Description

Buddha Williams, DE Coach, Indiana

Full video on Glazier Drive:  D-Line Progressive Drill Work for the Run Game

DEFENSIVE LINE PASS RUSH TECHNIQUES WITH MITTS TRAINING

This coaching session focuses on developing fundamental pass rush skills for defensive linemen using boxing/MMA mitts as training tools. The coach emphasizes that technique is everything, using the acronym "TOE" - Technique Over Everything.

PRIMARY TRAINING OBJECTIVES

The mitt work is designed to develop three key areas: accuracy with hand placement, hand-and-feet coordination, and hand speed. The coach stresses that accuracy is the most critical component, as perfect technique execution makes play calls and other factors irrelevant.

MITT TRAINING ADVANTAGES

Boxing mitts provide a smaller target compared to traditional bags, forcing players to be more precise with their strikes. This increased difficulty in practice translates to better accuracy against offensive linemen during games.

SWIPE TECHNIQUE FUNDAMENTALS

The coach teaches a specific swiping method that differs from common approaches. Players should use the meat of their forearm (from wrist to elbow) rather than the back of their hand. This technique provides more power and a larger contact surface, reducing room for error even with mistimed moves. Players must always see their hands land and follow through completely with their swipes.

SINGLE-ARM SWIPE VARIATION

For efficiency, the coach demonstrates using only the inside hand for swiping while the outside hand can be used to pull through on the offensive player's tricep or shoulder plate. This technique maximizes effectiveness while conserving energy.

CHOP TECHNIQUE TRAINING

The mitt work includes practicing chop moves where players overexaggerate hand placement to ensure they can see and control their target. The focus is on getting control of the offensive lineman's hand or wrist, making the follow-up moves easier to execute.

FOOTWORK INTEGRATION

Throughout all techniques, proper footwork is emphasized as equally important as hand technique. Players must point their feet correctly and maintain proper body positioning during rush moves.

FINISHING FUNDAMENTALS

The coach addresses a common problem in football practice - defensive players developing bad habits because they're taught to avoid contact with quarterbacks. This creates "flyby" tendencies where rushers veer off instead of finishing their moves. The training emphasizes completing rushes all the way through.

DOUBLE CLUB TECHNIQUE

Players practice throwing double clubs with proper timing, avoiding throwing too early or too late. The drill emphasizes keeping hands and feet moving rather than throwing at stationary targets, improving game-like timing and coordination.

THE STRIKE ZONE CONCEPT

A critical concept introduced is the "strike zone" - the chest area of the offensive lineman. Players are taught to minimize their own exposed area while maximizing their ability to attack the opponent's strike zone. This reduces the offensive player's punching opportunities while maintaining the rusher's power and speed for counter moves.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

All techniques are designed to translate directly to game situations, with emphasis on maintaining power and speed throughout the rush to enable effective counter moves when initial techniques don't succeed.

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