Offensive Linemen Program

Offensive Linemen Program Goals Summary   I would first like to point out that some of the terminology in this summary is new to most students and coaches.  Don’t be concerned about that at this time.  I want everyone to review this summary to understand the complexity of the program and the work that will be required to get through it. Plus, the UFLS educational process starts now. Recruits, if you want to impress me and increase your chances to becoming a UFLS student, study the following information and ask me a few intelligent questions about it during your interview.  At UFLS, football is not a game, it’s your job and like all job interviews, it’s wise to do your homework. Learn the following stances:   Power Strike Stance This stance is one of the keys to De La Salle’s extremely successful offensive line. They use it extensively. When it's a run play this is the most powerful stance to move a defender out of the way. You might be thinking we don’t what to show the run. If you can out hit the defensive linemen and the linebackers you won’t ever have to pass the ball, so it doesn’t matter if you show the run or not. Actually De La Salle’s 151 game winning streak ended in a game where the opponent didn’t throw a single pass. Pro-Set Stance This stance gives more mobility and ease of movement for a large powerful offensive lineman. Even though this type of athlete is rare at the high school level, I believe that there are benefits for all offensive linemen to feel the freedom that this stance provides. Three Point Pass Protection Stance When its 3rd & 19 and everyone in the stadium knows it’s a pass and you have a high speed rush end coming for your QB’s blind side, you better be in stance which will  give you the most optimum chance to cut him off. Two Point Pass Protection Stance Same reasons listed above but now you have blitzing linebackers and you need more vision to pick them up. Base (No Show) Stance This is the stance you must use most of the time so as not to show your intentions to the defensive. It’s some where between a Power Strike Stance and a Two Point Pass Protection Stance.  I believe the exact body structure of this stance is best determined by the student once he has mastered and felt the benefits of aforementioned stances. Now here comes the complicated part, your base stance has to be adjusted to conform to the style of play your team uses.  If your team is a heavy running team like De La Salle your base stance should favor the run (Power Strike Stance), which means your pass blocking will suffer on the no show plays, but on the show plays you will switch to the most appropriate stance to fit the situation. (A show play is where it is obviously ok to show your team’s intentions to the defensive. Example, it's 3rd & 20, I call this playing under the green lights, which means it is 100% pass, you know it, defense knows it, fans know it, so it’s ok to use a pass protection stance to give your QB the best possible protection.)   If you play for team which is truly a balanced team, 50% pass and 50% run then your base stance most also be balanced. If your team plays a spread offense or a slide protection then this also has to be considered into the design of your base stance. The goal here at UFLS is that the student understands why he is using a certain stance. To an offensive lineman his stance is one of his weapons, that he must fire himself from. Give a soldier a weapon he does not understand and you have a soldier that is more dangerous to himself and to his unit than the enemy. Learn different types of run blocks:   Power Strike drive or down block Bull Strike drive or down block Pro-Fit drive or down block DBL. Team Power Strike DBL. Team Pro-Fit Comb. Block Rhino Block (If you like to de-cleat your opponents, then this one’s for you.) Bull Strike open field block Roll Strike open field block Power Strike Hook Block Pro-Fit Hook Block Pro-Fit Scoop Block with a J step Cross or Trap Block using Power Strike or Pro-Fit Fold Block Pro-Fit Shield Block Log Block with Pro-Fit or a Bull Strike Why so many types of blocks? Here at UFLS we believe in the tools in the box approach to offensive line play.  The tools represent all the various types of blocks available.  The UFLS offensive lineman must know exactly what his coaches want him to accomplish in each play and pick the appropriate block to get the job done.  