Drills and Skills for the Defensive

Line
ANTHONY GRAZZINI
ELMHURST COLLEGE
Wheaton North Clinic

S.A.K.R.A.T.S.

Stance
Alignment
Key
Reaction
Attack
Technique
Sustained Effort

Base Stance And Alignment

Attack Stance
Inside Hand Down &
Inside Foot Back
Weight On Down Hand
And Ball Of Front Foot
Off hand out in front with
thumb turned out
Crowd Ball = Credit Card
Align On inside eye on
outside eye of the visual
key

Loose and Jet

LOOSE
Inside toe to outside toe
of OLM you are shaded
on
Flexed of the ball 6-10
inches off the ball
Know assignment and
technique
Attack and Penetrate

Jet
Align 1 to 1 Yards
outside EMOL
Take tilt out of stance
Get in the blocks
Attack OLM set point and
beat them to the spot
React to run
(Interior linemen will align
in gap)

Ball Get-Off
Coaching Points
Explode with your Hips
Shoot your handsSteel Rods
Bring your feet
Replace down hand
Get your second foot in the ground

No Fish Hooks

Explode with Hips, Hands and Feet

Recognize stimulus
Plant on outside foot with your knee in your armpit
Snap your inside elbow in the direction you intend
to go
Drive outside Arm and leg
4 Reactions Right, Left, Pass, Draw

Contact Fit
HAND PLACEMENT
HAT PLACEMENT
Deliver blow into
Eyes shoot to the V
inside of near numbers
of the neck
and outside shoulder
Head up
Thumbs up--Grab cloth Keep head lower then
Lock out and turn
OLM chin-strap
OLM shoulders

STAB DRILL
Stab Progression
5 pt Extension
4 pt Lock Out/Escapes
2 pt Hip Strike
3 pt Press/Squeeze/Shed

SHRUG DRILL
PUSH/PULL/THROW BY
Fit Hands
Hard pull with inside hand toward you
Violent push with gap hand away from you
Violent Shrug with both hands as you
swing hips into the hole and throw the
OLM by you

STEER DRILL
From Defeated
Leverage Steer
Leverage Steer Rip
Execute steer
Push/Pull to turn blockers shoulder
Rip under with inside arm and get
hips through

Leverage Steer Wipe

Execute steer
Break elbow by driving saw into
outside arm of the OLM and
driving wt into OLM
Wipe across nose with a violent
circular striking movement and get
hips through

From Dominant Position

Leverage Steer
Leverage Steer Rip
Leverage Steer Wipe

Clear Minds Equal Fast Feet

Three Questions
Question #1
Is he trying to block me?
Yes, Push through my gap and control it
No, go on to question #2

Question # 2
Is the V up?
Yes, hit your pass rush move
No, go on to question #3

Question #3
Is the V is away with an inside threat?
Yes-Spill all trappers or Kick out blocks, Tackle all backs in your path
NoDown block coming; feel pressure ricochet back and control

1 ON 1 KEY PROGRESSION
Key Drill
Reaction #1 Trying to Block Me
Push through my gap and Control

Reaction #2 Not Trying to Block MeV is Up

Execute pass rush move

Reaction #3 Not Trying to Block and V is Away

Attack inside threatTackle all backs/Far Arm K.O.
Blocks
No inside threatRicochet backDown block coming

Double Blocks
DOWN/PULL
REACH/SCOOP DOUBLE
TRUE DOUBLE

CROSS FACE/SKI
Ski
Explode with Hips, Hands, and Feet
See to visual key pulling
React to pressure Key
Pressure key up-field at a 45
ski the puller

Cross Face
Explode with Hips, Hands, and Feet
See to visual key pulling
React to pressure Key
Pressure key hard and flat to cut you off
Cross face him

ANTI REACH
SLINGSHOT

Pre-Fit Steer/Run Through

Pre-Fit Steer/Latch On/Run Through
Pre-Fit Steer/Latch On/Runt Through/Sling Shot
3 Pt Latch On/Run Through/Sling Shot

ANTI DOUBLE TEAM

SPLIT

Pre-Fit Press the post

Pre-Fit Press the post/Hips to wheel
Pre-Fit Press the Post/Hips to wheel/Skinny the hole
Pre-Fit Press the post/Hips to wheel/Skinny the hole/Wipe
through

