Dominating the Trenches The Panther Way!

! On behalf of Ellsworth Community College and our football program, it is a privilege and an honor to have an opportunity to write this article as part of the AFCA Technical Manual. I started my coaching career as a defensive line coach. Having played the position for many years, I have a deep passion and understanding for the It all starts up front motto that you hear from many coaches. I believe in this philosophy so much, that as a coordinator I continue to coach the defensive line. In my opinion, if you do not re establish the line of scrimmage in the run game and get front pressure in passing situations, you are going to struggle as a defensive football team. Alignment Something we talk about all the time at every position on defense is to Align for Success. For example, if I am a defensive tackle slanting into the A gap, I do not want to be in a wide outside alignment on the guard. I want to be tighter to allow me to get across his face and into the A gap. Our defensive line utilizes four types of shades (we use our nose to measure our alignments): 1. Normal Nose to the shoulder pad of the offensive lineman. 2. Heavy Nose to the V of the neck of the offensive lineman. 3. Light Nose to the tip of the shoulder pad of the offensive lineman. 4. Head Up Nose to nose with the offensive lineman.

Stance The basis for everything we do is a powerful working stance. Our man (shade) hand is always down. Our feet are under the arm pits on a vertical plane with the toes up-field. We use a toe to heel stagger in passing situations and a toe to instep stagger in run situations. We always want the down hand out in front of our face for two reasons: 1. Ensures we fire out and not up. 2. As long as our hand is in front of our face and behind the ball, we are never off-sides. This allows us to crowd the football without lining up off-sides. Our weight is on our outside foot; our back is straight with our butt slightly above our head with eyes up. The off-hand is cocked and ready to fire, NOT resting on the knee. Footwork Our first step is a short (6 inch) power step with our back foot. We explode off of our power foot while getting the second foot on the ground as soon as possible. If we do not get the second foot down in a run situation, we become much less powerful because we are now a one legged defender. We must maintain balance for re-direct. We NEVER stop our feet! In a passing situation, we make a Jet call, which tells the defensive line that they can now take a big first step to close the gap on the pass setting offensive lineman. Attack

Every day we work on Attack Points. This is the spot in which we place our hands. We stab the sternum of the offensive lineman with the man (power) hand and grab the outside shoulder of the offensive lineman with the gap (leverage) hand. We use the phrase Stab and Grab as a quick way to remind them of their attack technique. It is very important that that we are violent with our punch and grab as much cloth as possible. We must always shoot our hands to our attack point and our feet will follow our hands. The hands must be quick and violent Defensive End Reads If there is no tight end, then our defensive end will line up in a 5 technique (outside shoulder of offensive tackle). If the offensive tackle goes inside, we will squeeze off of his outside hip and replace his feet with our feet. There can be no air between the defensive end and the offensive tackle. We want to stay square, shuffle, while clearing boot, counter and reverse. When the ball declares, pursue. If the offensive tackle tries to reach our outside shoulder we want to have outside hand pressure to squeeze the gap while keeping our hips in our gap. If our hips get reached, we are in trouble. We use the term hips to the heat. We do not want to work too far vertically or horizontally, this will cause seams. If the offensive tackle goes inside and the fullback or puller is coming to kick us out, we will squeeze the outside hip of the offensive tackle and work to get underneath the fullback/puller using a wrong arm technique, which will spill

the play to our force players. If the offensive tackle tries to kick us out, we must get a great inside hand punch to the sternum and get that inside arm locked out immediately. We must accelerate our feet and squeeze him into the gap, which we refer to as holding the point. If the offensive tackle pass sets, we will execute a pass rush technique. Always working our toes towards the quarterback. If we have a tight end, we will be lined up in a 6 technique (Head up on tight end) or 7 technique (Inside shade of tight end). If tight end takes an outside release, key the outside hip of the offensive tackle. If the offensive tackles hip goes inside squeeze off of his outside hip and replace his feet with your feet. Stay square, shuffle, while clearing boot, counter and reverse. When ball declares, pursue. If tight end takes an outside release and the offensive tackle hip is coming too you. Get your hips to the heat and do not let him get to your outside shoulder. Do not work too far vertically or horizontally, this will cause seams. If the tight end takes an outside release and the offensive tackle hip goes inside and the fullback is coming to kick you out. Squeeze off of the offensive tackle outside hip and replace his feet with your feet. Get underneath the fullback using a wrong arm technique. If the tight end takes an inside release, get your hips to the heat and do not allow him to cut you off or release inside. Defensive Tackle Reads 3 technique (Outside shoulder of offensive guard) - If the offensive guard tries to reach our outside

