Kevin Loadman, OL @ Westerville Central HS in Ohio. Bacon lover, lifter of heavy things, and wondering about the plethora of secrets awaiting us in the #hogfbchat SCIF tonight
Coaches, We will be following Q/A format. Make sure to follow @CoachShiffman and @CoachDingus for the questions! Please use the #hogfbchat hashtag in all interaction! RT all questions for Maximum Visibility!
#HOGFBCHAT
Peter "Coach Big Pete" Leinweber
Publisher 6 of @DeepDishFB
Founder of @WIMIReport
Westmont, IL
EX COACH now Recruiting Analyst & Football Analyst for High School Football
FOOTBALL IS ALMOST HERE #IHSA
Gabe Fertitta Head Football Coach at Catholic High in Baton Rouge. I feel completely out of place at any and all OL clinic talks. Get lots of odd stares from those in the room over 155lbs. #hogfbchat
I am Jack Dingus I am the Offensive Line Coach at Shawnee High School in Shawnee, Oklahoma the Birthplace of Brad Pitt! I am the Co-Founder and Co-Host of the Monday Night #hogfbchat along side @CoachShiffman
Mathew Bennett, OL coach/Run Game Coordinator at Woodmont High School, Greenville South Carolina. Glad to be here, both in this chat and most importantly in the greatest country in the world #hogfbchat
A1: Prefer low hands. Less for the defense to grab. Also helps to punch up from low to high to help unweigh defenders. Also like working independent hands in pass pro so sometimes may have one high and one low. #hogfbchat
A1) I don’t know whether you would say low or high, I coach mine to keep hands “banded” together and in front of pecs. Punch thumbs up fingers out while punching head out. #hogfbchat
a1 #hogfbchat up position all day every day. You're asking to be beaten like a rented mule keep them low. Use the 25lb plate trick to find the best position, then strike with the thumbs turned out
A1: Low Hands. Low hands hell the Olineman sink his hips. At the end of the day though as long as the dude is getting blocked, I will not harp on it much #hogfbchat
A1 I wrestle with this. Lower hands are preferred, but I find that HS kids can punch quicker with high hands. I try to find which the kid does best and allow for ether. #hogfbchat
Great question. I see merits to both. The last two years I’ve wanted thumbs at sternum and pass protected great. This year I’m trying out having them a little lower this year (constantly trying to make small changes to get better). #hogfbchat
A1: I prefer to throw that punch up through the defenders chest, but while setting I want hands right below our chest with the “tennis ball” between them. So I guess I prefer hands low in pass pro #hogfbchat
A1) Whatever the athlete is more comfortable with. I think most fundamentals are negotiable in that there are many ways to skin a cat. We establish a base that is non-negotiable and then the rest depends on the comfort of the guys. #hogfbchat
A1. High hands. Want them around nipple level. If you have good hip and knee bend you will be punching in an upward plane. Also helps to get the inside hand punched in on an inside/spin move. #hogfbchat
A1: prefer hands high, wrists together "V's to the sky" ready to punch straight out and slightly upward.. elbows tucked and locked on contact. Can punch independently but Force hand will be near the qb. #hogfbchat
A1: Each player is different. You want a fast, physical, quick twitch response from the hands and how /where they carry them doesn’t bother me as long as the movement pattern is efficient. If they load up or clamp, then I start to tweak... #hogfbchat#CustomSuit
A1: We've gone to a lot more single and double under strikes in run game as well. Low hands in pass pro marries up a little better with that technique. Also like low hands/double under for jump sets. #hogfbchat
A1 cont - I’ve spoke to coaches that believe it makes it tougher for DL to time up their hand fighting (ie swiping and grabbing wrists). We did it this spring and seemed to work well. #hogfbchat
A1: Hands high...should be able to see them through the facemask, with enough bend at the elbows to deliver a violent punch. It also helps OL shoulders stay square to LOS longer. #hogfbchat
I very rarely see NFL OL with high hands. I tried to prove Paul Alexander wrong and failed miserably. The low hands prevent over extending on a strike. I don’t necessarily think it’s more violent, but it’s a better position to be in. You can still swat hands away. #hogfbchat
A1: Also easier to engage hips in punch when working low to high. Hips can stay low and then extend in the same angle as the hands. Hips and hands work together here instead of punching "out" #hogfbchat
A2: Low hips. If your hips are low then your pads will naturally be low as well. Low hips= better leverage which lets the offensive lineman drive the DL off the ball #hogfbchat
WHOOPS! Running late to the #hogfbchat, lost track of time! As always it’s Robert Ortiz, OL Coach at Murrieta Valley HS in Murrieta California. Your favorite coach’s favorite coach, as they say.