Screw

Pre-Fit Press the post

Pre-Fit Press the post/Latch on inside number
Pre-Fit Press the Post/Latch on inside number/Seat roll
Pre-Fit Press the Post/Latch on inside number/Seat roll/Hot Stove

Combination Blocks
TRAP/INFLUENCE TRAP
POWER/COUNTER

FAR ARM PROGRESSION

SPILL DRILL
Visual Key Veers
Plant and Bend

Visual Key Veers

Plant and Bend/Spill inside threat with far arm by ripping
hip to ribcage

Visual Key Veers

Plant and Bend/Spill inside threat with far arm by ripping
hip to ribcage/Drive inside foot vertical and pick off
second threat or make tackle

Trap/Influence Trap
Veer Trap
As blocker veers or blocks back, Re-direct (Bend)
expect a kick out block; snap eyes inside, plant outside foot, drive far elbow around
Attack trapper, explode with far arm through the inside thigh of the OLM and rip up through the
rib cage drive your feet vertically and make the tackle.

Influence Trap
Never believe a front-side puller
As Visual Key pull outside; plant your outside foot and re-direct (Bend)
expecting a kick out block; snap eyes inside, plant outside foot, drive far elbow around
Attack trapper, explode with far arm through the inside thigh of the OLM and rip up through the
rib cage drive your feet vertically and make the tackle.

Kick Out-Insert
As locker veers or blocks back, Re-direct hard on 2nd step,
expecting a kick out block
Snap eyes inside, plant outside foot, drive far elbow around
Attack trapper, explode with far arm through the inside thigh of the
OLM
Spill two (never one for one) cause the ball to bounce to the
leverage player hot stove and make a tackle

Basic Pass Rush Concepts

Stance And Alignment

Attack Stance
Outside Hand Down
& Outside Foot Back
Weight On Down
Hand And Ball Of
Front Foot
Crowd Ball
Align On Outside 1/3
Of The Man

Ball Get Off

Explode with hips out of the blocksfast ball

Low Body Lean
Burn The Cushionget the TSL
Stay on an edge (Rush A Man)
Vertical Push Feet Ripping Ground
Target--6 1/2 Yards Behind The Center

Power Rush
Stab the cuff
Extend arms and push off cuff until the OLM squats
to stop vertical pushif he doesn't sit drive him over
the QB
Pull down and across the body with your outside arm
Shuffle hips perpendicular to the LOS
Arm over/under; step through; and run hoop to the
QB

Rip or Arm Under

Used by a contain rusher or gap rusher
Burn cushion
Club the outside arm
Rip with the inside armelbow to eye level
Accelerate to the QB
If OLM checks your hip and rides you once at qb
level
Pull rip out and hump back
Pull rip out and spin back
Accelerate to the QB

Punch or Arm Over

Used by a contain rusher when the defender has a low

base
Burn cushion
Club the outside arm
Punch low and tight over the outside shoulder with the
inside arm
Accelerate to the QB
If OLM checks your hip and rides you
Grab cloth on the outside shoulder with your off
hand and pull the defender down and away
Execute hip flip technique
Pull back punch and rip through
Accelerate to the QB

Power Slip

Used by and inside rusher

Burn cushion
Strike with your saw on the outside cuff of the
offensive lineman
Extend saw and leverage offensive lineman
upward
Grab cloth on the outside shoulder with your off
hand and pull the defender down and away
Slip saw over the shoulder and clear with your
elbow
Accelerate to the QB

Speed Slip

Burn cushion
When offensive lineman punches for your near
breast plate redirect his punch using the Hook
technique.
Strike the near arm with your near arm in a
downward circling motion
Swat and pin the elbow of the near arm with the
outside arm
Finish the move with a punch, rip, or wipe
depending on the height advantage of the OLM
Accelerate to the QB

Spin

Spin
Burn cushion
When offensive lineman punches for your near
breast plate set the Hook.
Pivot on Inside foot
Drive outside elbow into the OLMs sternum
Snap you butt into the inside hip of the OLM
(Sit down when he give you his knee)
Clear with elbow
Finish the move by throwing home to get you
back into your rush lane
Accelerate to the QB

