1. Rick Pennypacker Pottsgrove High School Pottstown, Pa. 19464 rpennypacker@pgsd.org

2. OFFENSIVE LINE FUNDAMENTALS AND DRILLS ZONE BLOCKING PROCEDURES

3. PHILOSOPHY OF COACHING OFFENSIVE LINE No position in football require more discipline and technique No position in football require more discipline and technique Success of the offense depends on controlling the Line of Scrimmage Success of the offense depends on controlling the Line of Scrimmage Spend a tremendous amount of time on Fundamentals Spend a tremendous amount of time on Fundamentals Blocking schemes we prepare are simple spend more time on fundamentals Blocking schemes we prepare are simple spend more time on fundamentals

4. Build a foundation of Unity and Pride have a gimmick Build a foundation of Unity and Pride have a gimmick Coach the Little Things Coach the Little Things Never accept poor technique Never accept poor technique Our Offensive line MUST Hustle and Hit and be a Team Player Our Offensive line MUST Hustle and Hit and be a Team Player Blocking CAN be Taught Put in the time, summer lineman practice Blocking CAN be Taught Put in the time, summer lineman practice

5. PSYCOLOGICAL ADVANTAGES We NEVER walk on the field –practice or game We NEVER walk on the field –practice or game Act tough- a little cocky Act tough- a little cocky Never allow our opponent to see us tired Never allow our opponent to see us tired No one plays Defense- work together on scout team vs. defense No one plays Defense- work together on scout team vs. defense Reduce Fundamentals to habits Reduce Fundamentals to habits

6. PRACTICE PROCEDURES Head Coach- I determine how much time our line has for fundamentals Head Coach- I determine how much time our line has for fundamentals At least an hour for fundamentals and group work At least an hour for fundamentals and group work Coach on the run-never waste time with too much talking Coach on the run-never waste time with too much talking Develop and plan each fundamental into its simplest form Develop and plan each fundamental into its simplest form Develop buzz words like Hippo, L-Step Develop buzz words like Hippo, L-Step

7. Lineman Creed “Make improvement every day Lineman Creed “Make improvement every day Repetition is a way of life Repetition is a way of life Blocking is an unnatural habit – No one wants to practice blocking Blocking is an unnatural habit – No one wants to practice blocking Coach on the RUN – Talking is for meetings. Get in Reps Coach on the RUN – Talking is for meetings. Get in Reps

8. IN SEASON PRACTICE (Offense on Tuesdays) 2:55-3:10Pre Practice 2:55-3:10Pre Practice 3:10-3:30Flex 3:10-3:30Flex 3:30-3:45Special Teams 3:30-3:45Special Teams 3:45-4:45Offensive Fundamentals 3:45-4:45Offensive Fundamentals 4:45-5:30Team 4:45-5:30Team 5:30Conditioning (if needed) 5:30Conditioning (if needed) We want most of our conditioning to happen during practice

9. Two a Day practices 8:10Chalk Talk 8:10Chalk Talk 8:30Pre Practice 8:30Pre Practice 8:50Flex 8:50Flex 9:10Ind. Fundamentals 9:10Ind. Fundamentals 10:40Team 10:40Team 11:10OFF 11:10OFF 11:30Specialties 11:30Specialties Alternate Off and Def practices in am and pm

10. OFFENSIVE LINE PRACTICE Warm Up-Shuffle, Duck Walk, Backward run-5 yards Warm Up-Shuffle, Duck Walk, Backward run-5 yards Chutes-Stances and Starts- GET OFF Chutes-Stances and Starts- GET OFF Step and Punch Step and Punch Combo Blocks- Ace, Deuce and Trey Combo Blocks- Ace, Deuce and Trey Pass Protection Pass Protection Assignment- Weekly Game Plan Assignment- Weekly Game Plan

11. BASE OR DRIVE BLOCK Four Parts 1. Approach 2. Contact 3. Drive 4. Finish

12. APPROACH (Stance and Takeoff) Stance- most important- least neglected Stance- most important- least neglected Line up as far off the LOS as possible Line up as far off the LOS as possible Base is shoulder width- Too wide causes false steps Base is shoulder width- Too wide causes false steps Feet- slightly pigeon toe- toes in heels out Feet- slightly pigeon toe- toes in heels out Stagger- Instep Stagger- Instep Back heel off ground no more then 2” Back heel off ground no more then 2”