A2. Low hip. I can lower my pads by bending at the waist, but that isn’t helping me gain leverage. Get those “Z’s” in your legs and drive through the ground! #HogFBChat
a2 #hogfbchat Neither. I teach them the proper stance, followed by drive/catch, then the appropriate way to engage the defender based on the play and the angle I need each OL to play through. Like going through chutes...they bend hips and are hunched over like they're 80
A2: I am constantly telling my guys to sink their hips to fix their pad level. A more flexible OL will get lower, and as we know, low man wins, but we’ve got to be able to sink our hips for to maintain that power base #hogfbchat
A2) I’m still a punch guy even in run blocking, so I want low hips so I can explode hips, punch and lift a DL and run him. I want to see power/hang clean on film. Explode, lift a DL, lower and run him in to the ground! FINISH! #hogfbchat
A1: "Big Chest, Big Ass. High Hat, Low Hands" - Denver Johnson
I haven't seen it proven wrong yet, so I still preach it, teach it, and believe in it. #hogfbchat
A2: Been preaching low pads... But learned this is wrong... Gonna make a switch to low hips this year.. see if it works.. can't wait to read this convo for more info #hogfbchat
A2: BOTH. If the hips are right, the pad level is easier to achieve a good flat back on a drive block or down block, a reach...lower hips lead to low pads ...#hogfbchat
A1: low hands, doesn’t give the defender anything to knock down. Makes defender have to stay patient and forces him to make decision, and forces hands to strike up and through the defender #HOGFBCHAT
A2: Low hips because I feel like the coaching cue is a lot more effective. I want them to hear what they need to do. Do it in the weight room to so it is a constant and they know how to fix it #hogfbchat
A2: Low Hips. Low hips = low pads. A lot of kids hear low pads and want to bend over rather then sink. Low hips allows for more explosive deliveries as well. Low pads looks like the gif below. #hogfbchat
A2: I've noticed that low pads tends to be interpreted as 'bend more at the waist' so I've been working to be more direct of what I want to see, which best reflects low hips #hogfbchat
A2 I’m not totally sure that these are mutually exclusive. I want both. But if I can only have one, I want our guys playin pad under pad football. #hogfbchat
A2: Low hips and then we drive our “Compass” through the defender. we do not bend at the waist, and we never “SIT” in our stance, or when we are executing our blocks. We always “SQUAT”down and lower our center of mass!!!! #hogfbchat
Indeed...but that's also elite against elite...guys who know and have honed every trick in the book in addition to being gifted athletes. But I understand what you're saying #hogfbchat
A2: Have always preached pad level with hat, hands, pads. Changing because I have had Cristobal drill off of 1 knee in my head all spring. Lowers hips. Forces them down. Low hips = shoulders forward = low hat = win. #hogfbchat
A2: I preach low hips. HOWEVER, each player is efficient at different levels. It’s imperative to find where they are athletic and explosive and let them play there. If low pads Beyoncé’s the emphasis kids become waist benders. #hogfbchat
A2. I press low pad. We shoulder block. I want shoulders on thighs. When I was in the spread, still pads. Easier for me to teach. Kids would sink their hips when I said pad level down. They understood pad level. Low hips didn't make much sense to them. #hogfbchat
A2: Low hips. If I tell a HS player “low pads” many will respond by bending at the waist, which isn’t what we want. Good squat technique has carryover here! #hogfbchat
A2) I teach stance. If you teach an effective and efficient stance, then work drive/catch & finally pressure to pressure you’ll have your body in the proper position (for the individual) to gain leverage on their opponent. Which in the end is “low hips.”
