Offensive Line Pass Protection Principles and

Techniques Glazier Clinic 2012

Ken WilmesherrOffensive Line CoachGrossmont Collegekwilmesh@cox.net

A COACHES RESPONSABILITY

A COACHES RESPONSABILITY

1. Take responsibility for your players in their techniques and scheme.

2. As a coach you are a teacher. Teaching is always evaluating your players and their performance in practice and in games.

3. Grade their performance: technique, production and finish. 4. Find the best way to teach fundamentals and techniques.5. Your goal as a teacher/coach is to have your players master the

techniques and fundamentals at their position.6. 80% of learning is visual.7. Most importantly DO NOT assume your players no anything.

Always start from scratch by teaching the basics.

OFFENSIVE LINEPHILOSOPHY

OFFENSIVE LINE PHILOSOPHY

DEVELOPING A PHILOSOPHY

In order to be successful you need to develop a philosophy.

The reason it is important to develop a philosophy it gives you a clear cut direction in what you want from your offensive line.

Therefore, it is imperative as a coach you develop and have a clear cut view of your philosophy, which will help you become a better coach/teacher.

OFFENSIVE LINE PHILOSOPHYWHAT TO LOOK FOR IN AN OFFENSIVE LINEMAN:

1. Physical Toughness/Mental Toughness2. Intelligence (teach a thought process)3. Work Ethic4. Team Player5. Great Feet6. Great Vision (train the eyes)7. Hip flexibility (the ability to unlock the hips), knee, and ankle flexibility (kinematic chain: the ability to bend starts from the ankle, knee to hip).8. Balance; A lineman will redirect his feet approximately 5 times per play.The strength and success of every team is based on the strength of the offensive line. Therefore, it is imperative that offensive linemen establish a presence.

OFFENSIVE LINE PHILOSOPHY

Offensive linemen need to be fundamentally tough and fundamentally sound in both the run and pass game.

To be an effective and fundamentally sound offensive lineman requires patience and many hours of hard work on and off the

field. Great offensive linemen have a great work ethic.

Offensive linemen need to understand that run and pass blocking are an unnatural task and can be developed to a greater degree than any other phase of the game (skill acquisition). Successful offensive line play depends on the execution, the perfection, and the mastery of the techniques required in the run and pass game.

OFFENSIVE LINE PHILOSOPHY

The more techniques an offensive lineman can master in the run and pass game the easier it will be for him to cope with various

situations, defensive structures, and defensive personnel.

An offensive lineman’s success can only be brought about with tremendous WORK ETHIC and CONFIDENCE in

his ability in both the run and pass game.

CONCENTRATION, SELF-DISCIPLINE, COMMUNICATION, and the WILLINGNESS to pay the price are part of being a respected offensive lineman.

REPS PRODUCE PRODUCTION

OFFENSIVE LINE PHILOSOPHY

WHAT IT TAKES TO BE AN EFFECTIVE OFFENSIVE LINEMAN:

To be effective offensive linemen they must believe in what they see as well as believe in and trust their technique in both the run and pass game.

TO BE EFFECTIVE OFFENSIVE LINEMEN THEY MUST BELIEVE IN WHAT THEY SEE

It is important for linemen to see the field (scan the defense 180 degrees).Anticipate stunt tendencies but never guess (teach a thought process). Anticipate blitz tendencies but never guess (teach a thought process).

OFFENSIVE LINE PHILOSOPHY

TO BE EFFECTIVE OFFENSIVE LINEMEN THEY MUST BELIEVE IN AND TRUST THEIR TECHNIQUE

Offensive linemen must have confidence in their footwork.Offensive linemen must have confidence in their body posture, weigh distribution and body balance.Offensive linemen must trust their run blocking and pass blocking demeanor as well as have the confidence in their ability to master the techniques in the run and pass game.

TO BE EFFECTIVE OFFENSIVE LINEMEN THEY MUST TRUST THEIR EYES

Offensive linemen must have confidence and trust in their eyes. Keep eyes open on contact. BUG AND SHOOT THE EYES.

THE POWER OF THE EYES

THE EYES

The eyes will lead the body to the block. Where the eyes are focused the rest of the body will move it that direction.

Focus the eyes on a specific target.

The proper use of the eyes will help with the ability to redirect the body’s mass and feet.

Focusing the eyes on a specific target will maximize the ability to apply force against the defender and will improve the functional posture of offensive linemen.

In pass protection set to a specific target. This will allow linemen to step in the proper direction and adjust to counters by the pass rusher.

TEACH A THOUGHT PROCESS

TEACH A THOUGHT PROCESS

Your players need to ORGANIZE their thoughts, which starts in the huddle to the line of scrimmage.

1. Who do I have to block vs. different defensive structures.

2. What can the defender or defense do to me in the structure

they are lined up in. Read the stance and alignment of the defender or defenders. Film Study is imperative.

3. How do I get the job done; what technique do I use, line calls, etc..

SIX STEP PASSBLOCKING

PROGRESSION

PASS BLOCKING PROGRESSION

A 6 step sequence must take place for a pass block to be successful.