Pass Rush Drill Progressions

USC CLOTH PROGRESSION

USC Cloth Progression
BFCO
BFCO Flip
Stab/BFCO
Stab/BFCO/Flip
Stab/BFCO/Flip/Throw by/wipe
Hop/Retreat/Spar

KARATE PROGRESSION
Karate Progression
Hook
Cut
Saw
Strike
Snakes
Doors
Hook/Saw combos
Speed Slip
Power Slip
Walk and Spin
Walk and Spar
Spar Conditioning

Hook
DL1 extends left hand to the right shoulder of DL2
DL2 makes a downward chop with his right arm
turning his wrist outward to hook the arm of DL1
DL2 open hand swats the elbow of DL1 pinning the
elbow to the body
DL2 replaces his hand on the shoulder of DL1
DL1 Repeats the drill
5X each

Cut
DL1 extends left hand to the right shoulder of DL2
DL2 makes an outward chop with his right arm turning
his wrist outward to cut the arm of DL1
DL2 open hand swats the elbow of DL1 pinning the
elbow to the body
DL2 replaces his hand on the shoulder of DL1
DL1 Repeats the drill
5X each

Sharpen the Saw

Drill begins with two linemen facing each other
DL1 extends left forearm to the right forearm of DL2
DL1 and DL2 alternate bring their forearms up in a circular
movement with their palms facing up
DL1 and DL2 maintain constant pressure on each others
forearms as they work to circle each other
Switch arms and repeat the drill
5X each

Strike
Drill begins with two linemen facing each other
DL2 Holds a blocking shield for DL1
DL1 makes and upward strike with his saw into the
blocking shield; at the same time as the strike he will
bring his back leg through and press DL2 backward
DL1 will now alternate the technique with the other
arm
5X each

Snakes
Over Snake
With his inside hand DL1 snakes his arm over the inside arm and under the outside
arm of DL2, pins DL2s elbow to his body and finishes with a punch or rip and at
the same time he will bring his inside leg through and separate from his partner
DL1 will now alternate the technique with the other arm
5X each
Under Snake
With his inside hand DL1 snakes his arm under the inside arm and over the outside
arm of DL2 grabbing and breaking down DL2s elbow; he will then pins DL2s
elbow to his body with his outside arm and finishes with a punch or rip and at the
same time he will bring his inside leg through and separate from his partner
DL1 will now alternate the technique with the other arm
5X each

Doors and Fork-lifts

Open Doors
With his inside hand DL1 will hook the inside hand of the
DL2, simultaneously DL1 will push up the wrist of DL2 and
then step through the door created under DL2s armpit with
a rip and at the same time he will bring his inside leg
through and separate from his partner
DL1 will now alternate the technique with the other arm
5X each

Hook/Saw Combos
Hook/Saw Punch
With his inside hand DL1 hooks the wrist of DL2, flips his hips and strikes the arm
of DL2 with his saw to pin it to his body and finishes with a punch, and at the same
time he will bring his inside leg through and separate from his partner
DL1 will now alternate the technique with the other arm
5X each
Hook/Saw Punch
With his inside hand DL1 hooks the wrist of DL2, flips his hips and strikes the arm
of DL2 with his saw to pin it to his body and finishes with a Rip, and at the same
time he will bring his inside leg through and separate from his partner
DL1 will now alternate the technique with the other arm
5X each

Speed Slip
Drill begins with two linemen facing each other on one
knee
DL1 is on an outside shade of DL2
DL2 extends his outside hand to DL1
DL1 sets the hook on the outside had of DL2, strikes
the outside elbow with his saw, and flips his hip as he
punches through the hole, and reaches for his back foot
as he drive his inside knee through the hole
Repeat 5X each

Power Slip
Drill begins with two linemen facing each other on one knee
DL1 is on an outside shade of DL2
DL1 assumes a pre-fit position with his saw on ht outside
number of DL2 and his outside hand grabbing cloth on the
shoulder
DL1 pushes with his saw and pulls with his outside arm
DL1Punches his inside hand over the outside shoulder of DL2
and reaches for his back foot as he drive his inside knee through
the hole
Repeat 5X each

