Advanced Defensive Line Drills

Tim Tobin closes his defensive line series with 13 drills that build technique against both the run and the pass. Each drill isolates one piece of defensive line play: separation, low pad level, hip turn, step recognition or a pass rush move. That gives your individual period high-rep work on the exact skills that show up on game night, with sleds, chutes, tires and bags you already own.

What you'll learn

• How defensive line technique changes between run and pass, and the keys that tell a lineman which one he has
• Why separation is the defensive lineman's priority against the run
• Run technique drills: Stop and Redirect, the Cut Drill that simulates a cut block, the Spill Drill, the Recognize Step Drill and the Stomp Hill Drill
• The Flat Back Drill for pad level and leverage
• The Tire Post and Hip Drill, turning the lineman's hip into the opponent's hard shoulder
• The Under the Chutes Drill for staying low and the Jersey Torque Drill with sleds
• Why the third step is the key detail when defending the pass
• Pass rush drills: Same Foot Same Arm, Big Tire and Towel, Turn Hip and Pass Rush Move, and the Single Bag Jersey Drill for the rip, punch and spin
• Stunts against both the run and the pass

Who it's for

High school and college defensive line coaches who need a full individual period, and defensive coordinators building an off-season technique plan for the front.

About the coach

Tim Tobin coached the defensive line for five years at Kutztown and has served as linebackers coach and run game coordinator at Tusculum College.

Part of Coach Tobin's four-part series on defensive line play. Runtime: about 39 minutes.