I'm 30 minutes late to the chat but I saw this GIF over the weekend and said, "I'm using that for #HogFBchat on Monday." So here I am using it. Ben Palmer, OC/OL, Calvary (Shreveport, LA)
I agree coach. We have a lot of problems with kids bending at the waist because they are trying to fit through the chutes. There’s a disconnect between low pads and hip mobility #Hogfbchat
A2 - neither. We work on ankle/hip flexion and proper run fit positions everyday during pre practice. This kept our pad level in an effective level even late in the year. #hogfbchat
A2: Low hips because that's where his power is going to come from. I spend more time talking about leverage when it comes to run blocking simply because that's how you're gonna lift and displace a guy. #hogfbchat
A2: Low hips is where it's at. Leverage comes from those who have lowest hips. We preach that power comes from the ground. Focusing on low pads causes guys to get overextended and become waste benders. #hogfbchat
Just like a fighter...as he gets tired his hands start to waver/lower. To me it makes it even more valuable to keep them higher, especially since it is so difficult to get 15-18 year old kids to understand independent hands #hogfbchat
Oh, my bad. I mean they naturally carry them lower. They generally say it feels more comfortable and they feel more balanced. I think @AugieCoachBEAR said “#customsuit”. I preach low, but give them the option. #hogfbchat
In reply to
@Warhawks_oline, @SETCA_Coaches, @AugieCoachBEAR
A2: low hips. Low pads doesn’t resonate with a kid. Just puts him in a non-athletic position. Everything is about how efficient and how explosive you use your range of motion. #HOGFBCHAT
Four corner “float drill”. 5yd x 5yd box with cones. Backer must stay in box, but evade the OL. Would love to do the old Rocky Balboa “chase a chicken” drill instead! #hogfbchat
A3) I work an over/under drill every Tuesday. Over/Under is our LB call and we use it in our DBL team drill. I have the DL line up in different spots so sometimes it’s an open field LB block. The play depends on how we block the LB #hogfbchat
a3 #hogfbchat Proper aiming point and treat them with the 'respect' they deserve. Sometimes you need to learn to choke the motor...other times you need to blow their doors off and plant them in the 1st row and let the play develop off of that
A3. We use screen drills to work on climbing to LBs in our screen game. Also rep our combo blocks. Don’t really drill it, just simulate what we will do in a game. #hogfbchat
A3: 4 cone box about 3 yards apart. Have defender in box. OL runs from a few yards to box. Quick mirror drill to slow down and chop feet. On whistle def crosses arms and OL drives out of box. #hogfbchat
A3: I like doing combo drills that work up to the backer. We can also do cut drills with the huge Med ball that a person rolls at the angle. This helps the OL get low and work on cuts #hogfbchat
A3: We Run a zone combo drill that involves two guys holding bags, and pre-snap I motion whether on spikes and the other crashes or they flow, etc. just keeps the guys engaged and learning. Nothing too crazy #HogFBChat
Love @LeCharlesBent65 and all of his stuff. Always admired him as a center. Physical, Athletic, and have stolen all sorts of verbiage from him. The book is on the list this summer! Appreciate it! #hogfbchat
A3: we'll do a chute drill that focuses on blocking 2nd level defenders who are avoiding the OL. Key points are keying the hips (BS hip for IZ, PS hip for OZ). We also do a screen drill that helps with pursuit of 2nd/3rd level players. Buzz the feet and then engage #hogfbchat
A3: I like a variety of drills for this. Veer drill is an option drill, but could certainly be used to BST on inside zone as well. Also like adding a linebacker behind drills in the chute, it makes the OL get used to not popping up when he goes to attack 2nd level #hogfbchat
A3: we are a zone scheme so I drill combos to backers. Backers will read a backfield action and react. I talk about the ANGLE they must take in order to get to a moving backer. When it comes to a pulling play like power, I make them buzz feet at a yard to yd and a half #hogfbchat
A3: Hard to coach this skill. A lot like coaching speed. Kind of have it or don't have it. But I like telling OL where they can "miss" on the LBs. That way they can be aggressive and know if they miss a certain way that the play can still progress. #hogfbchat
A3: we'll do a chute drill that focuses on blocking 2nd level defenders who are avoiding the OL. Key points are keying the hips (BS hip for IZ, PS hip for OZ). We also do a screen drill that helps with pursuit of 2nd/3rd level players. Buzz the feet and then engage #hogfbchat
