There are many good football drills. Since we place a great deal of emphasis on defensive football, it is only natural our drills for the most part emphasize individual and team defensive techniques.
DRILLS FOR THE SECONDARY
The following drills are used to teach individual and team techniques for the defensive secondary:
Defensive Cuts Drill (6-8 men):
With a defensive man standing in a good football position, the coach will move the ball back and forth, and the player will plant, pivot to the inside and sprint in the direction the coach is pointing the football. He will then throw the football and the defensive man will sprint to catch it. The Defensive Cuts Drill is illustrated in Figure 120.
Figure 120
Intercept Drill (8-10 men):
Eight or 10 secondary men will line up behind each other. One player at a time will run toward the coach who will throw the football directly at the player, or to either side of him. The defensive man should intercept the pass, as illustrated in Figure 121.
Figure 121
Tip Drill (8-10 men):
Following the same line up and procedure described previously for the Intercept Drill, instead of the player catching the football he tips it back to another player who is training him, who intercepts the pass. The Tip Drill is illustrated in Figure 122.
Figure 122
Running the Line Drill (6-8 men):
A defensive man will line up straddling a line about 35 yards long, facing the coach. On a command from the coach, the player will start backwards using a cross-over step but keeping his eyes and head on the coach. He will try to change direction as many times as possible, always using a cross-over step, keeping his eye on the coach (passer), as he zigzags properly from one side to the other down the 35-yard line. (Running the Line Drill is not illustrated by diagram.)
Covering Third-and-Fourths Drill (2 complete defensive secondaries):
The entire secondary can be set up in a 4-spoke or 5-spoke defense, as illustrated in Figure 123. A coach, simulating a passer, will stand facing the unit. He will simulate either an action pass or a drop back pass, and the men must react properly to the simulated backfield action. When the ball is thrown, all defenders must sprint for it. The ball is placed on either hash mark and in the middle of the field and a full offensive backfield may or may not be used to establish flow for the defensive secondary’s proper reaction.
Figure 123
Dog Fight Drill (For defensive halfbacks and corner men) (6-8 men):
Place a defensive halfback or corner man in his regular position. A pass receiver runs a direct route in front of the defensive man’s regular position. A coach or passer throws the ball, and we want the defender to play full speed through the receiver for the football, as illustrated in Figure 124. It is merely one-on-one and gives both the receiver and defender practice fighting for the ball.
Figure 124
Dog Fight Drill for Safety Man (8 men):
We put a safety man in the middle of the field and receivers on each hash mark. On a signal from the coach, the receivers start down the field and the passer drops back with the football. The safety man must stay in the middle of the field as he gets depth in order to be in a position to cover both receivers. When the ball is thrown, the safety man sprints full speed for the interception, as illustrated in Figure 125.
Figure 125
Outside Drill (15-25 men):
We set up a skeleton offensive unit of ends, center and a complete backfield versus the defensive ends and secondary, as illustrated in Figure 126. The offense works full speed running its outside plays and passes, and the defense is drilled in stopping the wide attack.
Big Tip Drill (2 complete secondaries):
The entire defensive perimeter is used in our Big Tip Drill, illustrated in Figure 127. A coach will establish flow by running to his left or right simulating backfield action, and the defense must react and rotate accordingly. The coach will then pass the ball, simulating an action pass, and the defender nearest to intercept the ball will yell an oral signal indicating he is going to tip it. The other defenders get in a good football position, and look for the tip. As the first man tips the ball, the defender nearest to it will intercept it and return the pass. The others will head downfield as blockers.
Figure 126
Figure 127
Tackling Drill in the Secondary (8-10 men):
Figure 128 illustrates a drill which we use on the sideline, teaching our backs to utilize the sideline properly as the “twelfth man.” The dots represent shirts which are placed six yards from the sideline. The defensive tackler (T) gets in a good football position, which I have described previously, and makes the ball carrier come to him. The ball carrier may take any course or use any individual tactic he wishes to evade the tackler, as long as he stays inside of the six-yard area. We do not want the tackler to meet the ball carrier head on, but we want him to approach his man from an angle, keeping leverage on the ball carrier in order to force him out of bounds. The tackler should keep his head in front of the ball carrier, and should try to butt the football with his helmet.