Pick the right tool to get the job done quickly and efficiently based on the requirements of the play and the type of defensive linemen you’re going up against. If a defensive lineman keeps knocking you back with a blow delivery strike, you better switch to a power strike to neutralize him. Learn three different types of blocking postures: Balanced Power Position (BPP) Once you have engaged a defensive lineman this is the most powerful pushing posture I have ever seen. Bull Back Posture This is a hard hitting posture which provides a more balanced structure for more mobility. I saw a USC offensive lineman hit an oncoming linebacker with this posture and knocked him straight back two yards. Pro-Fit Posture This is a good posture because it provides great mobility and vision, but you have to be a power house to get away with using it. This would be very difficult to use against De La Salle. Where did these postures come from?  They came from hundreds of hours of research work at the University of California. I had the tedious job of studying each offensive lineman we had to go up against and analysis all their hand and body mechanics to find their strong points and weaknesses, so when I would see an offensive lineman completely destroy a defensive lineman I would ask myself, how was he able to do that.  The answer was typically in his posture.  So it’s simple, find the most powerful offensive linemen and copy their posture. Pre-Strike Hand Set Positions for pass blocking Inside at chest level (Dbl. Strike Set) Wide & High Outside Set Low & by the Hips (Gun Slinger Set) One In & One Out (In & Out Set) Random Set Different hand sets for pass blocking is typically something that is learned at the college or professional level, but this will be critical if you go up against a UFLS defensive graduate. If your hands are always in the same position every time you pass block set a UFLS defensive graduate will cut you to pieces because he is trained to attack your hands and arms. It will be critical that you give him a different look on each pass block set. Pass Blocking Footwork:   Forward Jab Step and Backward Jab Step (This is the only way you can pass set out of a power strike stance. Very rarely used unless you play for DLS.) Giant Kick Step Used to get yourself up and back ready to pass block in one big step. Jab Step Backwards Inside Jab Step (Used to cut off the inside move.) Jab Step Shuffle (Used to move backwards to protect the outside edge or laterally with control and balance.) Full shuffle (Used to move backwards or laterally at maximum speed.)   Advanced Blocking Skills:   Helmet Positioning (Proper helmet placement can help an offensive lineman move or cut off a defensive lineman form making a successful tackle.) Push & Pull to Hook Block Pull In & Lock for Lateral Blocking Inside Fit, Lock & Stabilize to Drive Block (Stabilization gives you the ability to grab an opponent in such a way, that it is almost impossible for him to get free.) Pull In, Lift & Drive with your forearms This technique gives you maximum leverage on your opponent. Learn to use Defensive lineman’s arms against him In Kung Fu it’s called controlling the bridge. Advanced Pass Blocking Hand Fighting Skills Triple Punch Dbl. Strike, Grab & Lift Club & Reset Hands Jab Step Back, Dbl. Chop & Reset Hands Machine Gun   Learn to Stop Basic Pass Rushing Techniques:   Spin or Wheel Bull Rush Rip Swim Club & Swim Exercises and Hand Training Learn Football & Pike Pushups Develop hard hitting and effective hand strikes. Develop a powerful and effective grip. Develop flexibility that will enhance your speed, athletic range of motion, improve the quality of your weightlifting techniques and prevent injuries. Develop excellent weight lifting techniques and intensity in the following exercises:    Frontal squats  Single Leg Squats  Lateral Squats  Five different types of Lunges  Dead Lifts  Power Cleans  Clean Pulls  Romanian Dead Lifts  Straight Legged Dead Lifts  Inside Grip Military Press  Inside Grip Bench Press  Bent over Rows  Jersey Pull Ups  Sand Bag Power Clean & Toss  Hamstring Negative Body Drops Learn and become proficient and strong in a number of different core and neck exercises to properly prepare you to play football in a safe and powerful manner. The most valuable exercise will be the Tiger exercise which is a lumbar power movement exercise. This exercise gives you the ability to move the lumbar area of your spine in and out with quick and powerful adjustments while under the stress of a full force pushing battle.  This ability can double your effective pushing power on the line of scrimmage.  During the last six weeks of training you will work hard to improve agility and cardiovascular conditioning.  Get ready to learn how to jump rope.