Building a Brick Wall: Hit Progression Drills for Powerful and Controlled Defensive Linemen
Hit Progression Drills are a fundamental building block for developing dominant defensive linemen. These drills focus on mastering proper technique for taking on blockers with full-body control and generating explosive power. By incorporating a blocking sled and various drill progressions, linemen learn to launch off the snap, initiate contact effectively, and maintain leverage throughout the play. This drill series provides a controlled environment for linemen to refine their hitting technique, translating to improved performance in disrupting running plays and pressuring the quarterback.
Purpose
- Mastering Contact Techniques: The drill emphasizes proper techniques for initiating contact with blockers. This includes maintaining a low center of gravity, exploding off the snap, and using proper body positioning to generate maximum power.
- Full-Body Control: A key aspect of the drill is developing control throughout the entire hitting motion. This includes maintaining proper head position, keeping elbows locked, and driving through contact with legs and hips.
- Building Leverage: Throughout the drill progression, linemen learn to establish and maintain leverage against the blocker. This allows them to control the blocker’s movement and win the battle at the point of attack.
- Developing Power: The drills progressively challenge linemen to generate explosive power through proper technique. This translates to greater ability to shed blocks, disrupt plays, and ultimately, put pressure on the quarterback.
Description
Drill Setup
- Starting Position: Defensive linemen start on their knees and toes with hands in their crotch, simulating a low center of gravity stance.
- Coach’s Cue: For all drills, the coach simulates the snap count by hitting the football on the ground.
Hit, Hit, Hit
- Focus: This drill emphasizes maintaining a low hit position and proper hand technique for initial contact.
- Execution: On the snap cue, the defensive lineman explodes upwards while maintaining a low center of gravity. They focus on shivering the blocking sled with powerful strikes using their hands and arms only. Elbows should be locked throughout for maximum power transfer. The lineman completes three repetitions without standing up.
Step and Lockout
- Focus: This drill builds upon the previous one, introducing a short step to initiate contact.
- Execution: Similar to the “Hit, Hit, Hit” drill, the lineman explodes off the snap. However, this time they incorporate a short, six-inch step to gain momentum before striking the pad. They focus on striking the pad with locked elbows, aiming for hand and foot strike to occur simultaneously. Three repetitions are completed while maintaining a low hit position.
Lockout, Hip extension
- Focus: This drill isolates hip extension and its role in generating power through contact.
- Execution: The lineman starts sitting on their heels with toes under them and arms relaxed. On the snap cue, they explosively extend their hips towards the pad, driving their body upwards. The force generated should naturally lift their knees off the ground.
Fire out with feet back
- Focus: This drill introduces the explosive launch off the snap while maintaining proper body position.
- Execution: The lineman assumes a good defensive stance. On the snap cue, they fire out with a powerful first step, momentarily leaving their feet back in the starting position. They then transition into a low hit position, striking the pad with locked arms. The force of the hit should cause them to land on their belly.
Fire out and snap feet
- Focus: This drill combines the explosive launch with proper footwork for a balanced and powerful hit.
- Execution: Similar to the previous drill, the lineman explodes off the snap and strikes the pad with locked arms. Simultaneously, they snap their feet under their body, transitioning to a balanced and stable hit position. The goal is to maintain this position without moving the sled.
Fire out and snap feet, chop feet
- Focus: This drill refines footwork to maintain leverage and control during contact.
- Execution: The lineman executes a powerful launch off the snap and strikes the pad with locked arms. While snapping their feet under their body, they also perform a “chopping” motion with their feet, planting them firmly in place. The emphasis is on maintaining a low hit position and keeping their feet moving until instructed to stop.
Fire out and snap feet, drive sled
- Focus: This drill progresses to driving the blocking sled, simulating the full power needed to disrupt plays.
- Execution: The lineman executes the most explosive launch yet, firing out and striking the pad with locked arms. Simultaneously, they snap their feet under their body for a stable base. Crucially, they do not stop their footwork. Instead, they maintain a driving motion with their legs, hips, and entire body, pushing the blocking sled back. This drill simulates the power needed to drive blockers back and disrupt plays in a live game situation. The coach will signal “Break” to indicate the end of the driving motion.
Coaching Points
- Maintain Pad Level: Throughout all drills, emphasize the importance of maintaining a low pad level. This allows for better leverage, power generation, and prevents the blocker from getting underneath the lineman.
- Explosive Snap: Continuously coach the defensive linemen to explode off the snap with maximum effort. This creates a quick first step and disrupts the timing of the blocker.
- Locked Elbows: Stress the importance of keeping elbows locked throughout the drills. This ensures proper transfer of power from the core and legs to the strike on the blocking sled.
- Head Up and Eyes Focused: Remind linemen to keep their heads up and eyes focused on the target area (typically the chest plate of the blocking sled). This ensures proper alignment and prevents injuries.
- Breathing and Focus: Incorporate short breathing cues and encourage focus throughout the drills. This helps maintain proper technique and allows linemen to perform repetitions with maximum effectiveness.
Equipment
- Football (for simulating the snap)
- Blocking Sled
Hit Progression Drills are a valuable tool for any defensive line training program. By progressively challenging linemen with various drills, they develop the proper technique, power, and control needed to dominate the line of scrimmage. This translates to improved run defense, consistent pressure on the quarterback, and ultimately, a more successful defensive unit.
Originally contributed in 2007 by Coach Leon Criner (✝️ Nov. 14, 2014), at the time Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator and Jimmy Sims, at the time Assistant Professor of Health & Physical Education / Head Football Coach at Los Angeles Valley College – The Los Angeles Valley College Monarchs played then in the Western States Conference, now in the SCFA, Southern California Football Association.
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