Figure 128
DRILLS FOR THE DEFENSIVE ENDS
The following drills are used to teach individual and team techniques for the defensive ends:
Peel-Off Drill (10-12 men):
Figure 129 illustrates a good drill to teach reaction and to protect his area, which we use for our defensive ends. The end assumes his normal defensive position. The first backfield blocker attempts to block the end, then the second, and finally the third blocker. As soon as the first man leaves, the second starts, and then the third blocker leaves, giving the defensive end experience in playing one blocker at a time but in rapid succession.
Figure 129
“Reading” Drills (8-12 men):
Figure 130 illustrates a “Reading” Drill which we use for our defensive ends. The end has to play properly the block of the offensive end, pulling guard, on-side halfback and/or the fullback. These are the situations he will face in a game. This drill teaches quick reaction and play recognition for the defensive ends.
Figure 130
All Secondary Drills:
Since we consider our ends as part of our defensive secondary, as I explained previously, they will take part in all of the drills explained and illustrated in Figures 120-128, if feasible.
DRILLS FOR THE DEFENSIVE INTERIOR LINEMEN
The following drills are used to teach individual and team techniques to the interior linemen:
Butt Ball Drill (8-10 men):
An offensive man is given a football and told to run a straight line laterally back and forth, carrying the ball on the side he is moving toward. The defensive man must be in a good football position moving back and forth with the offensive man, butting the football with his forehead. He bounces back and forth and keeps butting the football trying to knock it out of the ball carrier’s arm. The tackler’s head should be up and his back straight. (The Butt Ball Drill is not illustrated by diagram.)
4-on-1 Drill (6-8 men):
Figure 131 illustrates four offensive blockers playing one defensive man. The coach stands behind the defensive player, and indicates by hand signal the starting count and the blocking assignments of the offensive men. The defensive man must react to the various blocks—double team, wedge, trap, etc., and fights pressure.
Figure 131
A & M Wave Drill (9-12 men):
On a signal, the offensive men will uncoil on the defensive men, illustrated in Figure 132. The defenders must control the blockers with their hands and forearms, locate the ball and pursue in the direction the coach points or runs with the football.
Figure 132
3-on-3 Drill (16-24 men):
The offense runs a hand-off to the right or left halfback, or to the fullback. The coach, standing behind the defensive team, indicates which back will carry the football. The defensive man varies his techniques from head on, inside, outside or linebacker. If the play is in one defensive man’s area, he must whip his blocker and make the play. The other two defenders take proper pursuit angles on the ball carrier. The drill is full speed both ways, and we do not want the men stopping until they hear a whistle. Figure 133 illustrates our alignment for the 3-on-3 drill.
Figure 133
Middle Drill (14-25 men):
The middle drill is similar to the previous drill, only the interior linemen are used offensively and defensively, as illustrated in Figure 134. The defensive alignments are changed around and the offense runs all situations. At times we use the down marker and chains simulating down and distance when doing this drill.
Figure 134
7-Man Spin-Out Drill (8-12 men):
Figure 135 illustrates a player moving from a good defensive position hitting the sled, spinning out, and hitting every other pad on the machine. If moving to the right, we want the players to hit the sled with the right shoulder, keep a tight arc, spin out correctly, and deliver a good blow to the alternate pad. We drill the players right and left as we want to give them practice spinning out both ways.
Figure 135
Circle Drill (5-7 men):
One player gets in the middle of a circle about five yards in diameter in a good football position. On a signal from the coach the middle man starts moving his feet, body crouched, pivoting slowly. The coach will call out a boy’s name who is on the outside of the circle, who will rush in facing the defender and deliver a shoulder blow. The defender should step with the foot closest to the rusher and deliver a forearm shiver or shoulder blow to the man. He should play only two or three men, and then get out of the circle, permitting another of the men to move to the middle. Figure 136 illustrates our circle drill.
Figure 136
Leverage Drill (8-12 men):
Figure 137 illustrates our Leverage Drill and we have two groups going at the same time in opposite directions. Four blockers are lined up one behind the other, with the defensive man lined up on the outside shoulder of the blocker facing him. On a command by the coach, the defender must play the first blocker with a shiver and the other blockers one at a time with the forearms, shoulders and hands as he retreats and reacts, not permitting himself to be hooked from the outside and blocked in.
