Football Defensive Linemen Drills List
List of Defensive Linemen Drills
Bag Drills
Bag drills can also be used to improve the agility of linemen. Additional bag drills include stepping over the bags sideways in a way that does not have them cross their feet, turning their bodies to face the other direction every couple of bags, or jumping between the bags to get through.
Fighting with your Hands Drill
In the fighting with your hands drill, two stationary players stand right in front of each other. The defensive lineman must fend off repeated attempts by the other player to hit the lineman in the chest.
Four Corners Drill
The four corners drill is a variation on the four-cone box drill. Four cones are placed in a square. The lineman runs from the first cone to the one in front of them. They then perform a karaoke shuffle to the cone to their left before backpedaling to the cone behind them. Finally, they shuffle sideways to the first cone on his right.
One-on-One Pass Rush Drill
The one-on-one pass rush drill makes use of five offensive and five defensive linemen. The coach picks only one defensive lineman to actually rush the quarterback, though the offensive line does not know who it is. Each defensive lineman fakes like they are going to rush, but only one does.
Sack Drill
The sack drill has linemen make their way through three bags and three cones before tackling a dummy.
Shake and Bake Drill
The shake and bake drill consists of the linemen zig-zagging through dummies while stopping at each one to shake them.
Shuttle Run
The shuttle run uses three lines five yards apart from each other. The lineman starts at the middle line in a three-point stance and then runs to one of the outside lines and touches it with their hand. The lineman then runs to the other outside line and touches it with their hand. They finish by running back past the middle line again.
Sled Drills
As a base drill, players make contact with the sled and move forward, pushing the sled back with extended arms.
Wax On, Wax Off Drill
In the wax on wax off drill, an offensive lineman and defensive lineman stand facing each other. The offensive player puts their hands up as if to block the defensive player, while the defender attempts to move them out of the way. The offensive player continues to fight with the defender, moving their hands back into place.
FAQ
What are the best defensive lineman drills?
The best defensive lineman drills are the One-on-One Pass Rush Drill, the Sack Drill, Sled Drills, and the Wax On, Wax Off Drill. These drills train defensive linemen to vary up their attacking techniques, to sack the quarterback, and enhance their pushing ability when it comes to facing offensive linemen. These are vital skills for defenders, who are tasked with beating offensive linemen to open up gaps for the linebackers and to attack the quarterback.
What can I do to become a better defensive lineman?
The most important skills to master in order to become a better defensive lineman are your stance, strength, speed, and use of hands. A good stance is the most important starting point for a defender, as it allows you to make a good charge at the offense. Strength and speed, meanwhile, are vital for overwhelming and slipping past the offensive blockers to attack the quarterback. Finally, proper use of hands is vital for opening up gaps for the linebackers, and in avoiding costly penalties.