Teaching Covered/uncovered blocking

[Michael]

The only thing I would add is stressing a good punch. I didnt discover how important that was until the next season.

How extended are your arms at the end of the punch?  And then what do you do?

We don't punch.  I'm not saying that's the best choice, though.

[coachmsl]

Matt

I downloaded my own OZ doc attached to this thread that has been floating around since 2005 or so. I started out following the Coach DeLeone method cuz it made sense to me and then Coach Wilmesherr was kind enough to dumb it down to the youth level for me when he was a regular at Hueys when that site first launched.

That pdf is my take for OZ and believe it still applies. The only thing I would add is stressing a good punch. I didnt discover how important that was until the next season..and I started going over the percentages that next season as well as it really helped the semi pros I was coaching at the time.

Covered= within the frame....Uncovered=outside the frame. Shading = covered. No numbering the defenders.

No wonder the OP is so confused he had to start this thread. Now I am too.  When I first read this thread I thought...ok that's an easy answer. 

I dont know but things seem to have become more confusing than its worth anymore. Nose to nose? It makes zero sense to me?

Where's Rich when you need him. 

I feel terrible.  Sorry for confusing the issue. 

I know this.  We were not physical enough last year on the OLine.  I will not pretend like we were. 
I know this.  We didnt always block the right guy.  I will not pretend like we did. 
I know this.  Our combos ended up being double teams with no one coming off on backers.



Glad to have you guys here.  My buddies dont like talking ball enough. 

[mahonz]

How extended are your arms at the end of the punch?  And then what do you do?

We don't punch.  I'm not saying that's the best choice, though.

M

First step load the arms ( guns in the holster)...second step explode the arms palms out thumbs up wrist together as violently as humanly possible directly at the aiming point and grab cloth ( legal)...or some nice tender armpit if that where you end up ( semi pro tech  ) . So...fully extended keeping the defender out of the frame so they cant rip or swim.

Fast feet very fast hands. We dropped the fast eyes because the kids would miss their aiming points since they are more times than not....punching a moving target. Engage then look ahead.

A violent punch is hard to get used to for the DL. Its neutralizing almost by itself. We practice this relentlessly on the bags.

All linemen except the center must wear padded gloves.

[mahonz]

I feel terrible.  Sorry for confusing the issue. 

I know this.  We were not physical enough last year on the OLine.  I will not pretend like we were. 
I know this.  We didnt always block the right guy.  I will not pretend like we did. 
I know this.  Our combos ended up being double teams with no one coming off on backers.



Glad to have you guys here.  My buddies dont like talking ball enough.

Matt

I think everyone has confused the issue including me... don't beat yourself up.

I have heard a few youth coaches say that zone blocking isn't physical enough and I'd agree if you dont punch well. Coach Mountjoy would stress the punch every chance he got.

If we all got the kids to block the right guy every play we'd all win by 50 points every game.

At least your boys combo'd the DL. I had issues my first season with them combing the LB'r. That was very upsetting to the TB. 

[Michael]

So...fully extended keeping the defender out of the frame so they cant rip or swim.

I want to be body to body, holding them in tight so they can't rip or swim.

I figure the defender wants separation, and I don't.  I don't think we both want it.

As the Dire Straits song says, "Two men say they're Jesus.  One of them must be wrong."

[mahonz]

I want to be body to body, holding them in tight so they can't rip or swim.

I figure the defender wants separation, and I don't.  I don't think we both want it.

As the Dire Straits song says, "Two men say they're Jesus.  One of them must be wrong."

M

Simply another stunt by the defender like a twist or spin or dip or bear crawl....or..... So dont chase.  If covered and the defender stunts to the play side he has the blockers second step in his crotch....backside he runs into the uncovered man.

If uncovered the defender can only realistically stunt to the play side and is too far away to get a good swat for the swim or on the hip for the rip as the blocker is sliding or bucketing at him from the opposing side of the rip swim technique. This considering you are a max verticle splits and punching violently.

Backside that defender is probably getting cut or sifted....so stunt away.   

Its why zone marries so well with pass blocking....keep the defender out of your frame so you can control him while you lift him. If you want the defender in your frame you might be best served using shoulder blocking.

