at the point of contact.
Diagram 3A

Diagram 3B

JAM TECHNIQUE
(See Diagrams 4A and 4B)
Assignment Execution: This is also a ball key. To get off the ball for a non-penetrating gap or gap exchange charge, the D-Lineman attacks the LOS with the foot nearest the gap that is his assignment. His first step is as long or as short as it needs to be and the second step is a reaction step. His foot should be pointed up field and his feet should never cross. His foot should be in the ground at the point of contact.

Diagram 4A

Diagram 4B

JET TECHNIQUE
(See Diagrams 5A-5D)
Assignment Execution: This is also a ball key. To effectively pass rush, the D-Lineman attacks the LOS with his inside foot. His first step is as long or short as it needs to be for the rush. He then reacts to the run. His second step is controlled and pointed in the direction to execute the rush.

Diagram 5A - Pass

Diagram 5B - Drive

Diagram 5C - Inside Release

Diagram 5D - Reach

BLOCK PROTECTION
Block protection is achieved by striking viciously for pad control, separating and adjusting the pad level off the offensive lineman. A sound and functional stance and good get off with eyes focused on our keys are important fundamentals to a vicious strike for pad control.

The strike itself includes hat placement, hand placement, separation and adjusting the pad level. For hat placement, the eyes must be on the target point with low pad level. For hand placement, the elbows must be in and thumbs up. Hands are placed on the O-Lineman’s breast as the cloth is grabbed. For proper separation, the D-Lineman must maintain pad control, explode for proper extension, and sink his hips. For adjustments to the pad level, he must accelerate his feet, keep his hands above eyes and fight pressure with pressure.

The third essential, effort, has two parts: pursuit and tackling or production. Effort is an attitude: getting players to run to the ball with good leverage and the players having a desire to make a play.





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