Q3: During offseason i had them blocking the moving tackling wheel working on outside zone. Emphisis on buzzing feet on contact. I like working lb blocks on the chute, got to stay low. #hogfbchat
A3: Love working our PODs (Half Line) drill with our DL & we get our LBs involved. Try to break the game down into as many game-like scenarios. Working our Drive/Catch & setting our “Angles of Departure” vs real defenders in smaller controlled settings is best #hogfbchat
A3: Honestly, we just always worked completely drills up to the linebacker. I do t know if this qualifies as blocking in space. This question is gonna make me go to Google. Good one #HogFBChat
A3: Aside from working combos and having them fit on moving targets. We work a drill that is strictly blocking a defender who is flowing to the ball. We work a loop to a defender with a bag, either cut on bag or scramble to PS pad. We work aiming pts. In everything #hogfbchat
A3: For Y/H(FB): Love to put a runner behind our arc or lead. Most of our guys have LB experience. Runner makes a move and backer plays it, and our blocker must drop hips and run through defender with a bent knee, delivering a blow in the closest number. #hogfbchat
LOW HIPS! Everyone’s “low” is different. Seeing that clip of Andy Heck that was passed around this week confirmed low hips is the way to teach #HogFBChat
A3: Another helpful coaching point is to not be in a hurry to get there. Need to have an awareness of the play, but the sooner you get there, the longer you have to block them (generally speaking/could be a lot different for a veer or wing t lineman) #hogfbchat
a4 #hogfbchat Don't have a plan for many new drills. The basics are in place for a reason. But absolutely want to get some addition 'study' time in to improve my cues for the OL as I work with them
A3: For uncovered linemen, I emphasize being "natural" getting up to the 2nd level then dropping the hips to get the proper fit. We make sure they understand that the LB can't win over the top to make the play. If they miss LB should run underneath them. #hogfbchat
A3: we do screen drill everyday against our #1 skilled guys on defense so it forces us to break down in space and square up our target and run our feet. Different screens out of different formations have different angles so that’s the difficult part for the kids #HOGFBCHAT
we do a box drill. I set up cones in a square like open field tackle, and I make them block a LB in space lol. We also do a screen drill with landmarks and focus on dropping hips making contact much like an open field tackle #hogfbchat
A4: if it isn’t broke don’t fix it. Don’t need to implement fancy new drills, just focus on the fundamentals and communication. Has worked well enough for us the past few years #HogFBChat
A4: changing up how we come off double teams with one guy calling it. Will have to drill that and also work more on backside combos on IZ and OZ. #hogfbchat
A4) I am going to add a lot more classroom time this off-season. As far as drills, I am going to add more pass pro drills than I did last year. #hogfbchat
A4: once we get through our spring game, I’m going to sift through my drill bank and see what I want to add over this summer. Added “Clemson Drill” this spring to maximize work on blocking down and pulling in one drill. Has been a great addition #hogfbchat
A4: As a first year coach me doing drills is going to be “different” what i would like to do is implement a drill that emphasis agressiveness and finishing the blocks #hogfbchat
A4: going to keep doing the drills we have been doing in the spring. I want my guys to be confident in what they are doing, and try and perfect it. #hogfbchat
A4: Been having O line block run and pass with a bag in their hands so the have to focus on feet and positioning rather than upper body and hands. #hogfbchat
Adding OZ this year will work drills that help reaching and running to next level. Other than that just hammering home footwork and our other drills we have been doing. #hogfbchat
Im a young coach so more or less everything I find is new to me. (Feel free to send drills.) looking forward to doing sumo battles to work hand placement in pass pro and king of the boards to work on running game. Want those guys competing against each other! #HogFBChat
A4 cont. We are running a spread that is pretty balanced run/pass, and my kids are used to run heavy wing-t. So we will do a lot of mirror drills and work on keeping our feet moving in pass pro. Then add in P2P stuff and develope the strike. #HogFBChat
