I would like to thank our offensive line coach Tony Neymeiyer for his assistance with this article.
Most offenses use schemes that require a lineman to pull and block a defender on the first level or second level. I’ve heard arguments from time to time about which technique is best for a pulling lineman – a “square” pull or an “skip” pull. The fact of the matter is that each serves a different purpose and has its uses within certain schemes.
The same pull style cannot be used for every play because each play requires the pulling lineman to do different things. It’s equivalent to having to not ask a lineman to utilize the same footwork on inside zone as he would on outside zone – both plays are distinctly different from each other even though they have similarities. For the same reason, pulls must be executed based on what you want the puller to accomplish in his block.
Before we get into the specifics of each technique, let’s define each type and give examples of the schemes that use each type.
The Skip Pull
The skip pull allows an offensive lineman to gain depth and width away from the line of scrimmage. The depth and width is important for providing clearance for down blocks and back blocks that are being executed to his play side. This type of pull is used for plays that require the puller to block a level two defender. Being able to pull with square shoulders makes it easy for the puller to keep his eyes on target.
It gives the puller the ability to find a hole and work downhill to his target. This type of block is used on Power, Pin and Pull and Fold Schemes.
The video below shows the general objective of the block: run downhill to block a second level defender. The left guard is the puller.
The Square Pull
The square pull is the classic trap pulling style. It is done by opening the playside foot away from the line of scrimmage. Proper initial footwork puts the offensive lineman’s hips directly on his target down the line of scrimmage. It allows the puller to work into the line of scrimmage in order to kick out or trap the defender. The square pull is used on counter and trap plays where the blocker is assigned to a man on the line of scrimmage.
The video below shows the general objective of the block: block a first level defender and widen the hole on the line of scrimmage. The right guard is the puller.
After deciding where these types of pulls fit into your schemes based on the objective of what you want you lineman to accomplish, it is important to establish the distinct techniques used for each pull.
The Skip Pull Footwork and Technique
The backside foot moves first and steps back and behind the butt.
Push off of the backside foot to move the playside foot – this should re-establish the initial base of the puller.
While the feet are moving, the eyes should look through the line of scrimmage to target the linebacker.
The lineman will want to work tight off of the playside combination block or down block being executed by the other linemen. He will make contact with inside leverage of the target linebacker. Work to get hips on hips and drive the linebacker out.
If the linebacker blitzes or fills the hole aggressively, kick him out. This will become similar to the finish of a trap block.
If the lineman is pulling Right, hit with the right hand to gain inside leverage on the defender and kick him out of the running lane. If the lineman is pulling left, hit with the left hand to gain inside leverage on the defender.
The Square Pull Footwork and Technique
The square pull footwork is done by aggressively opening the playside foot away from the line of scrimmage. The playside arm should rip backwards with the step. Neymeiyer uses the image for his linemen that the hand and foot are connected by a string and they move together.
This first step should have put the hips at a 45-degree angle toward the targeted defensive lineman.
The puller should work into the line of scrimmage to maintain an inside position. If the defender goes upfield, simply turn out on him. If he sits, explosively drive the shoulder pad into the defender’s inside number while simultaneously running his feet and violently rolling the hips. The objective is to get a huge collision. On a pull right, he should hit with the right shoulder surface and with a pull left, hit with the left shoulder surface.
Practicing each type of pull
We believe a progression must be used to install each technique. The first part of the pull that should be focused on is the initial footwork. Teaching linemen the blocks by setting up cones and having them move to those as targets is fine when the focus is purely on the footwork. In the video example, our linemen are practicing the skip pull footwork
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When they have become proficient with the footwork, it becomes more effective to work the blocks in a more game-like setting using a half line or full line to really give them the idea of how they will need to move around other blocks on the line to get to their target. However, working footwork daily in warm-up is a good way to teach the muscle memory to get them going in the right direction. Neymeiyer commented, “When we work on our pulls we do them in either a half or full-line setting. Working around cones does not offer the game setting that is vital to having proper and effective pulls. For instance, the backside guard in a power scheme must get used to pulling away from the line of scrimmage and clearing room for the center to block back, while simultaneously staying square and being able to work downhill off of the playside guard and tackle working their Deuce call, and finishing with inside leverage on the playside linebacker. Doing this versus cones and bags will not replicate these conditions.”
The video below shows us working our counter play with the puller being able to work in a game-like environment.
Skip pull or square pull do not need to be the focus of the argument of which is the better technique for a puller. Each has it’s advantages within your scheme. Like anything in your system, it must be taught in a progression, drilled, and given the proper amount of repetitions so that your offensive linemen become proficient with it.