Forging a Wall: The Press Drill for Powerful Drive Blocks
The Press Drill is a fundamental tool for offensive linemen and tight ends to develop the essential techniques for a dominant drive block. This drill focuses on maintaining proper body position, hand placement, and balance while combating the defender’s attempts to disrupt the block.
Purpose
- Mastering Drive Block Technique: This drill isolates and refines the key components of a successful drive block: maintaining proper body position, hand placement, and balance. Through focused repetition and resistance, linemen learn to anchor themselves and effectively drive defenders back to create running lanes.
- Building Leverage and Power: By emphasizing proper hand placement and body positioning (knees bent, slight forward lean), linemen learn to gain leverage on defenders. This allows them to transfer their power more efficiently and overpower the defender’s resistance.
- Developing Balance and Stability: The constant pressure applied by the defender challenges the lineman’s balance. By focusing on maintaining a low center of gravity and proper knee bend, linemen learn to maintain their position and continue driving the defender back.
Description
Drill Setup
- Matching Partners: Pair up offensive linemen and tight ends with players of similar size, weight, and strength. This ensures a fair challenge and allows both players to work on their technique effectively.
- Engaged Block Position: The blocker assumes a strong, engaged position on the defender. Knees should be bent with a slight forward lean, mimicking the initial contact point in a live blocking scenario.
- Hand Placement and Body Positioning: Elbows should be bent at a 45-degree angle with hands placed inside the defender’s armpits (thumbs up, fingers out). The lineman’s forehead or facemask should be positioned on the defender’s chestplate.
- Defender Positioning: The defender wraps their arms around the back of the blocker’s helmet and leans forward, applying their entire bodyweight to simulate the pushing force encountered during a block.
Drill Execution
- On Coach’s Command: On the coach’s signal, the drill begins.
- Defender’s Initiative: The defender initiates the action by slowly pulling (not jerking) the blocker’s head down while applying constant resistance as they are driven back.
- Blocker’s Response: The blocker immediately reacts by pressing and driving the defender backwards for approximately 10 yards. Throughout the drill, they must maintain the established body position with proper hand placement, knees bent, and a slight forward lean. They should also focus on keeping their head up and eyes focused on the defender’s chestplate.
- Partner Switch: Upon reaching the designated endpoint, partners switch roles and repeat the drill, allowing both players to experience both sides of the block.
Variation
- Advanced Challenge: As players become more proficient, introduce a variation where the defender can initially make moderate changes in direction. This challenges the blocker to react quickly, adjust their footwork, and maintain leverage to continue driving the defender back.
Coaching Points
- Maintaining Body Position: Continuously emphasize the importance of maintaining proper body position throughout the drill. This includes keeping knees bent, back flat, and a slight forward lean.
- Head Up and Eyes Focused: Remind blockers to fight to keep their head up with eyes focused on the defender’s chestplate. This allows them to maintain awareness and prevents them from being overpowered by the defender’s pull.
- Defender’s Role: For defenders, stress the importance of applying full bodyweight and constantly pulling the blocker’s head down to simulate the disruptive tactics used by defenders during live plays.
- Benefits of Technique: Reinforce the advantages of each specific technique being practiced:
- Bent Knees: Enable the blocker to react quickly and adjust to defender’s movements.
- Bent Elbows: Prevent over-extension and provide optimal leverage for power transfer.
- Hands in Armpits: Gain leverage on the defender and make it harder for them to disengage from the block.
- Head on Chestplate: Provides better control and allows for a powerful initial strike.
- Eyes Up: Maintains focus on assignment and prevents the defender from gaining an advantage.
Equipment
