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The Drills Report: Georgia\'s Offensive Blocking Circuit

by: Wayne Anderson
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This month’s drill has been submitted by Coach Neil Callaway, the Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach of the 2005 SEC Champion Georgia Bulldogs. Since Coach Callaway became a member of coach Mark Richt’s staff in 2001, the Bulldogs have won two SEC Championships, three bowl victories and three top six finishes in the final polls.

    Coach Calloway explains his blocking circuit: “We implemented the Blocking Circuit at the University of Georgia after the 2003 season. The reason was twofold: first was to try to stress the importance of toughness and secondly that everybody on offense takes great pride in blocking. During spring practice and early fall we will do this drill pretty much every day, even in shorts we will do the drill versus bags for ten minutes. The drill is generally run in the first part of practice.

    “We have three stations that last three minutes and 5 seconds. Every member of the offense participates in the drill except the quarterbacks. During the fall when we start the season, we will do this drill on Tuesdays for five minutes. Each station is one minute and 15 seconds. Only the players that are playing that week will do the blocking, with scout team players on defense. The drill is run at a high tempo and great intensity.”

    Georgia’s blocking circuit consists of three stations. Two are generic that everybody participates in and one is position specific.

Divide the offense into three groups:
1.   Offensive Line
2.   Wide Receivers
3.   Running Backs & Tight Ends

Station 1:  Three Phases (Diagram 1) -
Two Man Sled

Diagram 1.
Drill 1:  Six Point Extension
Two players explode at the sled three times, the spin out and release down field to cut a big bag that is placed at five to ten yards downfield. Wide Receivers will stalk block since they do not ever cut.

Drill 2:  Four Point Extension
Everything is the same as the first drill except players are in a four point stance.

Drill 3:  Drive Sled
Everybody drives the sled with no spinning out. Every player gets in his natural stance for his position. For instance, a wide receiver would line up in a two point stance.

Coaching Points: Emphasize
1.    Look through eyebrows
2.    Hand Placement & Lock Out Arms
3.    Roll Hips
4.    Be Intense

Station 2: Boards (Diagram 2)-

Diagram 2.
Put two strips on the boards to represent the neutral zone. Players get into their natural stance. Offensive players on the left side step with their left foot first. Players on the right step with their right foot first. The offensive player starts the drill with both players going full speed. The offensive player tries to knock the defensive player off the board. Both players go to the whistle. This station should be run at a rapid fire pace with alternating sides.

Station 3: Is A Position Specific Station
Offensive Line: (Diagram 3)

Diagram 3.
Lay a big bellbottom dummy flat on the ground. Offensive linemen are in a four point stance and drive the dummy ten yards. Players on the left side step with their left foot first and players on the right step with their right foot first. The offensive player starts the drill and goes to the whistle. This station should be run at a rapid fire pace with alternating sides.

Wide Receivers: (Three Phases)
Phase One: Mirror Drill (Diagram 4)

Diagram 4.
Defensive player runs side to side in a five yard area while the offensive player mirrors him. After three to four times back and forth, the defensive player tries to go get the dummy that is placed five yards behind the offensive player. The offensive player fits up and blocks until the whistle.

Phase Two: Stalk Drill (Diagram 5)

Diagram 5.
At the snap of the ball, the defensive player tries to go get the dummy that is placed five yards behind the offensive player. The offensive player fits up and blocks until the whistle.
Coaching Point:
1.    Use a center for this drill
2.    Have the WRs take their normal splits

Phase Three: Read Support (Diagram 6)

Diagram 6.
At the snap of the ball, the safety runs down hill like he is in run support. The wide receiver comes flat down the line of scrimmage to block the safety.

Coaching Point: We want the wide receiver to block the safety in the ear hole.

Running Backs: (Diagram 7)


Diagram 7.
Running back lines up in his normal alignment. Put linebackers as wide rusher positions or inside rush positions. At the snap of the ball, a linebacker will rush to get to the bag that is set behind the running back. The running back fits with inside leverage to block the rushing linebacker.

Tight Ends: (Diagram 8)

Diagram 8.
Tight End lines up in his normal alignment. At the snap of the ball, the linebacker rushes to get to the bag that is lined up seven yards behind the center. The tight end sets and keeps inside leverage on the linebacker.

This is the fifth installment of American Football Monthly’s featured drill. Each month the latest and most innovative drills will be presented by Rogers Athletic Co.





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