If you want to be that consummate OL coach that teaches that violence to the nth degree that we all truly love....you need to give all of your deep thinking Roid 714 Dire Straits CD's to your girl friend and start stalking up on some LSD25 Marilyn Manson CD's....cuz its all about the attitude brother.  ...and Iv'e seen your boys play...they have plenty of attitude. Imagine if you take them to the next level. 

After a week in pads this August do an experiment. Run covered uncovered rules with two of your best OL vs three of your best DL and stunt away. See what happens. That's how I convinced myself that stunting of any kind was futile as long as the OL never chased...even for a nano second.

Heck you are already zone guy anyway....just on the fence a little bit. Zone is big on big a lot at the youth level anyway....just more controlled.

[Michael]

I hate to break it to you, but the CD in my car right now is the Go-Go's greatest hits.

http://www.amazon.com/Vh1-Behind-Music-Go-Gos-Collection/dp/B00004T9UN/ref=sr_1_9?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1327462058&sr=1-9

If that's wrong, I don't want to be right.

[Michael]

If you want the defender in your frame you might be best served using shoulder blocking.

We grab with the hands, so we're a hands team, but the more I read all the hands vs. shoulder debates, the more I think we fit in with the shoulder teams.  Everyone considers De La Salle a shoulder team, and after seeing them, I think we fit in a lot more with them (but nearly as good, of course) than we do with most hands teams.  They way they hit the sled is very, very close to the way we hit the tires.  We don't make shoulder contact -- as Gibbs says, we might be better technically without shoulder pads -- but we are chest to chest and we elevate the guy.  Bobby Hosea's tackling video matches almost exactly what we do, except our hands are in front of the defender ripping up rather than behind the ball carrier ripping up.  And we don't steer the guy with a hand.  We don't steer him at all.  We cut off lateral movement with the thigh/knee.

It's sort of like the same concept as Olympic cleans.  Yeah, you're controlling the bar with your hands (with a lot looser grip than we use for blocking), but you're moving it with your legs.  That applies to us for both the elevation and the walk.

[mahonz]

I hate to break it to you, but the CD in my car right now is the Go-Go's greatest hits.

http://www.amazon.com/Vh1-Behind-Music-Go-Gos-Collection/dp/B00004T9UN/ref=sr_1_9?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1327462058&sr=1-9

If that's wrong, I don't want to be right.

M

Hey I will admit...I've seen the Go-Go's in person !

[mahonz]

We grab with the hands, so we're a hands team, but the more I read all the hands vs. shoulder debates, the more I think we fit in with the shoulder teams.  Everyone considers De La Salle a shoulder team, and after seeing them, I think we fit in a lot more with them (but nearly as good, of course) than we do with most hands teams.  They way they hit the sled is very, very close to the way we hit the tires.  We don't make shoulder contact -- as Gibbs says, we might be better technically without shoulder pads -- but we are chest to chest and we elevate the guy.  Bobby Hosea's tackling video matches almost exactly what we do, except our hands are in front of the defender ripping up rather than behind the ball carrier ripping up.  And we don't steer the guy with a hand.  We don't steer him at all.  We cut off lateral movement with the thigh/knee.

It's sort of like the same concept as Olympic cleans.  Yeah, you're controlling the bar with your hands (with a lot looser grip than we use for blocking), but you're moving it with your legs.  That applies to us for both the elevation and the walk.

M

You block like DLS and I'm coming to your clinics. 

...and something tells me you will get there somehow.

[Michael]

I had box seats for them last year.  It was awesome.

[Michael]

M

You block like DLS and I'm coming to your clinics. 

...and something tells me you will get there somehow.

In a 100 years, maybe.  But our stuff is working pretty well so far.  And I only have about 20 things I want to learn more about at clinics this year.

[mahonz]

I had box seats for them last year.  It was awesome.

M

I saw them on a rotating stage in Phoenix....so it was butts...profile...boobs...profile...back to butts. 

The music was pretty good too.

[mahonz]

In a 100 years, maybe.  But our stuff is working pretty well so far.  And I only have about 20 things I want to learn more about at clinics this year.

M

I did think of one stunt that is more of an alignment than anything that should create problems for zone and any team that feels the need to pull. Its in Clark's Killer Bee D.

Pretty creative guy that dumcoach.

[Michael]

any team that feels the need to pull

That ain't me, as you know.