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De LaSalle Coaching Manual
De LaSalle Coaching Manual
De LaSalle Coaching Manual
Full Back
1) Choosing a Full Back
2) Full Back Coaching Strategies
3) Taking Advantage of a Gifted FB
You
The DW is built on the Toss play, therefore we need a strong blocker at the FB position.
The FBs Kick Out is an integral part of the Power play. Without it, we go
no where.
Our downfield and flank attacks require effective blocking from the
FB position.
Most Sweep, Pass, and Counter plays require Fill or Reach blocking skills
from the FB.
Sweep
Pass
Sweep/
Counter
Sweep/
Counter
Pass
Sweep
The DW can not exist forever on Power, Counter, and Sweep. At some
point you will need a good Trap, Wedge and/or G play to take advantage
of a given defensive technique or alignment.
INSTINCT- This above all else. I cant coach it, so when I find it, I
put it at FB.
That thing that some kids have that makes other kids miss tackles.
Have your kids play some kind of fun team game (like Deer Hunter
or Keep Away) and watch them. The instinctive athletes are usually
obvious in these kinds of games.
Athlete Type 1st- Athleticism. Can he play with strength, speed, and balance?
2nd- Blocking Ability. Is he aggressive and coachable enough to
6-PA Pass
4-G
Trap
2-Trap
1-Wedge
3-Trap
Trap
5-G
7-PA Pass
Pass
Off Tackle
Power/Counter
Sweep
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all players must fit within a given weight range. -AN D- and there are no specific
restrictions on player size by position. Usually, all teams possess relative parity in size.
These sort of restrictions are actually an advantage for a DW Full Back because player
size, and therefore Defensive End size, is limited by the rules.
player size -EXCEPT- for Ball Carriers. These positions will normally have a max weight they
can play at.
In these leagues you will have some limitations on whether or not your best runner can
play the FB spot. -
If your best runner is an 85 lb. kid in a league full of 150 lb. DEs - Hes probably
not going to work as a FB.
as the
Never fail to give a gifted runner whos a small kid a chance to try the spot if hes
snarly enough.There are some awfully tough small kids out there.
FB Coaching Strategies
Improving your Full Backs running ability
Building Explosion and Speed
Teaching the moves
Play Mechanics
FB Coaching Strategies
Building Explosion and Speed
Done as group drills early in the season or as team conditioning later on.
FB Coaching Strategies
Building Explosion and Speed
Done as group drills early in the season or as team conditioning later on.
Squeeze Drill
Done with all Running Backs over the coarse of the entire season.
Teaches Runners how to be All shoulder pads and knees when running in traffic.
Teaches ball security.
Teaches how to take (and deliver) a blow when running with the ball.
Squeeze Drill
Squeezers
2 yards
Waiting players
1 yard
2 yards
coach
FB Coaching Strategies
Building Explosion and Speed
Done as group drills early in the season or as team conditioning later on.
Squeeze Drill
Done with all Running Backs over the coarse of the entire season.
Teaches Runners how to be All shoulder pads and knees when running in traffic.
Teaches ball security.
Teaches how to take (and deliver) a blow when running with the ball.
Resistance Running
Done with all Running Backs over the coarse of the entire season.
Develops a Runners speed and acceleration.
Teaches runners to stay behind their shoulder pads
Resistance Running
20 yards
coach
coach
coach
runner
runner
1) Mark 2 lines 20 yards apart. Use any type of resistance harness, fit under the arms and
across the chest plate of the shoulder pads. Allow 10 ft of rope for the coach hold on to.
2) The Runner should lean his weight against the harness and then attempt to sprint
forward. Making sure to use good form- keep the upper body quiet and out in
front of the feet
The coach should offer enough resistance that the runner is just able to move
himself ahead.
3) When the runner hits the 10 yard mark. Release the tension on the harness without
actually dropping the leads and allow him to sprint the rest of the way.
FB Coaching Strategies
Teaching the moves
The best moves are the ones my Runners can use instinctively.
The best moves are the ones that my Runners can learn easily.
The best moves rob little or no up field momentum from a Runner.
Cut Back- Also simple and effective, but even more versatile than the Stiff
Arm. Generally speaking, just about all runners can to use this move to enhance
their game.
FB Coaching Strategies
Teaching the moves
Why do I avoid teaching moves like the Spin & Juke Step?
*** Because these moves take much longer for the average player to master
than the Cut Back or Stiff Arm does.