Walk and Spin

Drill begins with two linemen facing each other

DL1 stands five yards from DL2
DL1 and DL2 walk toward each other
DL1 executes a spin move (chops with inside arm,
plants and sinks near hip, drive far hip around into the
body of DL2, executes a rip to clear, and throws home
Both DLM Alternate turns
5X each

Walk and Spar

Drill begins with two linemen facing each other

DL1 stands five yards from DL2
DL1 and DL2 walk toward each other
DL1 executes the appropriate pass rush
technique when the Offensive Player give him a
stimulus
5X each

Spar Conditioning

Drill begins with two linemen facing each other

DL1 stands one yard from DL2
DL1 and DL2 walk toward each other
DL1 executes the appropriate pass rush
technique when the Offensive Player give him a
stimulus
DL1 and DL2 quickly turn around and repeat
5X each

COUNTER COMBATIVES

Rip to Punch
Punch to Rip
Chop (Hook) to Spin
Rip to Hump

Boxing in the Quarterback

High Number Position
1. Burst up field
2. At 5 yardsDLM should be hip to hip in a high number
position; continue over the top to QB
Even After 5 Yards
1. Turn and power down OLM to QB
2. Collapse the Pocket
3. Contain the QBAlert for QB to Bail Out
Low Number Position
1. If Low Number after 5 yards come under
2. USE HUMP OR SPIN

PRE PRACTICE
___Warm Up Drills
Hot Stove Progression
No Fish Hooks
Step Over Bags
Speed Ladder

TRASH CANS
___ Alignment Assignment
Technique
Fronts
Stunts
Dogs
Blitzes
Zone Pressure

HOOPS
___Hip Mobility Drills
Single
Figure Eight
Chase
Circle Strip
Washington State

FIT DRILLS
Butt & Bench
6 Point Progression
Pre - Fit Escape
Press, Squeeze, Shed
Knock Off Escape
___Leverage Drills
Pipe Progression
Pre - Fit Reach/Scoop
Typewriter Drill
___ Steer Drills
Stab Progression
Steer Progression
Latch on the Zone Block

PASS RUSH
Anti Cut Drills
Push and Give
Nose in the camera
Knee Cut Drill
Dummy Cut Drill
Live chop
Rip - N - Redirect
Pogo
Pass Rush Drills
Hand Fight
Arizona Progression
Gauntlet Progression
Close Drill
Rub Towel Drill
One Yard Box
Double The Outside Rush
Spy, Draw Screen
High, Even, Low Numbers

TACKLING AND TAKE

AWAYS
Tackling Drills
Form Progression
0,1,2
Knee Roll Over
Angle
Goal Line Tackle
Finish Tackle
Escape tackle
Stunt/Movement Tackle
Hot Stove Tackle
Chicken in the Ring
___Individual
Form Pull
QB Strip
Punch Out from behind
Secure and Strip
Nose on football
___ Partner
Second Man Rip
Convoy

TEAM DRILLS
__ _Run Game
Team Pursuit
String Out
3 Ball Option
Offense/Defense Wins
___ Passing Game
Oskie
Screen/Draw
___ Competitive Period
Team Blitz
Green Zone
Redzone
Two Minute
Goal Line
Short Yardage
Last Drive
Dick
em

GROUP DRILLS
___Pass Protection
One on One
Team Pass Rush
Pass Under Pressure
___ Run Game
Inside Run Fit
Perimeter Run Fit
Half Line Option
Games & Stunts

INDIVIDUAL DRILLS
___ Pursuit
Pop Up Pursuit
Pop Up/One Less
Block Protection
Keys & Reads
1 On 1 Block Recognition
3 On 2 Block Recognition
Anti
- Trap/Kick
Cross Face/Pull Collision
Spill
Effort Spill
Scwartz
__ Double Team
Split, Spin, Corkscrew

NOTES

SLED DRILLS
___2 Man Sled
Fit Progression
Hot Stove Form Tackle
___ Run Game
Movement Fit

TRAP CHUTE DRILLS

___Cage Drills
Pursue In Trash
Trash Cut
Trash Scoop and Score
___ Run Game
Movement and Stunts

Fronts
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Movements
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Pressure
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Practice Schedule
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- out Drills

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