Upgrade Your Offense with this - The Crowther Doesn't Lie
Mar 25, 2022 4:21 pm
Coach ,
Anywhere else in the world, we’d call something that is this old an “antique.” If you are lucky, you might find one buried in the weeds on the edge of your practice field.
If you do, get a wire brush on that thing, paint it up and get it back into use!
The 2 man Crowther isn’t making a comeback, it’s simply never left.
Now on the other hand if you find these shorts in the equipment closet, they still aren’t ready for a comeback. Leave them alone:
There are so many pieces of equipment available for drilling and teaching technique, but I am not sure that any single piece receives as much unsolicited praise as the Crowther Sled.
It’s known as the sled of the pros and has become the king of teaching the body mechanics of blow delivery. All of the fundamentals are encompassed in this one sled.
The reason so many NFL and college teams use this sled is its effectiveness. It has a unique design created in 1932.
You can say it has been around a while, and while it’s true that the game has changed, the human kinesiology of bent knees, flat back, short driving feet, and hip explosion all remain the same.
Coaches love it because it gives the player and coach immediate, objective feedback. It allows a player (1 or 2 players) to drive the sled straight when blocked skillfully. The pan base will spin away if hit poorly.
At the 2021 COOL Clinic Central Florida University OL Coach Herb Hand’s entire presentation was based on drills that the Crowther teaches.
He started by making it clear that the reason he incorporates it is because “The Crowther never lies.” Coach Hand talks about that in this video (click on image for video):
Video: The Crowther Never Lies
He points out the reason why this sled has been around for so long, something he heard from Bob Wylie, “The body hasn’t changed in 200,000 years…so why should the sled?” Coach Hand gives a detailed explanation of this idea in the following video (click on image for video):
Video: The Body Hasn’t Changed
The sled provides instant feedback. Coach Hand illustrates that in this video (click on image for video):
Of course, for any drill to have value, the techniques it teaches should be visible on game film. Coach Hand illustrates a Post Overlap Combo, which he teaches on the Crowther, here (click on image for game film):
The Minnesota Gophers Offensive Line, known in their program as “The Movers” utilizes the sled to teach their aggressive style of run blocking. OL Coach Brian Callahan demonstrates how they use it with “no step” to help teach their linemen to bring their hips which makes them powerful blockers (click on image for video):
Clemson OL Coach Robbie Caldwell loves the Crowther as well. He uses it 2-3 times per week to teach the power planes that they developed in the weight room. He shows how the sled is used to simulate working on a combo block here (click on image for video):
Head Coach at Benedict College is a big believer in the Crowther. One way he uses it is to teach angle of departure and fit on inside zone. For him, because it emphasizes low pad level, gives weighted resistance, and discourages bad habits, it’s valuable in teaching their zone scheme. He illustrates a drill he uses here (click on image for video):
Video: Inside Zone Drills on Crowther
Coach Berry shows a variation of how the drill can begin in the fit position in this video (click on image for video):
You know a piece of equipment must be good when techniques are named after it. Miami “The U” Offensive Line Coach Alex Mirabal shows the “Crowther Technique” which they use as with the angle-drive on their Wide Zone play in this video (click on image for video):
The evidence for why this piece of equipment works is pretty evident. When the techniques taught with a piece of equipment show up in a game, you know you’ve spent your budget well in obtaining that equipment.
What other pieces of equipment that you use have that kind of impact on skill development? I’d like to hear from you on that. Please respond to this email.
Always be growing!
Coach Grabowski