Punch and Move - Pass Protection Drills for Offensive Linemen

There are many factors that go into keeping your quarterback upright and healthy throughout the season. We teach that it takes “ALL 11” to effectively execute the passing game. Every position on the field has a job to do, from running backs’ blitz checks, quarterbacks throwing the ball on time, hot routes being run with precision and timing and, of course, the line handling their responsibilities.

Varied schemes and launch points are a great way to keep a defense off balance. We use a mixture of 5, 6, and 7-man protections along with multiple formations and personnel groupings to disguise our plans. If your quarterback is athletic and skilled enough to throw on the move, changing the launch point is a great option. At Brown, we use a number of different sprint outs, nakeds and bootlegs to help in protections. However, there will come a time when 3-step and sprint outs are no longer an option and your guys up front are going to have to win one-on-one battles. Teaching pocket protections in both man and slide/zone schemes are inevitable tasks for offensive line coaches at every level.

We group pass protection into three categories: Sets and Movements, Strike, and Counter Finishes.

Below is a basic outline you can use for your pass protection plan. Due to time constraints during practice, it is important to use the right drills and the most efficient ones for your unit. I have included three “Strike and Move Drills” that will teach multiple skills.

Thoughts on Fundamental Drill work:

  Teach them why first, then teach them how.

  Make them competitive.

  Make each other better. Evaluate both sides of any drill.

  “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another”. Work with the defensive line as much as possible on both run and pass.

  Expect high energy and high emotion from coaches and players.

  Create habits through repetition. In drills, more isn’t better, better is better. Incorporate some basic drill work in your off-season training and weight room programs.

  With limited time, make your drills count and be efficient.

Keys to Success in Pass Protection

  Stance – Teach it, practice it, coach It! Make sure you go over both 3-point and 2-point if used.

  Sets by Alignments - Coach the look of a defense (wide, outside and head up to inside).

  Coach good balance, posture and hand carriage - That is when moving and striking. Include redirection and jump sets early on in teaching progression.

  The punch, range, target, timing, shock and extension - Include 2-hand strikes along with independent punch combinations.

  Twist and Stunts - Get better at it with the defensive line at least once per week.

  The Finish - Defend against power, speed and counter moves. Pass protection is not passive - it’s controlled aggression.

  Always know the launch point.

3-MAN Machine Gun Variations

Objective: To teach offensive linemen how to move quickly inside to outside while blocking and striking a variety of targets. This includes a square “swim”, turned “rip” power rush and wide rush.

Equipment: Cones and shields.

Procedure: Place two defenders shoulder to shoulder and align one defender wide outside two yards in front. The offensive lineman will align on the outside shoulder of the adjacent bags and work inside first post/power stepping and striking different targets and moves. He then  finishes with a kick slide on the 3rd bag as a wide rusher from the outside (See Diagram 1).

Diagram 1

Coaching Points:

  Always start the drill working inside over your post/power foot.

  Change up the looks from the defense.

  Make sure the wide rusher does not start until 2nd bag is hit and the OL starts his kick slide.

  Coach from the ground up and make sure feet are moving correctly.

  Coach the hand carriage, body posture and head.

  Coach the punch - short, quick, explosive extension (feel free to work independent combinations).

2-MAN PUNCH AND RETREAT

Objective: To teach offensive linemen how to move their feet quickly to cover a defender while striking two different moving targets.

Equipment: Cones and shields.

Procedure: Align two defenders on either shoulder of the offensive lineman. On command, set the offensive lineman inside or out and have him work back and forth (3 post/power and 2 kick slide). This drill is controlled by a good pace from both the bag holders moving forward and the offensive lineman (Diagram 2).

Diagram 2

Coaching Points:

  Inside or out - all drills start with a “Great Set”.

  When working outside, don’t over set. Stay on the inside half of defender.

  When working inside, move your feet. Don’t punch outside your framework. Work to get back to inside number with at least toes on toes/ facemask to facemask.

  Coach from the ground up. Make sure feet are moving correctly.
  Coach the hand carriage, body posture and head.

  Coach the punch - short, quick, explosive extension (feel free to work independent combinations).

3-MAN REACTION

Objective: To teach offensive linemen how to quickly identify a twist or stunt and block it accordingly, both in the run game and pass game.

Equipment: Cones and hand shields.

Procedure: Align three defensive players shoulder width apart with toes on a line holding shields against chest. Set O-lineman is on the middle defender with desired alignment in either a 3-point or 2-point stance. Command the twist you desire by directing loop and penetrator (Diagram 3).

Diagram 3

Coaching Points:

  It all starts with a great pass set. Don’t play the drill.

  Teach pre-snap tips ( tilts, weight distribution, cheat in stagger, alignments, etc. )

  Trap the penetrator with your eyes and your feet.

  Force the loop wide by drive blocking the penetrator.

  This is a great drill for the OC and OGs.

  For OTs, remove one of the defenders to work T/E and E/T stunts. Coach the vertical set vs. wide 3T inside.

  Hang on the penetrator and late on the looper.

Pass protection is one of the hardest techniques to teach at any level. It takes the most time and effort to teach the skills necessary to win a one-on-one battle.

About the Author: Frank Sheehan enters his 16th season as a Brown University coach in 2012. Last fall was his sixth season as the Bears’ OC and 11th as O-Line Coach. He also was the school’s Recruiting Coordinator from 2001-2005. Sheehan came to Brown from the University of New Haven where he served as an assistant coach. He is a graduate of New Haven and was a four-year offensive lineman, earning All-New England honors his senior year.