BELLMORE BRAVES OFFENSIVE

LINE CLINIC

Anthony Cracco
Head Coach Mepham High School
516-992-1538
Anthonyccsu@hotmail.com
 REPETITION IS KEY
 “Ifear not the man who has practiced
10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who
has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” –
Bruce Lee
 REMEMBER: Trick plays might work,
great technique is GUARANTEED TO
WORK!
 YOUR ROLE AS COACH
 YOU ARE A ROLE MODEL and the
players are watching EVERYTHING that
you say and do.
 Besides a players parent/guardian you are the
players biggest influence.
 Teach them the “right way” to play the game.
 U.S.A. Marines survey: Who has been your
biggest influence? Most common answer: “my
football coach.”
 YOUR ROLE AS COACH
 Have a plan!
 Remember your vision, purpose, and
mission. Teaching football is a passion that
comes from the heart.
 Do not tell them how to do it, show them
how to do it.
 BE CONSISTENT!
 STRESS: Fundamentals, Fundamentals, and
more Fundamentals
 DEVELOP TECHNIQUE
 The key to coaching success is the ability to
teach players proper techniques and skills
 Great technique can help less skilled
athletes succeed against individuals with
greater ability.
 A good athlete with great technique will
almost always defeat a great athlete with
average technique.
 ESSENTIAL SKILLS FOR THE
“BIG MEN”
 Proper stance
 Explosion from stance
 Proper Footwork
 Base Block
 Reach Block
 Pull/Trap Block
 Zone/Combo techniques
 Proper Pass pro
 THE STANCE
 Every player on your team needs to learn to
get into a good 3-point stance
 Feet shoulder width apart
 Slight stagger: toe to instep
 Bend at the HIPS and Waist
 Place elbows just above your knees
(winning position)
 THE STANCE

 Learn to get comfortable in this position

(mirror)
 Rock forward and put hand down. Heels
slightly elevated (credit card)
 Weight on fingertips
 “Catch your eyeballs”
 THE STANCE
 Player must maintain a flat back. “Glass of
water”
 Player needs to be balanced and comfortable.
 Check the weight on players down hand.
 Too much weight: causes an inability to pass
set or pull.
 Too little weight: player cannot fire out
 “Push up test” or the “Arm pull test” to check
if a player has correct weight on hand.
 RIGHT HANDED and
LEFT HANDED STANCE
 Teach both stances: left and right handed.

 RGand RT use right handed stance. LG and

LT use left handed stance.

 Outside leg back gives an advantage in pass

protection (POST FOOT), and run blocking
(reach step).
 THE STANCE
3 Point Stance
•Balanced
•Feet shoulder width
•Staggered
•Back flat
•Head up
 BASE BLOCK
 ONE-ON-ONE: Need great technique to win this battle
 Everything starts with a great stance
 Know the snap count!
 Use inside or outside number as aiming point.
 First step is 6 inch power step. “STEP OF
CHAMPIONS”
 Hands at hips “Grab your guns”
 Deliver powerful blow with hands inside the
framework (chest-plate)
 BASE BLOCK
 The lineman who establishes control first
wins the battle.
 Maintain a wide base and take short powerful
steps
 FLAT BACK
 FINISH: Work until the whistle, shove and
throw to end the block
 PULL AND TRAP
BLOCKING
 Take a drop step with the lead leg. Open up hips
and point toe down the line.
 Swing elbow back and “start the lawn mower”
 Eye the defender.
 Kick Out Block: aiming point is inside hip. Lower
level, load the hips and punish the defender.
 Log Block: aiming point is outside number to
establish position and seal player inside. Accelerate
around defender to establish position.
 FOLD BLOCK
 Common effective way to gain leverage by using
angles.
 2 OL vs. 2 Defenders
 Outside Fold: The outside lineman blocks down
and pins/seals the inside defender. The inside
offensive player executes a pull technique to block
an outside defender (kick-out or log)
 Inside Fold: same concept as outside fold except
players switch roles
 COMBINATION BLOCKS
 Teams who can execute this technique well
have more success rushing the football.
 2 OL vs. 2 DEFENDERS on different levels.
 Take care of down man first. “GET
MOVEMENT!”
 Double team technique: Take half a man
while eyeing the second level defender.
 COMBO BLOCK
THE DOUBLE TEAM
 Work on Double Team first.
 Both OLS step with their inside foot.
 Aiming point is top of numbers.
 “HIP to HIP”
 Eye the second level defender while taking the
D-lineman to him.
 COMBO BLOCK

