DEFENSIVE LINE HANDS DRILLS
In this article I am going to focus on the multiple ways a defensive lineman can use his hands to defeat blockers. The drills that I am going to breakdown focus on teaching defensive linemen how to improve their hand speed, technique, and aggression when attacking an offensive lineman. With each one of these drills an emphasis is placed on hand placement and separation, which is essential to having great technique. The four drills that are going to be presented are: 3 Shield Hand Violence, Helmet Hands, Rapid Fire, and 4-Way Hands. Each one of these drills has a stimulus that requires a response. In this case, the response will be shooting your hands as quickly as possible to the designated target area. In the game the very first stimulus is always the ball, and I use a ball in almost every drill we do for the defensive line. These drills do not require a ball because you are not using your feet to gain ground. The focus is on reacting with quick hands and striking accurately with force.
3 Shield Hand Violence
Purpose: To improve hand speed from the ground to the target and emphasize locking out an opponent to get separation before escaping. Stimulus = shields approaching defender.
Equipment needed: 3 hand shields
Setting up the drill: Have three players hold one shield each. One defensive lineman will line up on all fours in a six-point stance with fingers touching the ground. The players holding the shields will line up directly in front of the defender in the shape of a triangle, two shields side by side and slightly turned in towards the defender. The third shield is centered directly behind the front two.
Executing the drill: The coach designates which one of the players with the first two shields will start the drill. On the coach’s signal the player designated to begin the drill will quickly step towards the defender with his shield. The defender must shoot his hands from the ground as quickly as possible and lock out the pad and return his hands to the ground directly after. The player holding the shield will slide off to the side and the second player holding the next shield will quickly step towards the defender in the same way the first player did. The defender repeats the same action with his hands. Finally, the player holding the third shield will step straight ahead toward the defender and the defender will finish the drill by fully locking out the pad with a flat back, grabbing cloth, and eyes staring through the target.
Reps: Depending on time, each player will get 1 to 2 reps.
Coaching Point: Eyes, head, and thumbs up every time the defender shoots his hands and locks out the pads. Hands should quickly recoil after each strike and fingers go back to the ground before striking the next pad. On the last pad the defender should NEVER allow his body to touch the ground while locking out (D-linemen can’t make plays lying on their stomachs). If they keep their eyes up with a bulled neck, and a flat back, the hips will follow with explosion.
Helmet Hands
Purpose: To improve response/reaction to stimulus and focus on hand placement and separation. Also a good competition drill to see who has the quickest hands. Stimulus = Whistle.
Equipment needed: None
Setting up the drill: Pair up each player with a partner of similar height. Each player will line up helmet to helmet and lean on the crown of their partner’s helmet. Feet are armpit width apart and hands behind their backs.
Executing the drill: On the whistle every player will shoot their hands from behind their backs and to the V of the neck of their partners. The partner with his hands inside and locked out, wins. Reload and go again.
Reps: This is a quick group drill that can be done many times within 60 seconds. Use the time as you see fit during individual period or during a special teams period that your defensive linemen are not involved with.
Rapid Fire
Purpose: To focus on being physical with hands, separation, hips and escapes. Stimulus = Next man up.
Equipment needed: None
Setting up the drill: Have 3 players line up one behind the other at 4-yards apart (they are your blockers). The player starting the drill lines up directly in front of the first player in the line in a low 2-point stance.
Executing the drill: On the whistle the first blocker will attack the defender straight on like a drive block. The defender must attack the blocker by stepping up, shooting his hands to the V of the neck, locking out and escaping the blocker. As soon as the defender escapes, the #2 blocker will attack and the defender attacks and escapes him. After #2 is out of the way, #3 will repeat and complete the process to finish the drill. The defender now becomes the #3 blocker and #3 becomes #2, and #2 becomes #1 and the first blocker goes to the back of the line of defenders.
Reps: Since 1 rep equals 3 in this drill, do 1 to 2 reps as your time permits.
Coaching Point: If the defender escapes the first block to the left, then the next should be to the right and so on. Do not allow players to get caught up in trying to go fast and sacrificing good technique. Make sure they are using hands and hips properly before speeding up the pace.
4 Way Hands
Purpose: To teach 4 different ways of getting and keeping an offensive lineman’s hands off of you in pass rush situations. Stimulus = Hands of offensive lineman..
Equipment needed: None
Setting up the drill: Players will partner up by standing across from each other at arm’s length. One side is offense and one side defense. After the first set, the offense becomes defense and vice versa.
Executing the drill: The offensive player will shoot his hands to the chest of the defender. After each move is complete, the offense shoots his hands right back up again. The defender must get rid of the offense’s hands by using 1 of 4 moves:
1. Left Outside Hand Knockdown (OHK) – Take your left hand and swipe the outside of the right hand of the offensive player at the wrist, forcing it to the inside. At the same time the defender’s right hand is coming over the top and across the body to come down and seal the offensive player’s hands to prevent them from popping back up before stepping by him. Right hand over the top. Right foot steps by the offensive player (same hand, same foot).
2. Right Outside Hand Knockdown (OHK) – Take your right hand and swipe the outside of the left hand of the offensive player at the wrist, forcing it to the inside. At the same time, the defender’s left hand is coming over the top and across the body to come down and seal the offensive player’s hands to prevent them from popping back up before stepping by him. Left hand over the top. Left foot steps by the offensive player (same hand, same foot).
3. Wrist Control – Bring both hands with force and power from the hips and grab the bottom of the offensive player’s wrists to lift them straight up in the air like a forklift. Squeeze tight on the wrist when lifting them up and walk the offensive player back a few steps before escaping to the right or left.
4. Double Hand Knockdown – Take both hands and violently chop down on the wrists of the offensive player and then immediately replace them by punching the chest of the offensive player to regain leverage and control.
Reps: At least 4 reps for each move.
Coaching Point: Don’t allow players to go through the motions. Every punch and move should be physical and precise with game speed.