Today, I’m going to discuss a variety of defensive line drills that will help your players work on blocking and other necessary skills.

Base Fundamental Blocks Drill

We’re going to focus on a more realistic block reaction drill where I have a tackle and tight end, and we’re going to work on base fundamental blocks.

First we’re going to start with just a good old base block.

Then we move on to a reach block. A reach block is where the offensive tackle is trying to reach the five technique.

Scoop Drill

The next defensive line drill we’re going to do is called a scoop drill, where the offensive tackle tries to climb up to our eighth hat in our eight-man front. Your defensive lineman is going to try to keep that tackle off that eighth hat with base fundamentals as he shoots his hands to the chest plate.

The second block is the offensive tackle running out of there, climbing, not allowing the defensive lineman to get his hands on him. In that instance, your defensive lineman will control his gap and run his feet down in there.

Double Team Drills

The next defensive line drill we’re going to do is a double team with the tackle chipping to the back side linebacker.

Our base fundamental teaching here is to attack our key, the post. We’re going to turn and get small and try to hold on to that tackle. The key here is to maintain the integrity of the defense.

We do not want to get knocked off the ball into the linebackers. If we feel they’re getting movement on us, we will then drop to the ground and get small. As a base fundamental, though, we’re going to try to keep the tackle off the back side linebacker.

The next double team that we see is a double team where the tight end climbs to the play side linebacker. The defensive lineman’s got to feel that and throw his body back into his gap.

Takeoff Drill

We now move on to the pass rush defensive line drills.

The first progression of the pass rush is get off, take off, and basically all we’re working on here is peripheral vision, getting in a good stance, a 40-yard dash stance, and moving on movement. I’m looking for an elongated first step.

Instruct your players to move on your foot movement.

Rabbit Drill

With this defensive line drill, we align the guy at two to two and half yards and on movement, he’s going to burst out of his stance and try to reach and touch his target, the guy that’s backpedaling, before he gets to five yards.

This builds confidence in pass rushers as to how much ground they can cover on an offensive tackle on a speed rush.

If you think your players will like these defensive line drills, make sure you also check out my YouTube page for more drills and coaching tips!