13. Down hand on inside of ankle Down hand on inside of ankle Free hand on outside of knee- Elbow in tight- do this to handle tension Free hand on outside of knee- Elbow in tight- do this to handle tension Semi bowed neck-not bull neck- cause tail to drop Semi bowed neck-not bull neck- cause tail to drop Shoulders parallel to LOS and Flat Back Shoulders parallel to LOS and Flat Back First step-short 6-8” depending on aiming point and scheme First step-short 6-8” depending on aiming point and scheme

14. Get first step out of ground and down quickly Get first step out of ground and down quickly Hands go to Holsters Hands go to Holsters Eyes on target keeping power angles Eyes on target keeping power angles GET OFF THE BALL- Film- Coming off as one unit- L step and GO GET OFF THE BALL- Film- Coming off as one unit- L step and GO

15. CONTACT “First Step Ties Second Step Wins” “First Step Ties Second Step Wins” Hold ankle to reinforce the drive of the second step Hold ankle to reinforce the drive of the second step Second step the hands MUST come together Second step the hands MUST come together Second step drives into crotch- Knee them in the stomach theory Second step drives into crotch- Knee them in the stomach theory

16. Contact is made with HANDS – Fingers together pointing up Contact is made with HANDS – Fingers together pointing up Elbows in - Nose will follow hands - See your aiming point Elbows in - Nose will follow hands - See your aiming point Lifting action – Hit through him, not at him – “ Hit on the Rise” Lifting action – Hit through him, not at him – “ Hit on the Rise” Keep your power angles Keep your power angles Arms extended 75%- Bull neck-helps drop tail Arms extended 75%- Bull neck-helps drop tail Incline bench Incline bench

17. DRIVE The difference between a GREAT blocker and a Average blocker is the fraction of time between contact and DRIVE The difference between a GREAT blocker and a Average blocker is the fraction of time between contact and DRIVE Arch back and get feet underneath you – no leaning – not overextended Arch back and get feet underneath you – no leaning – not overextended Sprint on the inside of your feet – Be conscious of it Sprint on the inside of your feet – Be conscious of it

18. FINISH Keep driving while maintaining contact Keep driving while maintaining contact Make the tackle Make the tackle PANCAKE HIM – Go crazy when one occurs PANCAKE HIM – Go crazy when one occurs

19. COACHING POINTS Never use dummies to teach blocking Never use dummies to teach blocking Will use shields and Flippers rarely Will use shields and Flippers rarely Sled - rarely use it – only use it for conditioning ( Buying Rogers Leverage Sled- will use more) Sled - rarely use it – only use it for conditioning ( Buying Rogers Leverage Sled- will use more) Never allow loafing or poor technique Never allow loafing or poor technique Oklahoma Chute – use all the time Oklahoma Chute – use all the time Put good on good Put good on good Squat, Power Clean, Dead lift year round for power Squat, Power Clean, Dead lift year round for power

20. TYPES OF BLOCKS WE USE Base or Drive Base or Drive Inside Zone Inside Zone Outside Zone Outside Zone Combo Block Combo Block Reach Reach Cut Off Cut Off Trap and Gut Trap and Gut Pass Protection 3 and 5 step Pass Protection 3 and 5 step Sprint out – Reach and hinge backside Sprint out – Reach and hinge backside

21. Offensive Line Drills STANCE STANCE AND L STEP BIRD DOG L STEP AND PUNCH L STEP AND CONTACT FORM FIT – DRIVE BIRD DOG L STEP – PUNCH AND DRIVE DRIVE AND FINISH ON WHISTLE L STEP – CONTACT - DRIVE

22. COMBO BLOCK FUNDAMENTALS First step- 6” L step to defender First step- 6” L step to defender Guns to holster Guns to holster See aiming point Aiming point is near number of down defender

23. Second Step - drive to crotch Second Step - drive to crotch whip fists or palms into defender use lifting action Head on the outside of the defender looking at second level linebacker

24. Inside Man Linebacker comes inside Linebacker comes inside Get off block and get head across front and drive  Linebacker goes over the top Now he becomes outside blockers man Now he becomes outside blockers man Slowly rotate hips to the play Slowly rotate hips to the play Get hand placement to outside number Get hand placement to outside number Move hips Move hips Communicate with outside man – you / me

25. Outside Man Stay on block-Hip to hip with inside man Stay on block-Hip to hip with inside man Head and eyes to the outside Head and eyes to the outside Look for linebacker coming over the top Look for linebacker coming over the top Drive until linebacker comes to you-Never Chase Drive until linebacker comes to you-Never Chase Get off block and engage linebacker and drive Get off block and engage linebacker and drive

26. Pound feet into ground – Balls of feet – Like pushing a car Pound feet into ground – Balls of feet – Like pushing a car NEVER stop moving your feet NEVER stop moving your feet Take him where he wants to go Take him where he wants to go Step on his toes Step on his toes Never leave your feet – Uniform clean at the end of game Never leave your feet – Uniform clean at the end of game

27. OFFENSIVE LINE COMBO BLOCK PRACTICE Deuce – Ram – Trey10 min. Deuce – Ram – Trey10 min. Deuce – Lion – Trey10 min. Deuce – Lion – Trey10 min. Outside Zone10 min. Outside Zone10 min.

