Putting Some Blocking & Tackling into Your Life
Feb 06, 2023 2:46 pm
Coach ,
"Football is two things. It's blocking and tackling. I don't care about formations or new offenses or tricks on defense. You block and tackle better than the team you're playing, you win." - Vince Lombardi
I figured after yesterday, we all needed a little blocking and tackling in our lives, so that is the focus today.
Blocking
The schemes we have allow us to do a lot in creating angles and combos, but eventually in a play, all blocks turn into drive blocks.
Rice Head Coach Mike Bloomgren made a name for himself as an offensive line coach. He put together a presentation “Moving a Man from Point A to Point B.” The objective of the block can’t be stated any clearer than that. Let’s take a look at some of the coaching points he shares to accomplish this.
Mental Approach
It starts with a mental procoess or the “Approach” including all the defense is showing plus all you need to do with technique to create leverage. Coach Bloomgren shares the details here (click on images for videos):
AAA
No not the car service. It is Alignment-Assignment-Adjustment as Coach Bloom explains:
ABC
The ABC’s of moving a man starts with stance. While we all have heard about stance from day 1, it’s always good to hear it again, because a good stance sets the blocker up for success. Coach always goes back to this basic on day 1 with his players. He explains it:
Max Q Drill
Scientifically, Max Q means to undergo maximum mechanical stress and overcome it. It’s a term used by NASA but it applies to offensive line as well. He explains how a Lineman must strain and work through it. He shows it in the drill here:
The application of the Drive Block to Down Blocks and Gap Scheme Combos is further illustrated by Rice OL Coach Sanders Davis in the second half of the presentation.
Tackling
The two presentations we share here are especially useful for your guys in the box. A big advantage can be created for your defense in teaching these techniques.
TFL technique - The “Lion” Roll Tackle
Almost every tackle for loss is a roll tackle. The running back almost always stops his feet when he sees a defensive lineman in the backfied. The DL who tackles high will usually bounce off and the running back drives ahead to get yards.
TFL’s put the offense behind the sticks which is critical in helping the defense to get off the field. Manny Diaz implemented this system in 2014.
He illustrates TFL created by the “Lion” Roll Tackle on game film. (click on image for video):
Video: Almost All TFL are Lion Rolls
Engaged Tackle
Improve your tackling up front
Fordham Assistant Vince DiGaetano put together a resource focused more on players in the box. As stated, defense is about fitting gaps and defeating scheme. “Winning Gaps with Engaged Tackles” covers the ability to win a short area of space on the field.
Coach Dig explains what an “engaged tackle” is here.
Fordham assistant Vince DiGaetano covers the ability to win a short area of space on the field. Most defenders in the box face situations when they are at short range and power is not 100%, and they can’t cleanly get off of the block.
How important is coaching the engaged tackle? 70% of a defensive lineman’s tackle is made while engaged with a blocker. A linebacker will have this situation about 30% of the time.
Taking this to the practice field and execution on game day starts with effective and applicable drills. The One Arm Tear Drill is one of Dig’s favorites. He illustrates it here (click on images for video):
What’s this look like in-game? Coach Dig breaks it down here:
Well hopefully some good coaching on the bvlock and the tackle brought your football life back into balance.
Fortunately we have a big game coming up that will help in that regard as well.
Always be growing!
Coach Grabowski
P.S. We have a huge clinic coming up for the 3rd Annual Lauren's First and Goal Clinic. Lauren's First and Goal Foundation has helped hundreds of families in need with the expenses of cancer treatment for their children. Please sign-up you and your staff for this great cause. Over 100 top college coaches will be speaking. If you've attended, you know these guys give their all for this cause. Speaker list is being finalized. https://lfgf2023.coachesclinic.com/