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


Drills Report Virginia Tech Running Back Drills

by: Shane Beamer
Running Backs Coach • Virginia Tech
© More from this issue

Click for Printer Friendly Version          

We have an unbelievable tradition of running back play at Virginia Tech. Our running backs understand the number of great players that have come before them. Since 1980, we have had over 30 running backs sign NFL contracts. That includes David Wilson, a first round draft choice this year and Ryan Williams, a second round draft choice last year.

We use four core drills to work on footwork, pass protection, pass catching and overall toughness. Footwork/ball security will be drilled every day during practice and the other drills will be utilized at least one day each week.
1.  Footwork – Diagram 1



Set up four bags on the ground, one-two yards apart. Our running backs will come through one at a time and once everyone has gone, they will repeat and come back. We run through the bags the first time, getting both feet in between each bag. The second time through we will get one foot in between each bag. The last time we shuffle through the bags laterally, concentrating on not crossing over. When running through the bags, we want to focus on keeping our eyes downfield, picking our feet up, having a good forward lean and securing the ball. We do not want the football to get away from our body. A coach will constantly punch the football to reinforce this.

2.  Pass Protection – Diagram 2



Our running backs get together with our linebackers once a week to do one-on-one pass protection. The running back and linebacker align three yards from each other with the linebacker on the line of scrimmage. We split the group up so we have a right side and a left side to get the most repetitions possible. The linebackers coach moves the ball to simulate the snap and the running back coach controls the whistle. Our trainer, Mike Goforth, plays the role of the quarterback that our linebackers are trying to get to.

We obviously stress the key fundamentals of pass protection in this drill. We want to stay low, keep a good base, head and eyes up, time our punch, and must move our feet on contact without crossing over.

3.  Pass Catching – Diagram 3



We use a lot of drills to work on our hands, but our best one is what we call the “sideline catch” drill. Our running backs run a flat route toward the sideline. Once they catch the ball, we want them to get their feet on the ground and turn upfield. We align two defenders four yards from the sideline holding hand shields. Their job is to punch the running back with the hand shield to try and knock him out of bounds. We stress to the running backs getting the near leg to the defender onto the ground and the near shoulder into the defender as they explode downfield.

4.  Toughness – Diagram 4


We pride ourselves on being the toughest team and the toughest running back group in the country. We also want to compete in everything we do. Our “Bull in the Ring” drill allows our players to build on both toughness and competition. The drill is simple. Two running backs get inside the circle. They align one yard from each other. On the whistle, they attack each other. The goal is to drive the other running back out of the circle. The coach starts and stops the drill with his whistle. p

About the Author: Shane Beamer returned to his alma mater, Virginia Tech, for the 2011 season and serves as both the Assistant Head Coach and Running Backs Coach under his father, Head Coach Frank Beamer. He previously coached at Tennessee, Mississippi State, and South Carolina. While at South Carolina, Beamer was both the Special Teams Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator.






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