Pass Blocking???

[Coach Corey Brown]

We have 19 players on our junior team (13up) and 10 are new to organized ball.  We have taught them inside out protection with pass but it has been ineffective thus far.  What strategies and techniques do you guys recommend for pass blocking?  I need help ASAP!

[Michael]

What's ineffective?

They don't know who to block, or they can't block, or both?

[Jburk]

We're a track blocking/zone team, but pass blocking is the only situation where my guys have assignments. Their assignments are:
Center - man on, if no man on he takes biggest threat.
Guards - 1st man past center
Tackles - 2nd man past center
Tight Ends (if any) - 3rd man past center

I'm teaching them to be aggressive about getting to their guy and driving them to the outside. I like this over the "build a wall" method, I think it just reduces confusion with my guys.

[Michael]

We man up, with a ton of work on blitzes.  We'll get six defenders in a huddle, and race them to the line right before the snap.  Sometimes one or two will delay.  If they line up and the ball isn't getting snapped, they'll all start switching places, continually, until the ball is snapped.  The O-Line has to be talking and pointing the whole time.  Then at the snap we'll see how they actually block it.

The two biggest technique things we did was emphasize that once the hands go on, they stay on, and usually put the tackles in an up stance with a big stagger.

We've improved a ton the past few weeks.

[mahonz]

Coach

Assuming you want a pocket since you have been teaching inside out, attached is what we do.

I keep any backs in the mix blocking to the edge and out of the way of the QB.

[Coach Corey Brown]

What's ineffective?

They don't know who to block, or they can't block, or both?

It's both.  They get confused when shifts occur or when blitzers are present.

[Michael]

It's both.  They get confused when shifts occur or when blitzers are present.

Did you watch last night's game?  The Jets and Ravens couldn't handle those things, either.

At any level, it's a lot easier for the defense to cause trouble than it is for the offensive line to handle it, from the little dudes playing tap stacks to the NFL guys doing what the Ravens and Jets were doing.

[Coach Corey Brown]

Did you watch last night's game?  The Jets and Ravens couldn't handle those things, either.

At any level, it's a lot easier for the defense to cause trouble than it is for the offensive line to handle it, from the little dudes playing tap stacks to the NFL guys doing what the Ravens and Jets were doing.

Very true...

[Coach Corey Brown]

@mahonz  thx

[Michael]

A little off-topic, but to me, this is the gold standard: http://articles.philly.com/2002-01-28/sports/25344043_1_blitz-ribs-eagles

They were awesome the way they picked everything up.  And they did it against Jim Johnson's defense.

A week later, they missed a pick-up and ended up throwing a pick six: http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2002/02/04/spt_patriots_shock.html

My favorite part about coaching the older kids on O-Line is figuring out pass pro schemes.

[zoezachary]

just number the defenders starting with the man over the center as zero, and count to 4 in each direction....
the key is to understand who is zero in every defense, and that zero is normally number 4 to either side....
Its not that complicated...it just takes some effort to understand how it works.

[CoachShad]

Personally, I keep my pass protection simple.  I dont form a pocket rather I use slide protection.  I dont use a lot of 5 and 7 step drops either.

Slide Left, Slide Right FB takes opposite the slide.  Very easy to teach and sufficient for the passing game I use.  3 and some 5 step but more important is the fact that my QB is not stationary. 

[Coach Ike]

I'm with Coach Shad on this one, we do full slide with a back picking up the edge and it works wonders and is easy to teach.
 But also no 5 step or 7 step game for us.

[zoezachary]

slide doesnt solve the issue....you are still vulnerable two outside to the slide side....and a freebie away from the slide.

[mahonz]

It should also be noted that not even Ryan Clady himself can slide around a vacating TE.

Too many coaches overlook this so be aware. Always slide away from the TE. If you use two TE's....keep one in or release both and use two backs to fill both edges.