Hawg Tuff

Does anyone have drills that will improve your lineman's ability to lock onto LBs in the run game? I have tried fit and finish drills from a 5 yard distance, and have worked a ton of combo drills to work on our motions and build habits, but time and time again my guys will go to the second level to get a LB and bounce off...does anyone have any suggestions to help this?

Blocking Linebackers:
The key to blocking LB's is balance and timing. The blocker waddles through the line of scrimmage with enough force to clear the down linemen. Anticipating flow, he approaches his target under control. The hit occurs only when the blocker is close enough to "Step on his toes."

1. At the Point of Attack: Execute a Base block.

2. Away from the Point of Attack: Execute a Reach Block. Emphasize playside position.

3. Cut Technique: Used as a change-up or as a last resort. Is best away from the point of attack and on fast flow defenders. The same fundamental of the reach block apply. The POA is the hip/thigh area. The blocker must explode through the man, often finishing the block with a Bear Crawl.

YOUR FIT AND FINISH IS GOOD FOR THIS BUT ADD A MOVEMENT PRINCIPLE TO THE DRILL BY HAVING THE OL START HIS BLOCK ON LB AND THEN HAVE LB MOVE LEFT AND RIGHT, BACK AND FORWARD AND MAKE OL MAINTAIN THE BLOCK. THIS IS A GOOD CONDITIONER ALSO.

Yeah, I am pretty much doing that now...although I was not stressing the "Close enough to step on toes" point....That may help us get a "meatier" grip on the LB. We run a Split back veer offense and getting to and sustaining the LBs is a tough thing for some of my guys...thanks for the help coach.

billmountjoy@yahoo.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false

LINEBACKER FLOW BLOCK

PURPOSE: Used to prevent a Lber from escaping laterally to the playside.

1. Good route.
2. A.P. = playside number (Inside Zone), and outside armpit (Outside Zone).
3. Dip before contact.
4. Use running drive block (Inside Zone), or running reach block (Outside Zone).
5. Finish with hips square.

PS: Proper use of HANDS on LBer helps maintain contact. This is a good article below:


"Bugel's current and former players believe his success stems from masterful motivational skills, communication ability and teaching acumen. Returning Redskins say they have improved markedly through Bugel's emphasis on hand techniques to hinder defenders.

Last season, Thomas, a gifted athlete who is agile despite his 6-foot-5, 306-pound frame, relied on a flawed blocking method -- blocking wide, with his hands several inches apart. It left Thomas' chest open to defenders, making him more vulnerable. A lineman has more control over the defender by keeping his hands close together inside the chest area -- "tight hands," Bugel explained -- before punching out. If you keep your hands tight, and inside his hands - it makes it easier to "control" the opponent.

The Redskins also have incorporated one of Bugel's trademark techniques: the arm pump, which is used in run blocking. The lineman cocks, or pumps, his arms to his sides before forcefully pushing upward -- "like a fork lift," Bugel said -- into the defender's chest area. It diminishes the chances of holding and keeps the lineman from being passive.

"He wants us to hit 'em in the chest and make their heartbeat stop," Thomas said. "It stuns them at the line because the defense is taught to hit you in your chest, so it's better if you hit them first."

Bugel used imaginary handcuffs, teaching his players through repetition and constant reminders. Thomas, a sixth-year veteran, had previously known a similar technique but stopped using it last season because it wasn't emphasized. Samuels, who is coming off perhaps his worst NFL season, picked up damaging tendencies in recent years -- dropping his head and using his hands improperly."