1. SPLIT2. STANCE3. THE SET4. THE MIRROR5. THE PUNCH6. THE RECOVERY

PASS BLOCKING PROGRESSION

1. SPLITS: Vertical and Horizontal.

1SPLIT

Smart splits - size of splits may vary with:Defensive structure, defensive personnel.Offensive play and individual personnel.Lineman’s ability, confidence, and quickness.

PASS BLOCKING PROGRESSION

2. STANCE: develop a good one; it is the base from which all action starts. POOR STANCE=POOR START

1SPLIT

2STANCE

PASS BLOCKING PROGRESSION

3. THE SET: The set is the most important part of pass protection. It is important that an offensive linemen get into their proper pass protection demeanor as soon as possible (the snap-up and time of domination).

1SPLIT

2STANCE

3THE SET

The set is achieved and depends on the ability of the offensive lineman to move from his stance to the proper set position as quickly as possible. The set system is the step pattern which is determined by the pass protection scheme, the defensive structure, and the alignment of the defender.

PASS BLOCKING PROGRESSION4. THE MIRROR: After initial contact it is imperative

offensive linemen maintain the proper pass blocking demeanor. Keep shoulders and hips square; do not bail by dropping the post foot if the offensive lineman drops the post foot he is internally opening up the hips thus creating a soft hip and shoulder.

1SPLIT

2STANCE

3THE SET

4 MIRROR

When an offensive linemen sets his post foot and set foot have to be on the same angle if not the hips and shoulders will internally or externally rotate thus creating a soft shoulder and creating a rush lane for the defender. Use the hands to fight, which keeps the defender off your hip, and creates space and time.

 

INSIDE MOVE

• Inside move of a defender – power step and 6 inch slide step (slide to base or equal and opposite steps).

• The weight should be on the post foot, lead with hip while staying within the cylinder (center of mass) creating relative position on the defender.

• Control the inside shoulder of the defender and anticipate a counter. Have a slight shoulder tilt with inside shoulder up, which will help create balance.

 

OUTSIDE MOVE

• Outside move of a defender – kick slide maintaining relative position do not set past the midline of the defender.

• If the feet are too narrow the offensive lineman will loose leverage and power. Maintain a base of support with positive shin angles and stay within the cylinder (center of mass).

• Keep the feet on the same angle if not the shoulders and hips will external rotate. Have a slight shoulder tilt with the outside shoulder up, which will help create balance

PASS BLOCKING PROGRESSION

5. THE PUNCH: Maintain balance, base of support, and leverage when delivering the punch. The punch must be upward and out. The punch is short extension and must be explosive. Only one punch and hook up on the defender.

1SPLIT

2STANCE

3THE SET

4MIRROR

5 THE PUNCH

Never punch off the post foot always punch off the kick foot. Use the post foot for power and the set foot for balance. Maintain a post stagger relationship. The punch starts at the shoulders and extends through the elbow, wrist, and hands. The punch is an extension of the body and creates space and time.

PASS BLOCKING PROGRESSION

6. THE RECOVERY: After initial contact with the pass rusher the offensive linemen will have to regain or adjust their position on the pass rusher. Keep relative position (inside out position) as well as keep shoulders square.

1SPLIT

2STANCE

3THE SET

4MIRROR

5 THE PUNCH

6RECO

Linemen must have the ability to redirect their feet after the initial contact. Keep the eyes on the landmark. After the blocker sets and punches, he now has to maintain contact with the rusher, allowing as little closure to the quarterback as possible.

THE TWO POINT

STANCE

TWO POINT STANCECOMPONENTS OF THE 2 POINT STANCE:

1. Feet shoulder width.2. Instep to toe or heel relationship, (post foot and set foot

aligned at a 45 degree stagger). Stagger may vary. Weight distribution is on the insteps of the feet or the mid-foot below the balls of the feet.

3. Toe on set foot back and slightly out (toe out slightly); keeping the knee inside the ankle. The post foot toed out slightly.

4. Inside hand, forearm on thigh board with hand open relaxed and ready to strike.5. Outside hand on thigh board.6. Flat back (find the wall).7. Head is up to scan the defense.8. Chin is tucked.

RIGHT AND LEFT HANDED STANCES

FOOT PLACEMENT FOR THE RIGHT AND LEFT HANDED STANCE

Left handed stance Right handed stance

Set foot Post foot Post foot Set foot

THE PASSING AREA

The Passing Area LOS

3 Yds.

COMBAT ZONE

PASSING AREA

9 Yds.

• The passing area is 9 yards in depth from the line of scrimmage and 3 yards in depth from the line of scrimmage to the passing area. In between is the combat zone.

• In pass protection schemes the tackles have the width of the pocket.  • In pass protection schemes the center and guards have the depth of the pocket.• The goal in any pass protection scheme is to keep defenders out of the passing area.• By flattening and stretching defenders offensive linemen can keep defenders out of

the passing area.

 

Copyright © 2012, Ken Wilmesherr and Grossmont College. All rights reserved

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