Transcript DeJaegher, Dave - Illinois High School Football Coaches Association

Teaching Progression and Drills
for Blocking and Tackling
Dave DeJaegher - Alleman High School
[email protected]
Fundamentals Win.
Football is two things:
Blocking and Tackling.
I don’t care anything about
formations or new offenses
or tricks on defense. If you
block and tackle better than
the team you are playing,
you win.
- Vince Lombardi
3 skills we teach daily:
• Blocking
• Block Protection
• Tackling
* super important that we don’t compromise
practice time on teaching these skills
In Order to Improve
• Make it a top priority
• Need to dedicate necessary practice time
• Takes the commitment of the entire
coaching staff
• Emphasize high repetition & technique
over live blocking & tackling
Goals
• Improve Player Safety
• Improve Players’ Skills & Confidence
• Improve your football team and
program
• In order to achieve these goals it is
super important to strike the proper
balance of practice tempo to game
speed
With all 3 skills we teach the
same 4 concepts:
• Stance & Pre-Snap Communication
• Footwork (heavy emphasis on first 2
steps)
• Leverage (proper shoulder to hip
relationship)
• Finish (leg drive)
BLOCKING
(Teach Shoulder Block in Our Program)
• Stance & Communication
– Base/Set Position/Down Position/Line Calls
• Footwork (First two steps critical)
– 1st Step = 6” Play-Side Step (Goal=head play-side)
– 2nd Step = Power Step (Shoulder/Leg Concept)
• Leverage
– Proper Shoulder to Hip Relationship to
Achieve a Power Angle
• Finish
– Leg Drive (Feet Separated for Good Base)
Base
Set Position
Down Position
Footwork
• Play-side Step – 6”/45 degree directional step,
enable the player to position his head play-side on
the defender
• Power Step – drive into the defender with a power
step & a shoulder/forearm combo, put the defender
back on his heels, head has to get play-side, steer
the defender away from the play with off-hand.
Leverage
Incorrect
Correct form
Shoulder-to-Hip
Relationship
Incorrect
Finish
• Feet separated, good base,
drive the defender off the ball!!
Leg Drive
Correct – feet apart, wide base
Incorrect – feet too close together
Blocking Practice Drills
• Chutes & Boards
• Crowther Sled Routine
• 7-Man
• One on One Live
• Backside Scoop
• Pass Blocking Routine
Practice Routine
Pre-practice
Fundamentals
7-man
Monday
Hand out
blocking
sheets and
agilities
Tuesday
Work on trap
and veer
steps
Chutes/
Crowther
routines
Wednesday
Work on
Pass
combo
blocking
blocks and
routine
midline steps
Group Time
Team
Intro
opponent
Play review
Script
Pass
Script
blocking with
backs, goal
line run fits
Troubleshooting Blocking Problems
• Assignment Overload
• Bad Stance (need air under your heels)
• Slow off the Ball
(getting off the ball is #1 priority)
• Poor Footwork (review the first 2 steps)
• Poor Leverage (hips too high or low)
• No Finish! (feet stop after contact)
BLOCK PROTECTION
• Before the defensive player can make a
tackle he first must deal with the man
assigned to block him
• Most underrated, under-coached, and most
important skill a defensive player can have
3 Main Points of Emphasis
of Block Protection
• Diagnose the Play (pre and post snap)
• Attack the Blocker
• Separate yourself from the Blocker
Block Protection
• Stance & Communication
• Align Properly/Good FB Position/Eyes on Read Key
• Footwork
• React to Read Key/Attack the Blocker/Split Defender(2/3)
• Leverage
• Front 5 attack with their hands with power step and lockout
• LBs attack with a shoulder/forearm combo with power step
• Finish
• Either - Jam Offensive player into hole, push/pull release,
shed defender with off hand, or rip and release
Attitude for Block Protection
• Attack and Stun the
Offensive Player
• Get off the block and get to
the football
• The blocker is an obstacle
on your way to the football
• Don’t play the blocker –
play through the blocker
TACKLING
• Definition – Defensive player winning
the desired collision between himself
and the ball carrier
• Safety is the #1 Priority
• Build your players confidence in his
tackling ability
• Mentality- “Be the Hammer and not
the Nail”
ABC’s of Tackling
Approach
• Transition from your FB position (stance) and close
the distance between you and the ball carrier
(Pursuit)
Breakdown
• Gather momentum & get back to good FB position
(hips flexed in a good power position)
Contact
• Correct head placement (Bite the FB), Power step
with simultaneous contact with the top of the
shoulder, wrap up the ball carrier, and run
through the tackle
Block Protection & Tackling
Practice Drills
(Emphasis on Repetition, Form, & Safety)
• Program Form Tackling Circuit
Goal = 8-10 Form Tackles reps per player in 10 Minute Period
• Shed & Tackle Circuit
Goal = 4 Block Protections reps & 6 Form Tackle reps per player
• Sideline Pursuit & Angle Tackles (4 reps-2each direction)
• Bear & Tiger Drill (12 block protect reps & 6 tackle reps per
player)
• 7 Man Machine Gun Block Protection (14 reps per player)
• 1 Man Form Tackling Routine (4-6 reps per player)
• Mirror Pursuit Drill (multiple transitions of shuffle to sprint)
Contact Information
Dave DeJaegher
Alleman High School
1103 - 40th Street
Rock Island, Illinois 61201
(309) 786-7793
[email protected]