USA FOOTBALL COACHING SCHOOL 4-13-2013

BY Coach Steve Purichia (Retired)

Defensive Line Techniques:

  1. Stance:
  1. 3 pt. stance
  2. Inside foot is back and inside hand is down
  3. Feet is a little wider than shoulder width apart and at a toe-to-instep relationship.
  4. Weight distribution is 60% to 40% on hands; defender is ready to move forward.
  5. Shoulders and back are flat.
  6. Tail is slightly up.
  7. Knees are bent, ready to attack.
  8. Feet and heels are straight with knees slightly tilted in.
  9. Off hand is in an up, in ready position.
  1. Take Off: Speed off the ball is Essential in order for this defense to work.
  1. Key ball for movement.
  2. On movement of ball, explode from hips, step with back foot and replace down hand in order not to over-extend yourself.
  3. As you explode keep a flat back and bulled neck.
  4. A quick take-off is essential.
  1. Contact:
  1. As you step, attack the near shoulder of the offensive lineman with your off- hand and attack his breastplate with your down-hand, reading the blocking

schemeon the run.

  1. Squeeze inside gap and keep gap arm free.
  2. Penetration is the key!! Do not stay on the OL.
  3. If you are in a 3 Technique you can Never get Reached or Hooked.
  1. Block Reaction:

Vs. Drive Block:

  1. Explode into near lineman; use aggressive arm rip.
  2. Dominate your man; squeeze your gap.
  3. Locate ball and react.

Vs. Reach/Cut off Block:

  1. Explode into a near lineman.
  2. Pushnear/gap shoulder and Pull far/ inside breastplate, as you get penetration.
  3. Keep your outside arm free.
  4. Locate ball and react.

Vs. Combo/Double Team Block:

  1. Explode into gap. Use same technique initially as for a Reach.
  2. Recognize double team pressure.
  3. As you turn your shoulders, sink your up-the-field hip and anchor your back leg. (You may collapse to one knee if being driven back).
  4. If outside blocker releases, control your gap; react to ball.

Vs. Trap Block:

  1. Read inside release.
  2. Turn to trapper; stay as close to inside release as possible.
  3. As you constrict hole, use your momentum to turn your shoulders so you face trapper.
  4. At this point you may:

1)Collide with trapper in order to create confusion in the backfield.

2)Wrong arm trapper. Use opposite, outside arm against trapper (inside arm stays free) this forces ball to bubble back away from L.O.S.

Vs. Down Block:

  1. Beat down block with penetration.
  2. Work up-field and outside , flatten behind L.O.S.
  3. Knock off any pulling traffic.
  4. Locate ball; and react.

Vs. Fold Block:

  1. As you read the lateral step by the OL on you, handle this scheme just as you would play the down block.
  1. Separation Technique:
  1. Separation is the act of creating space between you and the offensive blocker. This is done by:

1)Post your gap side arm by locking out (posting) that elbow.

2)Control man’s middle with palm pressure on the sternum by using other hand.

3)You must use your whole body.

a)Move your feet

b)Keep power producing angles in your knees.

c)Keep back arched.

d)Stay low.

  1. Disengagement:
  1. Disengagement is leaving the blocker to pursue the ball carrier.

1)As you maintain posted outside hand, step with outside foot.

2)Rip inside arm through /across offensive blocker.

3)Exaggerate the rip and step simultaneously to clear yourself from blocker.

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