Figure 137
Explode Drill (9 men):
The offensive men will line up with their inside knee on the ground, and the defensive man in the gap between the two offensive men, as illustrated in Figure 138. The defensive player will explode and uncoil on his count with his tail down, head up, and feet moving after bringing them up under him after his initial contact. The coach will give him a hand signal, and the defensive man must spin out properly, ending up in a good football position. It is important for the defensive man to get under the offensive men on his initial charge. We also let the blockers go full speed and teach the defensive man to react from a two-on-one block.
Figure 138
Defensive Reaction Drill (14-18 men):
With the interior linemen from tackle to tackle, we place defensive men head on the center and tackles, as illustrated in Figure 139. A coach will stand behind the defensive men, facing the offensive men, and give hand signals indicating starting count and blocking patterns. The defensive men must react and pursue the football properly.
Figure 139
Alabama Wave Drill (8-12 men):
Four men line up facing a coach, in a good football position, feet moving as illustrated in Figure 140. The coach points to his right and the players using a cross-over step must react in that direction. He then points in another direction and the players stop, plant and start in this direction as quickly as possible. The drill is not only a good conditioner, but teaches quickness, too.
Figure 140
Rushing the Passer Drill (12-16 men):
Using the two-man Crowther sled, two defenders explode into the machine with a good hard blow on the snap of the football, spin out laterally, and rush the passer playing through two blockers (X), as indicated in Figure 141. The defensive men must hit with the inside shoulder before spinning out to play through the blockers at the side and rear of the sled.
Figure 141
Gauntlet Drill (10-12 men):
We are primarily concerned with the tacklers in this drill. Two rows of jerseys five yards apart is the area the ball carrier (X) is permitted to run with the football. The tacklers (T) are five yards apart one behind the other. The ball carrier tries to get by the tackler, and the coach is checking on the latter’s football position—bend at the knees, back straight, hit on the rise, and follow-through. If the coach stands behind the ball carrier, he will be in the best position to observe the tacklers, making certain they do not close their eyes on contact, etc. Figure 142 illustrates our Gauntlet Drill.
Figure 142
Defensive Bucker (4-6 men):
The individual Bucker Drill, not illustrated by diagram, is used when we work in small groups. It teaches the correct form for delivering a blow with the hands, shoulders or forearms. A coach or manager moves the ball to simulate the start of a play, and the defensive man reacts and moves quickly on the sight of the ball.
DRILLS FOR THE LINEBACKERS
The following drills are used to teach individual and team techniques to our linebackers:
All Secondary Drills:
Since our linebackers are a part of our defensive secondary, every drill relating to pass defense mentioned and illustrated previously, are also used for our linebackers.
Eye-Opener Drill (8-12 men):
Figure 143 illustrates four large dummies, a line of ball carriers (O) and a line of tacklers (X). The ball carrier either fakes at one hole and goes through the next one, or goes through the first hole trying to beat the tackler. The linebacker tries to keep leverage on the ball carrier, trying to meet him in the hole. The tackler must be careful he does not over-run the ball carrier.
Figure 143
Eye-Closer Drill (12-15 men):
Figure 144 illustrates our Eye-Closer Drill with the offense running its middle attack and the linebackers in particular reacting to every situation they are likely to encounter in a game.
Figure 144
The linebackers also take part in the following drills which I have discussed and illustrated previously:
1. Defensive Bucker Drill.
2. Gauntlet Drill.
3. Middle Drill.
4. Pursuit Drill.
5. Wave Drill.
6. Peel-Off Drill.
DEFENSIVE DRILLS FOR THE TEAM
When we have defensive drills for our entire team, it is usually three-quarters full speed, or as we commonly refer to it, full speed except for tackling.
We also have drills in which our linemen run half-speed and the defensive secondary, full speed. At times one side of the line will be full speed and the other half-speed. The offense is operating full speed and does not know which side of the defensive line is full speed and which side is half-speed.
Our game condition scrimmages are about the only time our entire defensive unit will play full speed, with the exception of full speed goal line defensive scrimmages occasionally. We learn and rehearse our defenses as a team, but seldom scrimmage full speed as a team.
CONCLUSION
We think our drills are functional in nature, and this is why we use them. I cannot see the value of employing drills which are not functional and which do not adhere to the individual and team techniques we will use in a game. We want to drill and rehearse the players in practice the way we want them to perform in a game.