Q4: we are working on changing our 1st step when we are uncovered on zone scheme. More of an open step to give a little ground to gain on 2nd. I’ve always been a go to them... trying new stuff #hogfbchat
A4: I’m always searching. Can’t name any SPECIFICALLY off the top of my head. But I have a few. I’m reading Building The Block, and starting SKAQing again from video 1, so I’m sure I’ll be grabbing more out of that. #hogfbchat
A4: Transitioning to a new position with new guys this coming season... so this summer will be figuring out what they actually know vs. what I want them to be able to do. Will most likely be very basic and do drills that everyone does. Boards, hand progressions, etc. #hogfbchat
Best one I’ve ever done is teach the guys to try and reach one another. Line them up even with each other. Reach footwork and game speed. They all end up trying everything a defender will to get advantage, not that you need help, but it’s my favorite. Had to share! #hogfbchat#OZ
A4: more technique driven and creating as many good habits as possible. Always can improve our craft. Focus on the little details as much as possible #HOGFBCHAT
A4) none. Will have variations of core drills. This summer I’m focused more on ways I can teach in better fashion to get more time to work drills we already have. I want them to master our core things and will build from there #hogfbchat
And that's a wrap for the fastest hour on Twitter! Thank you all for participating in the #hogfbchat We couldn't do it without you coaches! #AllGasNoBrakes#GoGo
A4: Fancy new drills = Nope... but we are refining the way we work our Indy sessions in groups. OTs w/OTs. interiors w/ interiors. Working more position specific drills (Run&Pass) makes us more efficient w/ their time. Unit at the end for scheme work & execution #HOGFBCHAT
One thing I’m going to do this summer FINALLY is get my drills on tape. When I do, this will be on it, and you can have it haha. Anybody in the #hogfbchat can have it. Probably do it in June
Please remember to follow your fellow coaches for weekly chats and collaboration! Greatest profession there is and greatest network of coaches I know #hogfbchat
As always, if you have any topics or questions you would like to have discussed on the #hogfbchat please do not hesitate to DM myself or @CoachDingus with those ideas. Thank you Coaches!
We’d like to thank our official sponsor GameStrat! They provide teams with the most reliable and advanced sideline replay system. Check them out https://t.co/Ywj2bC07FP@GameStrat_#Hogfbchat
A3) Always liked basic zone blocking drills, work double team down lineman to the LB and switch what defenders do (DL shoots in, LB over top/vice-versa/play straight) makes it feel like it would in a game. #hogfbchat
A2: low hips is the only way to go. Teaching low pads leads to waist benders and lungers. Leads to heads down and not seeing the block. Low hips keeps the eyes up. #hogfbchat
Planning on implementing some hip mobility (hurdles?) and quick feet (dot/line?) drills. Get better and also hammer home that our OL are expected to be athletes. #hogfbchat
A4: A few drills but way more agilities and board work. Had an opportunity to go over and compete with a local powerhouse Massaponax High recently and I picked up a few things from their staff and OL coach. We will be mimicking their agilities this season #HogFBChat
A2: have preached low pass but watched a video of low hops and I love the idea. Changes the OLmen mindset. Reduces the dropping of the head to get the pads lower #HogFBChat
A4: going to try some @LeCharlesBent65 drills I have studied this offseason. Also am a young coach looking for new ideas!! Have to keep the “non football” kid engaged in a four sport school #HogFBChat
A3: Take what they give you, seal them which ever direction they choose to go and never let them slide under your block, if they're going to get past you they have to cross your face, but don't ever let that happen either. #hogfbchat
A3: Take what they give you, seal them which ever direction they choose to go and never let them slide under your block, if they're going to get past you they have to cross your face, but don't ever let that happen either. #hogfbchat
A4: First and foremost drill good stances, nothing else matters if your stance is crap. From there we will drill proper footwork for our different blocks and this becomes an EDD throughout the season. #hogfbchat
A1: I have always taught high hands, thumbs up palms striking opponents chest "hand cuffs". I am considering adjusting to lower hand placement after seeing a few other teams in our region give our DL fits with low hands. #hogfbchat
