what are defensive line techniques

Defensive Line Drills and Technique

• Stance
• Eyes on target - key
• Takeoff
• Blow delivery
• Block escape
• Pursue to the ball My my philosophy starts off with being fundamentally sound and that starts with the stance. When I talk about our stance from the three down front, it is a balanced stance. ...
• Individual player strengths and weaknesses
• Positional groups strengths and weaknesses

Full Answer

What makes a good defensive lineman?

• Super strong
• Explosive
• Quick
• Fast for five yards
• A great technician
• Able to use his strength on the field
• Most well-conditioned player on the field
• An animal on the field

How to develop a defensive lineman?

• Learn agility drills that enable players to have quicker hands, quicker feet, and quicker hips
• Discover the "difference," which is the Rutgers way of blow delivery with hand placement as well as how to disengage from the defender
• Learn a drill progression teaching defensive lineman to "set the edge" in a physical demeanor

What are defensive line techniques?

What are defensive line techniques? A 1-technique means lining up just to one side of the center, 3 technique on the outside shoulder of a guard, and 5 technique on the outside shoulder of a tackle. Lining up on the outside shoulder of the tight end is actually a 9 technique, and the inside shoulder of the TE is a 7 technique.

What are defensive line techniques in football?

What are the defensive line techniques?

• Technique: The defender lines up on the center’s outside shoulder.
• Technique: The defender lines up on the guard’s inside shoulder.
• Technique: The defender lines up on the guard’s outside shoulder, between the guard and the tackle.

What is a 3 technique defensive lineman?

The 3 Technique is the defensive pre-snap positioning where the defensive linemen position themselves on the outside shoulder of the offensive guard. They will be shaded toward the offensive tackle on that side of the field. Back in the day, the 3 Technique was used almost exclusively in a base 4-3 defense.

What is a 5 technique defensive tackle?

5-techniques align on the outside shoulder of the offensive tackle. Similar to 4-techs, the 5-technique has to be sturdy in run defense while still having pass rush ability. 5-techs are prominent in 3-4 defenses. In 3-4 defenses, 5-techs are asked to both two-gap and one-gap.

What makes a good defensive line?

The defensive lineman should be able to make the proper adjustments and adapt to changing situations. He has to be able to recognize offensive blocking patterns quickly and respond with an immediate physical action. Consistency. The defensive lineman must demonstrate reliability and consistency under pressure.

What is the purpose of defensive line?

The defensive line attempts to maintain their original formation (even spacing without holes), but also to prevent any members of the opposing offensive line from successfully engaging the linebackers, who chase down the ball carrier. The defensive tackles are usually the most skilled run defenders on the team.

What is a 7 technique in football?

A 7 technique in football refers to a defensive lineman position that lines up on the tight end's inside shoulder. A seven technique defensive end is usually used in a 4-3 defensive formation. When lining up the seven tech is going to be between the tight end and the offensive tackle.

What is an 8 technique in football?

In many situations, most often the goal line, two or more tight ends may line up on the same side of the formation. The 8-technique then is responsible for engulfing the H-Back, or the flanking tight end, and stopping runs to both sides of that man.

What do coaches look for in a defensive end?

Their “Critical Factors” at the defensive end position are: size, explosion, and first step. That's why the 10-yard dash makes so much more sense than a 40-yard dash. Coaches really want to see the first step and first three steps more than down line, straight ahead speed.

What do scouts look for in defensive ends?

A defensive end must be able to hold his ground in the run and pass game and not give up yardage by being driven off the ball. You want to see a player be able to hold strength in his lower body and drive up the hands and upper body of a blocker. 5.

How do you train like a defensive end?

Train your lower body for strength and speed. Defensive ends are all-around players, so you need to keep your upper and lower body equally strong. Good lower body workouts include crunches, squats, deadlifts, leg lifts, leg extensions, leg curls, leg presses, and calf raises.

What is the strongest position in football?

The toughest position both mentally and physically is offensive line. The offensive line is demanding in that the mental part is difficult, but also extremely demanding physically. Offensive linemen are usually the toughest players on the field.

What are the different techniques in football?

Here are our top 7 football training techniques you should be thinking about to improve your game.Dribbling Drills. Starting off with some dribbling drills is a great way to warm up. ... Shooting Drills. ... Crossing Drills. ... Turning Drills. ... Tackling Drills. ... Heading Drills. ... Passing Drills.

What is a 1 Tech in football?

The 1-technique is also referred to as Nose Tackle, and is very similar to 0-technique in that they both play over the center. The defining difference between the two, is the 1-technique shades over one of the shoulders of the center and usually is responsible for just one gap.

What are the 5 technique?

5 technique – An alignment and technique designation for defensive linemen. A 5 technique player is commonly a defensive end in a 3-4 front, and aligns directly across from the offensive tackle. The player is responsible for the two gaps (B & C) on either side of the offensive tackle. (Example: Richard Seymour)

What is a 5 Tech football?

5-Technique: The defender lines up on the tackle's outside shoulder. 6-Technique: The defender lines up on the tight end's inside shoulder or (if there is no tight end) about 1.5 yards wide of the tackle.

What is a 1 technique defensive tackle?

The 1-technique is also referred to as Nose Tackle, and is very similar to 0-technique in that they both play over the center. The defining difference between the two, is the 1-technique shades over one of the shoulders of the center and usually is responsible for just one gap.

What is a 6-technique in football?

6-techniques align directly over the tight end. If no tight end is present, but the defender is still aligned outside the frame of the tackle (where a tight end would be), they are called a 6-technique. The alignment names still apply regardless of whether a tight end is present to align over.

What is the role of a defensive lineman in a football game?

Defensive lineman is in charge of controlling the line of scrimmage. Teams who control the line of scrimmage on either side of the ball typically win the game. In order to control the line of scrimmage, defenses need to defend gaps. What are gaps?

How many defensive linemen line up in a defensive front?

Defensive fronts are often identified with where the 4 or 3 defensive linemen line up. The most common fronts are identified as follows:

What Are Gaps In Football?

Gaps are the areas between two players that create “holes” for running backs to run through. The bigger the gap, the easier it is for a running back to run full speed through it.

What are the gaps between the offensive lineman and the center?

Gaps are the space between the offensive lineman. Between the center and the guard is the A-Gap, between the guard and tackle is the B-Gap, between the tackle and tight end is the C-Gap, and outside out the tight end is the D-gap. Defenses must cover these gaps to stop an effective rushing attack. In this article, we’re going to show you ...

What does the smaller the gap mean in football?

The smaller the gap – it forces running backs to slow down or bounce it to the outside. This is what the defense ultimately strives to do – slow the offense and make them work laterally. Typically, the offense will displace the defensive lineman from their position to try to create these holes.

What is the nose line in football?

The nose is typically lined up over the center, whether that be in a 0 or 1 technique. The other 2 interior linemen are lining up over the guard, either in a 2, 2i or a 3 technique. This covers the interior lineman and typically allows linebackers to roam free in between the tackles.

What are the gaps in a line?

The gaps are as follows: A-Gap – The area between the Center and Guard (on both sides of the line). Protecting the A gaps are most important, as the A gaps are the shortest path to the end zone. B-Gap – The area between the Guard and Tackle (on both sides of the line).

How to teach defensive drills?

Always start with movement when coaching a defensive drill. Move your foot, the ball, a ball on a stick, or whatever it may be , but start with movement. Never go on sound. Hips and Hands: When teaching defensive techniques, you must emphasize the hips and hands of the defenders.

How to attack a blocker in a 3 technique?

As he comes out of his stance and delivers the blow, he uses the inside hand. We want to strike the blocker on the breastplate and let the hand slide upward to the throat of the blocker on the lockout movement. The other hand goes to the outside of the shoulder.

What is round bag drill?

The round bag drill is to teach the punch. They are smaller than the normal dummy. It makes the lineman keep his elbows tight to his rib cage and punch with his thumbs up. We do not want to hit a big bag. The smaller the bag, the smaller the target. Elbows in and thumbs up.

How many players are in a basketball drill?

We start with four players aligned on the tip of the ball. The coach moves the ball, and they get off. The coach moves the ball. We film the drills and see who reacts first. There is competition within the drills. We point those things out when we watch the film of the drills.

What to do when you are a head coach?

If the head coach gives you a job, do it immediately. All players want discipline and structure. Coach your best players the hardest; Elevate the room. If someone is in a hole, throw them a rope, not a shovel, coach positive. Most people know what to do, few people do it.

How to exercise your hands?

An exercise you can do with your players illustrates the movement of the hands. Have your player stand with their arm extended in front of their chest. Have them roll their arms until the thumbs are pointing up. Then have them put their wrists together. They should experience the tightening and pull in their shoulder muscles. Striking with the thumbs up uses the proper muscles.

What is a 5 technique?

Much like the 0-technique, the traditional 5-technique is a two-gap player, lining up directly over the offensive tackle, he is responsible for the B and C gaps on his side of the formation . He has to be able to stack tall offensive tackles and shed blocks to make the stop in either of his gaps. Nose tackles rely largely on their mass to control blockers and gaps, but defensive ends from the 5-technique have to be able to handle offensive tackles, who have grown into man mountains over the past decades. This is why part of the scouting profile for these players isn’t just size, but ‘length’ (height and arm length combined).#N#.#N#Though he has seen his game time curtailed over the past few seasons through injury and the ever increasing use of sub-packages in nickel and dime situations, the prototype NFL 5-technique player remains former Patriot Ty Warren. Warren is quite possibly the NFL’s best run stuffer from the 3-4 DE spot and he has the prototypical length (6’5) and size (300+lbs) that teams look for.#N#.#N#You might ask why I’m not listing Justin Smith, a player we regard as clearly the best 3-4 end in football, in this spot. The answer is because Smith often doesn’t play the traditional 5-technique in the 49ers’ defense, and does much of his damage inside as a DT in their sub packages (in more of a 3-technique role), and often knifes into gaps while shaded slightly to either side of the tackle (in more a 4 or 6-technique). He is certainly well capable of playing the 5, and would be a perfectly reasonable example, but if coaches were drawing up a player for the traditional 2-gap 5-technique role, he would look like Ty Warren.#N#.#N#Alternative prototypes: Stephen Bowen, Kendall Langford, Shaun Smith#N#.#N#.

What is the 0 technique in football?

The 0-technique plays head-up over the center, and is responsible for defending both A-gaps (between the guards and the center). His job is to control the center, often draw a double team from a guard, and still be able to prevent the run from going right up the gut. That’s why traditional 3-4 NTs are monsters. Wilfork is listed at 325lbs, but he looks a lot bigger than that, and it’s his sheer size and strength that allows him to anchor inside and control multiple, smaller, blockers at the point of attack.#N#.#N#With various one-gap 3-4 systems around these days, you find players that play the 0 technique position, but instead of playing both A gaps, they’ll shoot one and rely on linebackers behind them to plug the other. These players rely on speed and athleticism off the ball rather than size and bulk. The Cowboys under Wade Phillips were fond of this type of defense and Jay Ratliff was particularly adept at disrupting plays in the backfield from his NT spot.#N#.#N#Alternative prototypes: Aubrayo Franklin, Paul Soliai, Sione Pouha#N#.#N#.

What is nose tackle?

Nose tackles rely largely on their mass to control blockers and gaps, but defensive ends from the 5-technique have to be able to handle offensive tackles, who have grown into man mountains over the past decades.

What is the difference between a 1 and 0 technique?

The 1-technique does much the same as the 0-technique, except he is shaded over the inside shoulder of one of the guards, and is rarely expected to control two gaps. He is, however, expected to command a double team from the center and guard, which frees up other linemen to be one on one with their blockers.

Where does the 9 technique line up?

The 9-technique lines up well outside the offensive tackle, and outside even the tight end if there is one on that side of the formation. If there isn’t a tight end there, the alignment can look almost comical with the defensive end maintaining width to be able to attack the passer.

Which is better, a 6 or 7 technique DE or a speed rushing DRE?

Because they’re often forced to fight through a double team or at least a chip from the TE, and they face the ‘power’ right tackle, the 6 or 7-technique DE is usually a more powerful player than the speed rushing DRE, and almost always a better run defender. . Ray Edwards is the prototype for this type of player.

Is Edwards a good run defender?

Edwards is a strong run defender who has enough pass rushing skills to be able to beat his man with speed or power. There are better run defenders as 4-3 DEs in the NFL, but they just don’t happen to play the 6 or 7-technique much.

How to do a defensive lineman drill?

The defensive lineman should start the drill in a four-point stance, with both hands on the ground. When the drill starts, he'll make his way around the bags by bear crawling. Once he gets beyond the last bag, he'll start running around the cone. He'll then head to the stand-up dummy and perform a tackle on it.

What is the difference between offensive and defensive linemen?

The difference between the two positions is what comes next. Offensive linemen will attempt to engage with the defender so he can block him . Defensive linemen, meanwhile, will attempt to get by the offensive lineman so he can get to the quarterback or ball carrier.

What happens if a defensive lineman deals a first blow?

If defensive linemen can deal an effective first blow, then they'll be able to knock the offensive lineman off-balance, thereby gaining leverage on the block and giving him a better chance of shedding the block and getting into the backfield.

What is the drill called when a defensive lineman is thrown a double team block?

3. Punch and Evade. This defensive line drill is very similar in concept to an offensive lineman drill that’s called "Set and Punch. ".

What is the most important thing a defensive lineman must do?

One of the most important things a defensive lineman must do is avoid letting an offensive lineman get their hands on their body. Once an offensive lineman places his hands on the defensive lineman's body, then he’ll be able to establish leverage and move him in whatever direction he wants to more easily.

What is the job of a nose tackle?

Every day, nose tackles, defensive tackles, and defensive ends are tasked with causing disruption along the line of scrimmage, gobbling up big offensive linemen to free up other tacklers, stopping running backs from big gains, and sacking the quarterback.

What is the job of a first level blocker?

The first-level blocker will try to block the defensive lineman low. The defender's job is to take on and shed that block, then get to his left. He'll then be met by the second-level blocker, who will block him high, trying to push the defender to his right, away from the ball carrier.

What is the drill called when you play against a zone read team?

The first drill is what we call a "reach/gather" drill. (Diagram #1) When we play against an option or zone read team, the 5-techique defender has to play the down block. It does not have to be the 5-technique; it could be a linebacker or secondary defender reading the key. However, the defender has to play the down block and be in a position to play the quarterback. The defenders want to squeeze to the inside and close the running lane inside. That is what the reach and gather drill does.

How to play 3 point stance?

The players start in 3-point stance. I have a ball on a stick for their takeoff movement. On movement of the ball they take an attack step. That is a two-foot takeoff step. They want to pressure the hips down and come under control. The coach stands behind the first cone and points to another cone. When the coach points the player moves to that next cone.

Why do we do combination drills?

We went to a combination of skills to allow success. We do the drills in a progression, where the players are taking the next step to the skill. When we do a combination drill we are not working on one specific aspect but a group of skills.

What are the drills in the development phase?

Those are things we can do every day. In the spring I want to concentrate on our long range drills. These drill are drills in the development phase. These drills are the little things such as takeoff, hand placement, blow delivery, and shedding blocks. We must master the little things, which we call "the fundamentals."

What is a 3 point layout drill?

The "3-point lay-out drill" is a sled drill. (Diagram #4) The players work this drill from a 3-point stance. There is no footwork involved in this drill. It is what it says it is. It is a lay-out thrust by the player. It is to a six-point stance from a three-point stance. This drill is like a sprinter coming out of the blocks. We want the players to explode out of their stance, generate their power from the hips, and launch into the sled.

When we move the feet, do we want to steer the blocker or squeeze down?

When we move the feet, we want to steer the blocker or squeeze down. If the blocker is coming at the defense, we steer the blocker. If he is going away from the defender, we squeeze.

How to work to the second cone?

As they work to the second cone, the idea is in keeping the feet inside the framework of the body. It like a basketball shuffle except it is bigger and it covers move ground. We want to gain ground on those steps. When we step to the second cone, we want to lead step on an angle. We want to reach with the lead foot and gather with the trail foot. We never want the heels to come together. We want to reach with the lead step and gather with the trail foot, but keep a good fundamental position. If the feet come together, there is no balance.

What are the three techniques in defensive tackle?

Each side of the line has all of the techniques, zero through nine. There is only one technique that lines up across the Center, the zero tech. Next comes the Guard, they have three techniques associated with them – one, two, and three. Both sides left and right, have the same number values associated with them. The one tech plays on the inside shoulder of the guard. (This is Star Lotulelei’s role .) The inside shoulder is the one closest to the center. A two-tech is playing head upon the Guard. Finally, a three tech is playing on the outside shoulder of the guard, meaning they line up closer to the guard but, in between the guard and tackle. These techniques pertain to defensive tackles more than ends because ends are lining up in outside techniques using numbers four through nine.

How to play defensive end?

Defensive Ends will line up on the Tackles and Tight Ends; that’s where the other techniques are used. Starting with lining up on the tackles they are assigned values four and five. A four tech DE lines up head up on the tackle. For a five-technique, the end would line up on the outside shoulder of the Tackle. This means they would be the player on the end of the line if there is no tight end. If there is a tight end present then the six, seven, and nine techniques come out. For a six tech, the end would line up right over the Tight End; for seven he would play on the inside shoulder of the Tight End. The final technique is a nine, this is the outside most person on the line and they play outside of the Tight End.

What are the gaps between the center and the guards?

The gaps on each side between the Center and Guards are the A-gaps. In between the Guards and Tackles is the B-gap, outside the tackles is the C-gap. If a Tight End is present then a D-gap also exists, the D-gap is outside the Tight End. The job of each defensive lineman is to make sure nothing goes through their designated gap on any given play.

What is a good defensive lineman?

A good defensive lineman always has a plan for rushing the quarterback. This drill works on a specific pass rush move that’ll come in handy.

Where to line up for a tackle?

Line up on the outside shoulder of one of the tackles.

How to play O Lineman?

Line up in a good stance over the shoulder of a teammate. Have your teammate, acting as the o-lineman, extend his arms straight out. Fire off the ball and put your hands on the underside of the o-lineman’s arms. Push him up violently while also flipping your hips toward the backfield. Stay tight to the o-lineman as you get around him, ...

How to stop blockers from kicking you out?

Once you identify him, meet the blocker by hitting his inside number with your outside shoulder and ripping your outside arm through. Called “wrong-arming,” this will prevent the blocker from kicking you out to create a hole, forcing the back to either bounce it outside or put you in position to make a tackle if he tries to squeeze it inside. Work on wrong-arming both fullbacks and pulling guards from both sides of the line.

How do defensive linemen rush?

Standing behind his unit, the offensive line coach selects a specific defender to rush, while the defensive line coach stands behind his unit and indicates the snap count. On the snap, all five defenders take two steps at full speed, as if they are rushing, but only the selected player continues rushing. He must find a way to reach the quarterback in less than four seconds using any technique he chooses. After four seconds the whistle blows, indicating a thrown pass, and the defensive lineman must halt his rush and sprint back down the field as if pursuing the ball.

Who was the first defensive lineman to use karate?

Randy White, the Dallas Cowboys Hall of Famer, was one of the first defensive linemen to use karate training, a discipline that has become more popular in football today. Hand fighting is a skill that all defensive linemen must learn. It can be done without pads on, making it ideal for spring workouts, especially at the high school level, where players may not be allowed to wear pads.

How to do an offensive MMA drill?

In this drill, two players stand across from each other at no more than arm’s length. The “offensive” player repeatedly attempt s to strike the defender’s chest with his hands. The defensive player must react quickly to keep his opponent’s hands away. At no time during the drill should either player move his feet. Beginners should focus on knocking away the hands, but experienced players can practice more complicated techniques such as arm-overs and rips. (See Build Your Own MMA Conditioning Circuit .)

What is the drill on the whistle?

On the whistle, the defensive player must fight across the face of the offensive lineman. This drill can be made more difficult for experienced players by adding a ball carrier who must be tackled if the defensive lineman can regain leverage and escape the blocker.

How Does The Defense Control The Line of Scrimmage?

Defensive Techniques & Alignments

• The defensive lineman’s alignment and control of the line of scrimmage is a large part of stopping the run game. Players are positioned in specific gaps and techniques to ensure they can maintain their gap integrity. Let’s take another look at the image by Dub Maddox to understand the defensive techniques.

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Defensive Fronts & Alignments

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