As the second half of the season is set to begin the Tri-City Outlaws bring their 3-1 record back home to the friendly confines of Centennial Stadium tomorrow night to take on the 0-4 Toronto Raiders. The Raiders will be fired up as they try to turn their season around. Unfortunately for them, the Outlaws are pretty upset about the blemish on their record and have decided to take it out on everyone. Kick-off is at 7pm on Saturday June 27th. See you there!

Tip - Teach blocks slowly at half-speed at first. Allow your players to understand first how it feels to be in a proper stance, how to take the first step with proper leg drive and "fit" into the defender.

Offensive Line Drills

Objective - Teach linemen the correct way to "start", or fire out from their stance.

Action - For this offensive line drill, position your linemen along the line of scrimmage. At the coach's signal, have the offensive linemen "fire out" of their stances.

Coaching Details - In their stance, linemen's feet should be shoulder-width apart and pointed straight ahead. Teach offensive line players to step out with the back foot to maintain their base as the first step out replaces their down hand. The head should remain up, the back flat as they take quick steps out. Be sure your players stay low as they roll over the up foot with the knee pointing to the ground.

2) Fit Drill

Objective - To teach the straight ahead base block.

Action - Align three or four defenders in the standing "fit" position with three or four offensive linemen in front of them. The linemen should be set in their stances. At the snap, have the linemen explode either right or left into the defenders as they perform a basic drive block.

Coaching Details - Watch for good stances and leg follow-through during this offensive line drill. Make sure players' backs are arched, butts are down and their heads are up "seeing" the defender's jersey number. On contact, the elbows should be in with palms near the bottom of the defender's shoulder pad breastplate.

3) Fit Follow-Through Drill

Objective - To teach proper follow-through when blocking.

Action - Instead of lining your linemen up in their stances, have the offensive line drill start with them already in the "fit" position against the defender. At the coach's signal, the offensive line players will roll their hips and accelerate forward. The idea is to teach the players to drive the defenders back until the coach blows the whistle.

Coaching Details - Watch for proper hip roll and foot acceleration. Don't allow your blockers to over-extend and lose proper leverage during this offensive line drill.

Offensive Line Drills for the Pass Game:

I. Stance:

Begin with a Pass Set and what it should both look and feel like

A.  Boxer Drill:  3” Punch Drill from Upright Stance (Stay Relaxed)

• Feet -  Slightly Wider than Armpits, Slight Stagger with outside foot back
• Knees  - flexed with weight placed on the insteps,
• Back -  Flattened
• Arms and Hands – elbows in and bent, hands up and fingers curled
• Head – Chin back
• Deliver short 6” jab

B.  Push / Pull Drill: Defender grab OL between shoulder blades placing opposite hand into sternum.  OL has hands behind back. 

• Base / Balance Points of Emphasis

C. Blind Man Bluff Drill:  

• Emphasize Proper stance throughout.  Balance and Stance are key. 

D. Balance / Retreat Drill:  Head and Weight Back

II. Punch Drills

Incorporating the Hands in Pass Blocking (Gloves)

A.  Stationary Punch: 

• Short, 6” upward punch.  Emphasize timing and proper blow delivery

B.  Machine Gun Drill: (Shackles)

• Timing - Arm / Elbow Extension.  Upward Angle on Blow

C. 3 Man Recognition Drill:

• Reaction and Delivery of Punch

D.   Walk and Punch: 

• Timing – Position of Hands -  Target

III. Medicine Balls

A.   Partner Prone Position Drill:  Reaction – Hands Away from Sternum

B.   Partner Shuffle Drill:  Keeping Hands Up – Reacting to Moving Object

C.   Partner Stance Drill:  Quickness of Hand Positioning and Timing

IV:  Mirror Dodge Drills

Partner Drills

A. Blind Man Drill:  Contact and Pressure

B. Mirror Dodge Retreat:  No Hands / Incorporate Hands

C. Mirror Dodge Side to Side:  No Hands / Incorporate Hands

IV. Pass Sets:  Begin on Air (Cones)

A. Tackles:  Angle of Departure – Emphasize Depth of Set 

B. Guards:  Covered vs. Uncovered – Inside / Outside or Head Up – Head (Eyes) Always Inside

C. Centers:  Drop Step Based on Width of DL – Hand Positioning

D. All:  Inside Move by DL – Twists – Stunts, etc.

Group pass pro

Mirror drill

3 Men Kick and Punch

A drill to teach O-lineman (especially Tackles) how to kick for depth and width, while maintaining their upright demeanor and deliver a punch

Baseball Swing and Punch

A drill to teach the offensive lineman how to get out of his stance quickly, efficiently and ready to pass protectand width, while maintaining their upright demeanor and deliver a punch

Blind Push

A drill to teach offensive lineman the upright demeanor used in pass protection

Mirror Dodge Drill

An Offensive Line Pass Protection Drill that emphasizes the proper body/hand postion, footwork and over all protection mechanics

Read more: Offensive Line Drills: Passblocking - http://www.footballdrills.com/offensive-line-drills/passblocking.html#ixzz0CPMPsKHL