*** Because these moves are much more INSTINCT dependant. I can teach a
Runner how to do a spin move but teaching him the instinct for using it is not
so easy.
*** Because these move are more likely to rob up field momentum from a Runner,
especially if not used exactly right.
FB Coaching Strategies
Teaching the moves
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Runner
1) 2 cones are set 10 yards apart from each other on any yard line. The coach puts himself over the
inside cone and is holding a Heavy Bag style tackling dummy (if a Heavy Bag is not available,
a regular tackling dummy will do). A Runner places himself 5 yards away from the inside cone,
holding a ball in his outside arm. On the coaches signal he takes off heading straight for the
outside cone.
2) The coach will heave the bag at the Runner, alternating between knee high and shoulder high
throws. He should vary the angle at which he throws the Bag as well.
3) The Runner should attempt to use his inside hand (thumb down) as the lever with
which to use the bags own momentum to deflect it away from his body. If any part of the
bag touches any part of the runner, he is tackled.
Tackler
Traffic Cone
Waiting Players
Runner
FB Coaching Strategies
Teaching the moves
Triangle Drill
Traffic Cone
Tackling Dummy
3 yardsco
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8-10 yards
Traffic Cone
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5 yards
Runner
1) 3 Tackling dummies stood on end and arranged in a 3x5 triangle. 2 traffic cones are set
8-10 yards outside the center dummy. The coach stands in front of the center dummy
holding a blocking shield.
2) The Runner starts from 5 yards in front of the triangle. As he approaches the first two
dummies the coach should quickly step into one or the other gap- making sure to
protect himself w/ the shield in case the runner goes the wrong way.
3) The Runner should cut AWAY from the coach and through the opposite side of the
triangle. We want him to bend his path back up field and around the traffic cone once
hes completed his cutback.
3 yards
Traffic Cone
Tackler
Side Line
Runner
1) This is a live (full contact) drill, though it can be done in Thud mode also. Place a traffic cone 3
yards away from the sideline on any yard line and a second one 20 yards away from the first,
along the same yard line. A Runner and a tackler align over the inside cone facing each other,
and on opposite sides of the line.
2) On the coachs signal the Runner takes off and is free to use any move he can (juke, change
speeds, shoulder fake, etc.) to force the tackler to over run his pursuit. If he does force the overpursuit, he should immediately cut back to the tacklers inside. If he cant, he should turn the run
up field as soon as he hits the cone set near the sideline.
3) The tacklers job is to prevent any up field move at all by the Runner. His first job is to avoid over
pursuing, his next job is prevent the up field cut by the Runner.
<Cut Back Clips here>
FB Coaching Strategies
Play Mechanics
There are some techniques that dont necessarily have to be used to insure a
good FB, but they do add form and function to the position. Taken individually
they might seem insignificant, but collectively they are a hallmark of a well
coached FB.
There are many, many aspects to the Full Backs specific play mechanics. Ill
address one of my favorite ones:
FB Coaching Strategies
Fine Points
misdirection by giving a consistent Power look for the first few steps of
every such play.
<Cross Over Clips here>
FB Coaching Strategies
Improving your Full Backs blocking ability
Improving the basic skill
Making the Kick Out more effective
FB Coaching Strategies
Improving the basic skill
I make liberal use of the Pancake Drill (Pit Blocking). Its one of the best drills
Pancake Drill
1 yrd.
Tackling Dummies
Defender
Blocker
1) A defender aligns 1 yard in front of a row of 6 tackling dummies laid down as shown
above. A blocker sets him self a yard or two from the defender in whatever stance is
being practiced at the time.
2) The blocker will execute whatever technique is being practiced at the time. The object
being to finish the block by driving the defender into the pads on the ground.
FB Coaching Strategies
Improving the basic skill
I make liberal use of the Pancake Drill (Pit Blocking). Its one of the best drills
Head Placement is everything. More often than not, all a FB has to do is make
FB Coaching Strategies
Improving the basic skill
I make liberal use of the Pancake Drill (Pit Blocking). Its one of the best drills
Head Placement is everything. More often than not, all a FB has to do is make
Dont forget the Feet! More than 75% of a players power comes from his lower
body.
Moving the feet after initial contact is imperative if the FB wishes to get any
movement on the man he is blocking.
I know my FBs arent keeping their feet moving when they hit, bounce
back, then recoil and deliver another hit A sure sign of lazy feet.
