Fighting off blocks
Defensive players must use their hands — and good footwork — to fend off blocks. The defensive lineman’s hands are one his greatest assets, because he can use them to push and shove an offensive lineman out of the way or to knock the opposing player’s arms off him. The following are several techniques defensive linemen can use to shed blockers and make tackles on running plays:
⻬Hand shiver:The defender extends his arms (see Figure 10-3) and drives his hands into the offensive lineman’s chest or shoulder pads.
The arms lock to keep the blocker at arm’s length so the defender can get free and make a tackle. He keeps his elbows under his shoulders; if his elbows are wide, the blocker can push into the defender’s body and the strength of the blocker’s legs can overpower the defender.
⻬Forearm shiver:Players can use this tactic to get the blocker’s hands off the defender’s body. The defender charges into the blocker with his shoulder, aiming at chest level at the numbers on the player’s jersey. As he makes contact with his shoulder, he lifts his arm up and through the blocker (see Figure 10-4). His arm should be at a 90-degree angle at the shoulder and elbow, and the forearm should be flat against the blocker’s body, parallel to the ground. After the offensive player’s momentum has slowed, the defensive player uses his other hand to push the player away.
Figure 10-2:
The four- point stance is usually used in short- yardage situations.
⻬Blast and control:A defender uses this technique against blockers who aim high on the defender’s body. The defender drives into the blocker’s chest, and his hands hit near the low part of the blocker’s numbers (see Figure 10-5). From there, the defender uses the hand shiver at the player’s upper chest and shoulder pads to control the offensive lineman’s charge, fight off the block, and pursue making a tackle.
Leverage and pressure are the keys to strong play along the defensive line.
Defensive linemen must stay as low as possible, maintaining leverage against the offensive linemen so they don’t allow themselves to be pushed around.
To keep a low center of gravity, players must keep their knees slightly bent and their feet wide. Their head must be up at all times so they can see what’s going on in front of them, and they should keep their feet moving. They also need to apply constant pressure and vary the types of techniques they use to keep the opposing linemen off guard.
Figure 10-4:
The forearm shiver uses a forceful attack with the shoulder.
Figure 10-3:
The hand shiver helps players break free from an offensive lineman’s block.
Rushing the passer
Being a successful pass rusher requires a combination of speed, strength, and the ability to use a variety of moves to keep the offensive linemen guessing.
In order to reach the quarterback, a defensive player has to get around the offensive lineman with speed and quickness or overpower him. Here’s a look at some basic pass rush techniques:
⻬Bull rush:This technique (see Figure 10-6) is typically the base of all types of pass-rushing moves. The bull rush, which works well for heavier players who can use their momentum to their advantage, is an aggressive move aimed at knocking the offensive lineman down. It’s especially effective against an offensive lineman who retreats quickly at the snap of the ball and is leaning back on his heels.
To execute this play, the offensive lineman rushes hard at the blocker, slamming the heels of his hands into the outer edges of the offensive lineman’s chest or under his arms, and drives hard with the legs. When using this move, the defensive linemen looks to either knock the offensive player onto his back so he has a clear path to the quarterback or to use a series of pushes to keep the lineman moving backward until he can reach the passer.
⻬Swim move:This move is most often used when the offensive lineman is lower than the defender. With his hands on the chest of the blocker, the defender begins his rush to either the inside or outside of the field. The blocker reacts by turning slightly in the direction the defender is headed, which brings one of the blocker’s shoulders forward. The defender reaches straight across (behind the blocker’s forward shoulder) and pulls that shoulder toward him. As this movement knocks the blocker off balance, the defender uses a swimming stroke to punch his hand over the blocker’s forward shoulder (see Figure 10-7). As the shoulder is pulled down, the Figure 10-5:
Defenders use the blast-and- control technique against blockers aiming high.
defender’s opposite knee drives behind the blocker’s nearest leg. After the defender’s foot is past the offensive lineman, the move is complete and the blocker has little chance of recovering.
⻬Rip move:This technique, also known as a speed rush, is used most often by defensive linemen who are lower than the blocker. The defensive lineman dips his shoulder nearest the blocker, which gives the blocker less of the lineman’s body to block. The defensive lineman then uses his leverage arm, which is the arm closest to the blocker, to deliver an upper- cut to the blocker’s armpit. The uppercut forces the blocker’s arm upward and makes him turn slightly, which opens the way for the pass rusher to get past him.
Figure 10-7:
Defenders use the swim move to get by blockers.
Figure 10-6:
The bull rush takes advantage of offensive linemen who retreat on their heels.
Even if the defensive player isn’t able to get to the quarterback or make a big play, an effective pass rush can produce other benefits. If the blocker has to resort to holding the defensive player, that’s a 10-yard penalty against the offense, which is almost as good as a sack. So be sure to applaud your players when they’re able to force penalties from the opposition.
A good pass rusher keeps the following tips in mind:
⻬Be fast off the ball.The instant there’s movement on the offensive line, the defensive player should move forward. Of course, moving immediately is ideal for running plays too, but it’s vital for getting to the quarterback or at least disrupting his throw. You want the defensive lineman to get his hands on the opponent first as soon as the ball is snapped.
⻬Aim for the quarterback’s back shoulder to force the quarterback to step forward in the pocket, where there are other defenders. Otherwise, if the rusher takes an inside route, the quarterback can sidestep him and move to the outside, where he may have additional time to roam around and look for an open receiver or scramble downfield for big yardage.
⻬Wrap him up.A pass rusher’s job isn’t done when he gets by his blocker and reaches the quarterback. Now he’s got to finish the job. That means wrapping his arms around the quarterback so he can’t get off the pass.
If the rusher goes for the quarterback’s legs, he may still be able to get off a throw before going down. (See the later section titled “Proper tackling technique” for the methods defenders should use when sacking the quarterback.) The pass rusher can alternately put his hands in the air to obstruct the quarterback’s vision and make getting the pass off more difficult.
Troubleshooting the d-line
Keep an eye out for some of these problems, which players along the defensive line encounter:
⻬Reacts to the play slowly:When the player takes his stance, make sure his head is up and that he’s looking straight ahead. Sometimes players on the defensive line tend to let their heads drop, which slows their reaction time. A defensive lineman’s eyes should be on the player across from him so he can move as soon as the offensive lineman moves. The defender should also steal glances toward the center to check where the ball is. Use drills that force defenders to react to the snap. As soon as the center makes the slightest movement with the ball, the defenders should get their hands up into the offensive linemen across from them.
⻬Isn’t beating the offensive lineman: Often when players use the bull rush or swim move, they play too high or don’t get their hands inside to the proper position. In addition to making sure the kids use proper form,
watch to make sure defenders use plenty of force. Sometimes youngsters are reluctant to strike the opponent with their hands while executing these techniques.
Linebackers
To excel at the linebacker position, youngsters must learn the art of fighting off blocks and making tackles. Here are some key techniques to share with kids in these areas.
Proper stance
Here’s the proper stance that enables linebackers to move quickly in any direction: