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Josh Linam, LB Coach, Liberty

Watch the entire video "Defining & Drilling Block Destruction Tools" on Glazier Drive

CORE PRINCIPLES OF BLOCK DESTRUCTION: Creating force and torque is fundamental to effective block destruction. This involves stepping and loading up, generating momentum by bringing hips and hands together in conjunction, and rolling hips from low to high. Maintaining proper foot positioning (keeping feet underneath armpits) is essential throughout the process, similar to tackling mechanics.

SEPARATION TECHNIQUES: After creating torque, players must either push-pull ("put them in your pocket") or shrug and throw. The shrug creates separation before ripping off or using an arm-over technique, followed by lateral movement to clear hips from the blocker. When ripping through, players typically use a snatch motion; when using an arm-over, they typically throw.

THE CAGE TECHNIQUE: The cage is a two-gap strike technique used primarily in two-gap defenses or when playing mint with a tight end in the core and open C-gap. It's also effective against perimeter blocks and pullers that need to be spilled. The technique requires:

• Shooting low to high with locked hips
• Hands above eyes with full lockout
• 45-degree angle engagement
• Activating glutes and lats

PROGRESSION TRAINING: The video shows a training progression beginning with static drills (no footwork), focusing on hip and hand coordination. It then advances to punch timing against moving targets, emphasizing the crucial timing mechanism when engaging blockers approximately one yard away. Finally, it incorporates full body movement with proper base replacement.

U-BAR TECHNIQUE: This variation involves:

• Driving insteps into the ground ("whole cleat in the ground")
• Rolling hips and shooting with tight elbows and thumbs up
• Creating lateral separation
• Using a heavy outside hand for disengagement
• Employing a tight arm-over to clear hips back to the line of scrimmage

INCORPORATING BALL CARRIERS: Advanced drills integrate ball carriers, requiring players to transition their vision from blocker to ball carrier while maintaining technical discipline. This adds the element of tackle preparation after successfully destroying the block.

HALF-A-MAN TECHNIQUE: Used when defenders have leverage in their gap (e.g., B-gap against outside zone). Key elements include:

• Maintaining outside leg and arm free
• Placing power foot in the ground
• Splitting the blocker's stance
• Shocking the sternum with the inside hand (power hand)
• Using the outside hand as a guide hand on the shoulder or bicep
• Setting the edge to maintain gap integrity

TECHNICAL VIOLENCE: Throughout the video, emphasis is placed on being both technically precise and physically violent - addressing blockers with "aggression and technical violence" to effectively destroy blocks and make plays.

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