shoulder we want to have outside hand pressure to squeeze the gap while keeping our hips in our gap. If our hips get reached, we are in trouble. I use the term hips to the heat. We do not want to work too far vertically or horizontally, this will cause seams. If the offensive guard releases inside, squeeze with him, stay square, and do not get cut off by the offensive tackle. If the offensive guard pulls and you get a down block, if the offensive linemans head is behind you, come off of his butt. If the offensive linemans head is in front of you, cross his face immediately. If the offensive guard tries to kick us out, we must get a great inside hand punch to the sternum and get that inside arm locked out immediately. We must accelerate our feet and squeeze him into the gap, which we refer to as holding the point. If offensive guard and offensive tackle try to double team you, treat it like a base block by the offensive guard and hold the point which will put them on different levels, giving us a chance to split it. If you get a pass set, execute your pass rush techniques. 1 Technique (outside shoulder of center) - If the guard tries to reach our outside shoulder we want to have outside hand pressure to squeeze the gap while keeping our hips in our gap Hips to the Heat. We do not want to work too far vertically or horizontally, this will cause seams. If center releases inside, squeeze with him, stay square, and do not get cut off by the center. If the center tries to kick us out, we must get a great inside hand punch to the sternum and get

that inside arm locked out immediately. We must accelerate our feet and squeeze him into the gap, which we refer to as holding the point. If center and guard try to double team you, treat it like a base block by the center and hold the point which will put them on different levels, giving us a chance to split it. If you get a pass set, execute your pass rush techniques. 2i Technique (Inside shoulder of guard) - If the guard tries to reach our inside shoulder we want to have outside hand pressure to squeeze the gap while keeping our hips in our gap Hips to the Heat. We do not want to work too far vertically or horizontally, this will cause seams. If guard releases outside, squeeze with him, stay square, and do not get cut off by the center. If the guard tries to down block, we must get a great inside hand punch to the sternum and get that inside arm locked out immediately. We must accelerate our feet and squeeze him into the gap, which we refer to as holding the point. If the center and guard try to double team you, treat it like a base block by the guard and hold the point which will put them on different levels, giving us a chance to split it. Pass Rush When talking about pass rush, you hear so many coaches talk about sacking the quarterback. Sacks are great, but we do not focus as much on sacks as we focus on affecting the quarterback. We want to do whatever we can do get his eyes off of the secondary and get him uncomfortable

to make him make a hurried decision. We do that by getting a hard, fast vertical rush within our rush/throwing lane and if we cannot get there to hit him, then we attempt to get our hands up to affect his vision and potentially knock down a pass. When getting our hands up, we want to get our nearest hand to the ball up and protect our body with the other hand. Pass Rush Principles Pre-determine your move. Have a plan! No lateral steps, always works toward the quarterback. Get off on ball movement! Close the gap on the offensive lineman right now! Flip your hips as you get to the blocker and start your move. Work a half man technique with all moves. Work your move close to the blocker, know his set. No WASTED movement! Use violent hands on ALL moves. Rush with a fiery passion, REFUSE TO BE BLOCKED!

Panther Defensive Line Keys for Success I would now like to share with you 10 keys that I feel are vital for a successful defensive line unit: 1. Align for Success 2. Know your assignment -This comes through making the most of your reps in practice. -Read and UNDERSTAND your scouting report. 3. Get Off the Football!

-Plays are won and lost in the first second. -Be quick. 4. Be Physical With Your Hands -We do not catch, we punch VIOLENTLY. -Stab and Grab. 5. Keep Your Feet Moving -Accelerate your feet on contact! 6. Be Coachable -Use the technique you are taught. -Take pride in being a technician. 7. Know the Situation -Understand the personnel. -Understand the down and distance. -Use the provided information to maximize your performance. 8. Watch Film! -You must know your opponent -What does he do pre-snap? Post-snap? -Who is a threat? Who will you neutralize? 9. Run! -When in doubt, RUN TO THE BALL! -Your motor does not stop until you are on the sidelines. 10. REFUSE TO BE BLOCKED! -One man cannot block you! Two men cannot move you! -Take pride in being unblockable, be tenacious. -Accept the challenge. Conclusion The defensive line position is very technical. However, I believe that not only do you have to work to make them technically sound; you

also have to make them understand the physical part of the position. Defensive lineman must be physical and tough and to do so, we must practice that way. We do our all of our drills with the physicality and tenacity that we expect during a play repetition. Thank you for taking time to read this article. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me.