Mastering the Buck Sweep: A Drill Series for Powerful Pulling Techniques
The Buck Sweep is a cornerstone play for Wing-T offenses, but its effectiveness extends to various power running schemes. This drill series focuses on the proper pulling technique for both the playside guard and the backside guard, ensuring a clean sweep of the defender and a well-defined running lane for the ball carrier.
Purpose
- Develop Pulling Mechanics: The drill isolates and refines the pulling mechanics for both guards, emphasizing proper footwork, body positioning, timing, and aiming points for effective blocking on the Buck Sweep play.
- Create Running Lanes: By practicing their designated pulling paths, linemen learn to create clear running lanes for the ball carrier by displacing defenders and establishing cut-off blocks.
- Teamwork and Communication (Optional): Incorporating coaches or players as defenders during the drill can introduce the element of teamwork and communication. This allows linemen to practice reacting to defender movements and communicating with teammates to ensure a coordinated blocking scheme.
Description
Drill Setup
- Explain the Buck Sweep: Briefly explain the concept of the Buck Sweep play and emphasize the importance of precise pulling technique by both guards for its success.
- Mark the Puller’s Paths: Using cones, mark the intended path for each guard on the Buck Sweep play. Here’s a suggested cone placement:
- Cone 1: Approximately 1 yard outside the tackle on the line of scrimmage.
- Cone 2: Approximately 2-3 yards outside Cone 1, maintaining a 45-degree angle away from the line of scrimmage.
- Cone 3 (for backside guard): Approximately 3-4 yards deep and directly across from Cone 1.
- Cone 4 (optional): Placed at the designated depth (typically 2 ½ yards) for the playside guard’s block.
Drill Execution
- Playside Guard: On the coach’s call, the playside guard explodes off the line of scrimmage, executing the pulling technique emphasized in the coaching points. They utilize proper footwork, body positioning, aiming points, and reading cues (wing’s butt) to deliver an effective block on a shield or bag simulating a defender.
- Backside Guard: On the coach’s call, the backside guard executes the pulling technique outlined in the coaching points. They maintain a low body position, establish their initial block to shut down penetration, gain depth, and then identify their blocking assignment (seal or kick-out) based on the defensive alignment. They finish the drill by delivering a powerful block on the shield or bag simulating a defender.
Coaching Points
Playside Guard
- Aggressive 45-Degree Pull: The playside guard initiates the pull with a strong, aggressive step at a 45-degree angle towards Cone 1. This initial step establishes depth quickly and sets the foundation for the pulling path.
- Reading the Wing’s Butt: On the second step, the playside guard continues along the 45-degree angle, but they should also be reading the butt of the wing (typically lined up outside the tackle). This helps them anticipate the defender’s movement and adjust their path accordingly.
- Leveling Off and Clearing the Cone: By the fourth step, the playside guard should be approaching Cone 2. They should level off their path slightly and aim to clear Cone 2, ensuring they reach the designated blocking depth. Cone 4 (optional) can be used as a visual cue for depth.
- Picking Up the Force Defender: Once at the designated depth, the playside guard identifies the force defender (typically a linebacker) and prepares to block them. This often involves a cut block or a kick-out block depending on the defender’s alignment.
- Working Back Upfield: Following the initial block on the force defender, the playside guard should work their way back upfield, aiming to get “inside-out” on the defender. This ensures they seal the defender and prevent them from pursuing the ball carrier.
- Finishing Block: The playside guard finishes the block with a powerful running shoulder block, keeping their head upfield to maintain awareness of the play.
Backside Guard
- Flat First Step and Low Body Position: The backside guard’s first step should be flat along the line of scrimmage, stopping at a 90-degree angle. They must maintain a low body position throughout the drill to be prepared for any potential penetration by a defender.
- Shutting Down Penetration: The primary responsibility of the backside guard is to prevent any dangerous penetration by defenders attempting to disrupt the play inside. They should be aggressive and use their body to “wall off” any defender trying to shoot through the gap.
- Depth and Turn Upfield: Once the backside guard establishes their position and ensures no defender threatens the inside, they can gain depth of 3-4 feet by moving laterally away from the line of scrimmage. This positioning allows them to better identify their blocking assignment and react accordingly.
- Finding the Open Gap: The backside guard should look inside the tackle for the first open gap opportunity. This could involve blocking a defender attempting to squeeze through the tackle or kicking out a defender on the edge. Their primary focus is to secure the outside of the running lane.
- Head Outside, Eyes on the Block: While keeping their head turned slightly outside to maintain awareness of potential defenders approaching from the edge, the backside guard’s eyes should be focused on their designated block target.
Equipment
- Cones (4)
- Linemen-split marker (optional)
- Shields or Bags (2)
The Buck Sweep Drills Series is a valuable tool for offensive linemen to develop the precise pulling technique and overall blocking strategy needed for a successful Buck Sweep play. By incorporating this series into their training program, linemen gain a deeper understanding of their roles within the Buck Sweep scheme, refine their individual blocking mechanics, and learn to work together to create a coordinated and effective blocking unit. This ultimately contributes to a dominant ground attack that can exploit the Buck Sweep’s ability to create wide running lanes for ball carriers.