28. COMBO BLOCK ROTATIONS B LTLG WORK DUECE

29. COMBO BLOCK ROTATIONS WORK ACE-RAM CRG

30. COMBO BLOCK ROTATIONS RTTE B WORK TREY 5-6-7 TECH

31. COMBO BLOCK ROTATIONS TELT LGC RGRT WORK TREY 5-6-7 TECH WORK ACE LION WORK DUECE

32. COMBO BLOCK ROTATIONS ACE COMBO BLOCK WITH CENTER AND GUARD G C B ACE LION – CENTER AND LEFT GUARD ACE RAM – CENTER AND RT GUARD

33. COMBO BLOCK ROTATIONS B DUECE COMBO BLOCK WITH GUARD AND TACKLE BACKER RUNS THROUGH B GAP- GUARD COMES OFF AND BLOCKS HIM

34. COMBO BLOCK ROTATIONS TREY COMBO BLOCK WITH TACKLE AND TIGHT END TET B TREY A 5 OR 7 TECHNIQUE

35. COMBO BLOCK ROTATIONS TREY COMBO BLOCK WITH TACKLE AND TIGHT END TET B BACKER RUNS THROUGH C GAP – TACKLE CLIMBS OFF AND BLOCKS HIM

36. OUTSIDE ZONE Fast rotating zone block Fast rotating zone block Blocking designed for running back to break at first daylight from play side tackle outside Blocking designed for running back to break at first daylight from play side tackle outside We use a “Drop step, crossover, rip through” We use a “Drop step, crossover, rip through”

37. Covered Lineman Drop step and eye aiming point Drop step and eye aiming point Aiming point is outside number of down lineman Aiming point is outside number of down lineman Second step – come off with power ripping backside arm through his outside number Second step – come off with power ripping backside arm through his outside number Must keep backside hip close to defender throughout contact Must keep backside hip close to defender throughout contact

38. Must keep his helmet on the outside hip and number and use rip technique Must keep his helmet on the outside hip and number and use rip technique Lift through the defender to keep driving him off LOS Lift through the defender to keep driving him off LOS Unless the uncovered lineman next to you has a run through blitz, he will join you Unless the uncovered lineman next to you has a run through blitz, he will join you Must have head and eyes looking at second level for linebacker to show to your side Must have head and eyes looking at second level for linebacker to show to your side If LB shows, come off square on backer If LB shows, come off square on backer

39. Do not chase or come off too early – will get no push Do not chase or come off too early – will get no push If lineman slants, come off square on backer If lineman slants, come off square on backer If you pin him, turn inside him and wall him off If you pin him, turn inside him and wall him off If defender plays out, stay square and stretch him outside If defender plays out, stay square and stretch him outside A wide defender will widen when drop step occurs A wide defender will widen when drop step occurs

40. Uncovered Lineman Step with near foot of the combo block Step with near foot of the combo block Get shoulders perpendicular with your track Get shoulders perpendicular with your track Look down the track Look down the track Key near hip of down defender Key near hip of down defender If hip goes away, track up to the linebacker If hip goes away, track up to the linebacker

41. Read all actions of defenders while drop stepping Read all actions of defenders while drop stepping If linebacker runs through, drive off your drop step and block him with a backside rip through technique If linebacker runs through, drive off your drop step and block him with a backside rip through technique Drive him back inside Drive him back inside

42. Versus Slant Defender Block slanting lineman with helmet to play side Block slanting lineman with helmet to play side Flatten slanter away from point of attack and work him off LOS Flatten slanter away from point of attack and work him off LOS

43. No Slant- No Run Through Drive off drop step foot and get helmet on near hip Drive off drop step foot and get helmet on near hip If engaged with covered lineman block, drive, rip through, lift and drive him down track of second level defender If engaged with covered lineman block, drive, rip through, lift and drive him down track of second level defender

44. Defender Stretches Work to second level and pin linebacker away from point of attack Work to second level and pin linebacker away from point of attack