Pass Protection Drills: Part I

Photo by Rick Stewart Getty Images

Once the offensive line has mastered the technique for setting up on pass protection, it is time to introduce a defensive pass rusher to the drill. As with the run blocking drills, use offensive linemen to play on both offense and defense.

Initially the men on defense should try only to run by the offensive blocker to the target area, which can be a dummy, a towel, or a chalk mark seven yards directly behind the offensive center. As the offensive linemen feel more comfortable in their footwork, the pass rushers can be given the flexibility of rushing to one side and then coming back to the other side of the offensive blocker.

The coach only will have one blocker and one defensive man work on each snap. In the beginning, when trying to build the blockers' confidence and footwork, the coach should instruct the defenders to rush only to the outside from a one location.

On the snap, the blocker must power-step with his inside foot and assume a pass-protection position, keeping his shoulders parallel with the line of scrimmage. As the defensive man starts his pass rush, the blocker must gather himself, lower his hips, straighten his back, position his hands and arms, raise his head, focus on the numbers of the defensive man, and prepare to strike the defensive player.

The force for stopping the momentum of the defender must start at the ground, come up through the big muscle groups of the blocker's legs and be transferred out through the palms of the offensive lineman's hands.

It is important that the offensive blocker not bend at the waist and lunge forward toward the defensive pass rusher. In this extended position he quickly will lose his balance and find that he will be unable to stay between the pass rusher and the target area.

The offensive lineman should deliver as hard a blow as possible with his hands. Once the palms have made contact with the defensive man, the blocker must press out with his arms and maintain separation from the pass rusher.

When the defensive man's momentum has been stopped, the blocker must reset his hands and arms and shuffle his feet so that he keeps his body between the pass rusher and the target area. By shuffling his feet, taking short, quick steps and keeping his feet close to the ground, the blocker can maintain a good, wide base. He cannot take long steps or cross his feet while he is pass-protecting. He always must stay in relative position, maintaining his stance between the pass rusher and the target area and not going out to meet the defensive man, should the defender rush wide to the outside of the target area.

When the blocker sees that the defensive man once again starts his charge toward the target, he should gather himself and prepare to strike again, stopping the defensive man's momentum and causing him to restart his drive to the target area.

The blocker should continue this action until the whistle blows or the coach calls a stop to the drill. Without a quarterback in the drill, the coach can allow the men to make contact three or four times before stopping the drill and going to the next two players.

Remember, in this drill, there should be a quick setup on the snap, a good hard blow by the blocker, balanced body position, quick shuffling foot movement, and a well maintained relative position by the offensive blocker on the defensive man.

"Play Football The NFL Way" is the first Instructional Manual for Football Players and Coaches ever published by the NFL. It is the ultimate position-by-position guide of techniques and drills for Offense, Defense and Special Teams. Author Tom Bass is a former NFL coach with more than 20 years of experience with the Cincinnati Bengals, San Diego Chargers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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Copyright © Thomas L. Bass 2006. All rights reserved.