Cougar Defensive Line Drills part II

Last month, our defensive line drills included the use of agility bags and a variety of cage drills. This issue includes the use of post mount sleds, hoops, two-man pop ups and tite bags. We practice a number of these drills daily, which we believe improves both the agility and quickness of our D-linemen.

#1. Post Mount Sleds
 
Objective of Drill:
    •  Develop quick hands
    •  Develop explosion from the hips
    •  Work on pad level
    •  Work on escaping blocks

Frequency: One or two times per week
 
Relationship to the game:
    •  Ability to play the run
    •  Ability to get off blocks
    •  Ability to neutralize blocks
    •  Keep pads low
Description:

•  Players should form four to five lines in front of the sleds.

•  Players should get in a good 3-point stance. They should lead with their hips and make contact with the sled with both hands. The elbows should be in and the thumbs should be up. Their eyes should stay below the top of the post mount. They need to get extension and lock the sled out, then escape with their pads down low.

•  Once they escape, they need to finish with a burst.

#2.  Hoops Drill
 
Objective of Drill:
    •  Develop a pass rush
    •  Work on turning the corner on a pass rush
    •  Work on body lean

Frequency: One or two times a week
     
Relationship to the game:
    •  Speed pass rush
    •  Body lean
    •  Sacks

Description:

•  Place two hoops about three yards apart.

•  Players should form a line on each hoop. Players should start in a 3-point stance. They should run around the hoop staying as close to the hoop as they can. They should point the toe of their inside foot toward the hoop. They should also throw their outside hip around the hoop along with their outside shoulder so that their momentum will carry them around the hoop.

•  Players should always finish where they start.

# 3. Hoops (Figure Eight Drill)

 
Objective of Drill:
    •  Develop a pass rush
    •  Work on turning the corner on a pass rush
    •  Work on body lean

Frequency: One or two times a week
            
Relationship to game:
    •  Speed pass rush
    •  Body lean
    •  Sacks

Description:

•  Place two hoops about three yards apart.

•  Players should form one line. Two players will participate in the drill at the same time. One player will align one yard in front of the other player. On the snap of the ball, they both will begin to run around the hoop pointing their inside foot at the hoop and throwing their outside hip and shoulder around the hoop. The player in the front is trying to finish running a figure eight around the hoop before the second player can catch him.
 
# 4. Two-Man Pop Ups

 
Objective of Drill:
    •  Work on getting to the edge of a blocker
    •  Develop hand and foot coordination for         pass rush
    •  Develop quick hands and quick feet
    •  Stepping through the block

Frequency: Once a week
 
Relationship to game:
    •  Pass rush
    •  QB sacks
    •  QB hurries

Description:

•  Arrange two pop ups three yards apart. Put two cones two yards at the end of pop ups and one yard behind.

•  Players should form a line on each pop up. We are working on the lead rip, leading with the arm over, and a counter move. Step and club with the same hand and foot. Step behind the bag with your inside foot to close the distance, then accelerate through and inside the cone.
 
# 5.  Pop Up Bags
 
Objective of Drill:
    •  Develop hips for pass rush
    •  Develop hand and foot coordination for         pass rush

Frequency: Once a week
 
Relationship to game:
    •  Pass rush
    •  QB sacks
    •  QB hurries
Description:
•  Arrange five pop up dummies four yards apart. You also need two smaller pop up dummies at both ends.

•  Players should align in a single file line. We are working on two moves – lead rip or lead with the arm over. The players should club and step with the same hand and same foot. Always start opposite the small pop up alternating from side to side. Accelerate off the last pop up through the smaller pop up.

# 6. Tite Bags

 
Objective of Drill:
    •  Work on getting to the edge of a blocker
    •  Develop hand and foot coordination for         pass rush
    •  Develop quick hands and quick feet

Frequency: Once a week
 
Relationship to game:
    •  Pass rush
    •  QB sacks
    •  QB hurries

Description:
•  Arrange five pop-up dummies two feet apart. You also need two smaller pop- up dummies at both ends.

•  Players should align in a single file line. We are trying to get from one side of the pop up to the other side as fast as we can. We are not concerned about flipping our hips in this drill. Burst off the last pop up through the smaller pop up (quick hands and quick feet).