Setting Up for Pass Blocking

Photo by Jim McIsaac Getty Images

The first technique offensive linemen need to learn is how to quickly get out of the stance and set up as smoothly as possible.

In this drill we will not use any men on defense. Our only concern is to get the offensive player out of his three-point stance and into a body position to pass protect. In the beginning, it is important for the coach to have only one player set up at a time. As the offensive linemen become more and more skilled in setting up, the coach can have the entire line set at one time.

In addition to telling the offensive lineman the snap count prior to each play, the coach also should tell the blocker where the defender is lined up, in a one, two, or three position.

The offensive lineman should line up in a balanced stance. The more weight he has on his down hand and the farther out in front of the shoulder pads the hand is, the harder it will be for him to set up. There should be just enough weight on the down hand that the offensive blocker can push off the ground with the fingers of the down hand, thus allowing him to get into a two-point stance for pass protection. There should not be a big stagger in the feet; a heel-toe or heel-instep relationship between the two feet is the best.

Starting with the imaginary defensive player in a one position, the offensive player must push up and back with the down hand on the snap count. As his shoulders come up, he should take a slight step toward the center with his inside foot. This power step to the inside is necessary so he can be in position to stop the defensive player's inside charge.

The set-up technique is the same for a defender in the two position, except that now the first step of the offensive blocker - the power step - is taken with the outside rather than the inside foot.

At the same time he takes his power step, the blocker must lower his hips by flexing his knees (not by bending at the waist). He must keep his back straight and his head up, with his eyes focused straight ahead. The elbows of both arms should be in close to his body and bent so that the hands are four to five inches in front of his jersey. Both hands should be close together, thumbs almost touching, fingers up, palms facing toward the defense and even with the center of the offensive lineman's chest.

In the initial set-up with the defensive man aligned in a one or two location, it is very important that the offensive blocker always stay square to the line of scrimmage and not turn his body to the right or left.

When first teaching pass protection to the center, the coach must tell the center if he will set to his right or left with a defender in the one location.

The footwork for an offensive lineman in pass protection must change if he sees that the defender has lined up in a three location. With the defender in this wide alignment, the blocker must kick his outside foot back with a 45-degree angle step and slide his inside foot to the outside so that his body remains in a squared, balanced position in the path of the pass rusher toward the quarterback.

"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.

For a personalized autographed copy of "Play Football the NFL Way," plus information on Coach Bass Sport Maps--the new Official NFL Licensed Football Guides to watching, enjoying and understanding all the action on the field, for all fans--please visit www.CoachBass.com.

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