FB Coaching Strategies
Making the Kick Out more effective
Teaching Kick Out mechanics:
Take the correct path. Banana route Go toward the LOS before going down it.
The Crossover step helps with this.
FB Coaching Strategies
Making the Kick Out more effective
Teaching Kick Out mechanics:
Take the correct path. Banana route Go toward the LOS before going down it.
The Crossover step helps with this.
Make liberal use of the Pancake Drill when teaching Kick Out mechanics. It can be
adapted to practice many different nuances to the Kick Out block.
Pancake Drill
2 feet
2 feet
2 Yards
4 Yards
1)
A traffic cone is set 1 yard in front of the tackling dummies. A second cone is placed 4 yards away and
2 yards deeper than the first cone. A third cone is set 2 ft. x 2 ft. to the outside of the second cone. The
blocker aligns in a 3 pt. stance next to the deepest cone. The defender stands next to the first cone and
in front of the tackling dummies while holding a hand shield.
Have the defender turn sideways and brace against the hit. This provides good practice against a
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toward the LOS. He should bend his path around the second cone so that his path arcs toward the
defender. He should aim for the defenders INSIDE shoulder. The correct Head Placement here is to
have his helmet INSIDE of the defenders helmet.
3)
As always- I insist that the FB keep his feet driving and finish the block by driving the defender into
the pads.
FB Coaching Strategies
- Brush Bys are used to temporarily distract a Defensive End. That is: we do
not want to directly impede his up field momentum. Instead, we just want to
interfere with it a little. The goal is to pass so close to him that he must first (if
even for just a split second) divert his attention to the player executing the brush
by and away from the approaching FB. This simplifies the FBs block since the
DE can no longer focus all of his efforts on defeating the Kick Out .
Brush bys should be employed by the WBs primarily, but since I sometimes
run my Power plays very tightly, the TEs should know how to do it also.
<Brush By clips here>
FB Coaching Strategies
Bench, Bend, & Dig- For whatever reason, a FB will sometimes find
himself stalemated on his Kick Out. When ever the FB finds himself in a
situation where his block has been negated, we want him to:
Bench - Extend his arms fully (as in a bench press) and push the DE away.
Bend - Arch his body into the DE (roll the hips) while extending his arms for
maximum leverage.
Dig - Dig in with his feet and attempt to drive his legs.
<Stalemated Kick Out clips here>
(3)
Option #
I design pass routes intended to clear out a specific zone for him. I sometimes
use my TEs and WBs to run off defenders and slip the FB in underneath them.
Design pass routes intended to clear out a specific zone for the FB.
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I design pass routes intended to clear out a specific zone for him. I sometimes
use my TEs and WBs to run off defenders and slip the FB in underneath them.
I use plays that others might not ever consider. Plays like a Full Back Sweep are
practical additions to my playbook when my FB is a fast runner
88 FB Sweep
I design pass routes intended to clear out a specific zone for him. I sometimes
use my TEs and WBs to run off defenders and slip the FB in underneath them.
I use plays that others might not ever consider. Plays like a Full Back Sweep are
practical additions to my playbook when my FB is a fast runner.
I put him in motion to expand my options w/ him. (also adds a nice twist to
some of my other plays)
FB Motion.
I design pass routes intended to clear out a specific zone for him. I sometimes
use my TEs and WBs to run off defenders and slip the FB in underneath them.
I use plays that others might not ever consider. Plays like a Full Back Sweep are
practical additions to my playbook when my FB is a fast runner
I put him in motion to expand my options w/ him. (also adds a nice twist to
some of my other plays)
I will cross train him to play WB occasionally to run Sweeps or down field Passes.
Practice having the FB bend the G play outside just after he clears the first level of
the D. This can make for some big gains if you can get a decent block on the play
side LB by your play side WB.
Use Heavy (Tackle Over) formations to create defensive bubbles. Use this
randomly and dont over use it..If you practice aligning in Heavy formation as you
break the huddle instead of shifting to it, youll have better odds odds of catching
the defense off guard.
You can also use a Wings On call to gain a similar advantage.
<G clips here>
Dont Advertise- Stay low and dont pop up prior to taking the handoff.
Focus on getting the LBs blocked. Always use your play side WB and TE to block
LBs. Dont send either one of them after a Safety, or any defender aligned deeper
than the play side LB, or the MLB in a one LB defense.
Wouldnt you prefer to have your FB running one-on-one against a Safety
rather than a LB???
Building a Better
Full Back
Kevin S. Thurman
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