 Communicate “me-me-me”
 Player that comes off needs to pin the DL
with an extra push to ensure his partner has
established control.
 On second level get head to the play side
“load up” and accelerate through the
defender.
 DRILL WORK
RUN BLOCKING
6 point progression
 “Bird Dog”- step by step, demeanor/duck walk
 Fit up, fit up and drive (use partners)
 Punch drills (hand shields, sled, 1 vs. 1)
 Sled work: step by step, all blocks, put it
together
 1vs.1, 2 vs.2, 3vs.3, - bags and hand-shields
first, half and three quarter speed, then move to
full speed when ready
 Proper Blocking
Proper Blocking Technique
Technique
6 Point Progression
6 Point Progression

Used to•movement
Used to teach proper hip
teach proper hip
movement•Start on all fours – 6 points
Start onon the ground (2 hands, 2
knees, 2fours
all feet) – 6
points on the through
•Explode ground bag (2
hands, •2Throw
knees, 2 feet)
arms forward

Explode•Drive
through bag
hips into the ground

Throw arms forward

Drive hips into the
ground
 Footwork: First Two Steps
Ball to Right of O Lineman Ball to Left of O Lineman
•Six inch playside jab step •Six inch playside jab step
with right foot with left foot
•Pull arms back •Pull arms back
•Gather step splits the •Gather step splits the
defenders legs defenders legs
•Drive arms through the •Drive arms through the
defender defender
 PASS BLOCKING
 TAKES TIME TO MASTER
 We must teach less gifted athletes to master
hand/foot placement along with proper footwork
against faster, more athletic opponents.
 Players must have the ability to strike with their
hands powerfully while moving their feet to gain
leverage on opponents. (always punch during
drills)
 Balance is key
 PASS BLOCKING
 Teaching begins with the PASS SET
 Kick Slide – vs. outside defender
 Post Slide – vs. inside or head up defender
 Always keep inside post foot never get beat
to your inside.
 Aiming point: OL’s outside foot should be
inside the defensive lineman’s outside foot.
 PASS BLOCKING
OFFENSIVE TACKLES
 Typically blocking an outside rusher
 Set with outside foot back and inside the
rushers outside leg
 As defender rushes up field, deliver a blow
and strike chest. Remain upright and do not
lunge or lean
 Big Butt and Big Chest
 Keep shoulders square and move feet to
maintain leverage
 PASS BLOCKING
Centers and Guards
 Never go backwards.
 Opponent is typically closer to the QB and
rushes straight up field.
 Similar in technique to the tackles but they
must be tougher at L.OS. Short and firm
post slide.
 CANNOT ALLOW INSIDE
PENETRATION.
 PASS BLOCKING KEYS

 Never get beat inside!

 Do not overextend or lean on defender
 Use an explosive blow with hands to
maintain separation
 PRIDE: DO WHATEVER IT TAKES!
NO ONE GETS TO OUR QB.
 DRILL PROGRESSION
“BIRD DOG”
 One step at a time, until everyone masters the
techniques.
 Base Block: Position, stance, “step of champions,”
power step, duck walk, finish.
 Bucket Step (Reach): short drop step, shoulders
square, lateral step, helmet across. WE LOSE
GROUND TO GAIN AN ANGLE!
 TRAP: Open step, get hips around, fast down the
line.
 Pass Steps: Post slide, kick slide. ALWAYS WITH
A PUNCH
 PASS BLOCKING
DRILLS
 Stance- Set- Punch,
 Kick Slide - Post Slide
 Sled: punch, punch-slide
 Mirror Dodge
 Waterfall
 1 vs. 1