Whitehall

Football

Installing the Offensive Package:

Offensive Line
 Offensive
Philosophy
• Establish strong inside running
game
• Few plays from a variety of looks
• Force defense to cover entire field

“I don’t believe God put us

on this earth to be ordinary”
Lou Holtz
“It is difficult for a team to have
outstanding morale, confidence
and enthusiasm when it cannot
look to the offensive line to
establish the tempo of the ball
game”
• If the offensive line comes to the
huddle with confidence in their
eyes, the other offensive player’s
confidence will rise
 Offensive Line
Techniques and
Teaching Progressions
• Splits
• Front Recognition
• Stance
• Blocks
 Splits
• 2 feet (adjustable by game plan)
• Depth: we will align off the ball as much
as possible, with helmet at belt of
center
– Defender has less contact time to shed
block
– Allows adjustment to defensive line
movement
– Provides separation from pass rush
– Exception: we will crowd the LOS on the
 Front Recognition
• Covered or Uncovered
• Technique call if Covered. Ex. “5”, “3”,
“9”. Many of our blocking schemes
require combination blocking, and
making a technique call helps
teammates in determining what they
will do.
 Stance
Stance
• 3-point stance, with 40% of weight on down
hand
• Flat back, with toes pointed straight ahead
• Toe-to-heel stagger
• Weight distribution should allow you to both
run block and pass set effectively
 Run Blocks
Basic Fundamentals
(must occur on every block)
• 1st Step (Directional Step). Must be 6” or
less, quick and decisive. Prepares blocker to
engage defender. If step is too far, or too
slow, he’ll never get second foot down before
contact with defender.

• 2nd Step (Attack Step). To cylinder of body

of defender. The explosion of the block will
take place with 2nd step firmly in ground.
Zone-Scheme
Blocks
• Base Block
• Stretch-Double Block
• Rip-Reach Block
• Overtake Block
Man-Scheme
Blocks
• Base Block
• Down Block
• Reach Block
• Pull Block
• Trap Block
• Double Team Block
 Base Block
The Base block will be used on an inside zone play (23/24 Slam) anytime a blocker is "covered"--mea
he has a defender head-up, inside shade, or outside shade. The blocker will ALWAYS step with his
playside foot. The type of step we will use is dependent on the shade of the defender:

Backside Shade or head-up: "Tough" step 4" directly forward, getting it down
quickly so that the second step is right at the cylinder of the defender.

Playside Shade: "Wedge" step at a 45 degree angle to gain playside leverage, getting it
down quickly so that the second step is right at the cylinder of the defender.

24 Slam 24 Slam

B B
T T N T E

Both blockers need playside leverage, so take RT and TE both have playside leverage on their
"Wedge" step at 45 degrees. defenders, so they will "Tough" step. C has a playside
shade, so he must "Wedge" step to gain leverage.
 Stretch-Double Block
The Stretch-Double block will be used on an inside zone play (23/24 Slam) anytime a blocker is
"uncovered"--meaning he does not have a down defender anywhere over him. The blocker will
step laterally with his playside foot, looking to "double" the next down defender with his teammate.
If the defender slants in, the blocker is in perfect position to assume the block, so his teammate
can "one arm bench" him and move to the next level (LB). If the defender moves outside, the
blocker will continue on his track to the next level (LB). If the down defender fights to maintain his
position, the blocker and his teammate will stay on the double team, driving him backwards to the
next level.
 Stretch-Double Block
24 Slam 24 Slam
B B
B B
N T N T

Both G's use stretch-double to create double Both G's step to stretch-double, and climb to LB
teams, driving the down defenders backwards when down defender goes away

24 Slam B B 24 Slam B B
N T T T E

Both G's step to stretch-double, and assume LG will stretch-double and assume base block,
base block on down defenders who step to with C one-arm benching and climbing to LB.
them. C and RT will one-arm bench press and RT will stretch-base and climb to LB while RG
climb to LBs. bases the slant inside.
 Rip-Reach Block
The Rip-Reach block will be used by all covered blockers on the outside zone
play (27/28 Stretch), and by the back-side tackle (BST) on the inside zone play
(23/24 Slam) vs. an inside shade. The purpose is to overtake a defender that is
head-up or outside, gaining outside leverage. There is less emphasis with this
block on driving the opponent back, and more on gaining outside position, to
allow our back to get outside. The blocker will take a normal 6" lateral step
playside, and then crossover on his second step. While making the second step,
the blocker will dip his inside shoulder and rip his inside arm low across the body
of the down defender, gaining outside position. He will then drive his outside
hand into the defender's outside pec, and squeeze him back while swinging to
the outside. The blocker's shoulders should now be somewhat square as he
drives the defender upfield.
 Rip-Reach Block

28 Stretch 24 Slam

B B B B
T N T E T N T E

All covered linemen execute Rip-Reach BST executes Rip-Reach on inside

to gain outside leverage on play going shade defender to gain inside
outside. leverage. (vs. an outside shade,
let him go and climb to LB)
 Overtake Block
An Overtake block is used by uncovered linemen on the outside zone (27/28
Stretch). The purpose is to "overtake" the next down defender, and assume that
block, freeing the next blocker over to climb to the LB level. The uncovered
lineman will step laterally 6" and crossover, much like the Rip-Reach. He then
tries to get "ahead" of the next down defender, in essence pushing his teammate
off him so that he may climb to the next level.

a. If defender is going away, continue on a track up the field to the second level, finding a
scraping LB with your eyes. If he gets ahead of you, you may have to "Rip-reach" him. Use
inside arm to gain leverage, and control arm to square him up as you run him up field.

b. If defender is coming towards you, you will assume the drive block from partner. Drive him
upfield.
 Overtake Block

28 Stretch 28 Stretch

B B B B
T N T E T N T E

Both G's attempt to Overtake the Both G's attempt to Overtake the
next down defender, pushing next down defender, and climb to
teammate off to climb to LB. The LB when defender slants away.
covered blockers will step upfield on
the second step, and one-arm bench
defender to uncovered partner.
 Man Blocks

• These entail portions of blocks

previously mentioned
• Details needed??
 Running Game
• 23/24 Slam
• 27/28 Stretch
• 17/18 Speed Option
• 33/34 Iso
• 25/26 Counter
• 21/22 Trap
 Pass Protection Concepts
• Must match-up with potential rushers
• “Man-Zone” concept
• “80” call: playside is to right (“180”
call: playside is to left
• C blocks to backside, unless
adjustment
• Base Call: allows us to block 3
playside, and 3 backside
180 Protection

B B

E T T E

Six potential rushers. Able to block 3

rushers playside, and 3 weakside.

80 Protection

B B
E T N E

Six potential rushers, but there are now

FOUR weakside rushers.
1. 80/180 Protection
Base Rules: block man across firmly on LOS,
allowing no inside penetration. RBs have
EMLOS.
Adjustments: to allow better match-ups
BOB, Away, Name, Four, Lucky/Ringo

B B B B B

E T N T E
E T T E E T N T E

80 Protection 80 Protection 180 Protection

180 Protection
B B

E T T E

"Base" call. RB has EMLOS. Easily

able to block 3 rushers playside, and 3
weakside.

80 Protection
B B

E T T E

"BOB" call by RT. Gives us better

match-up in terms of size. Blocking 3
rushers each side.
180 Protection
B B
E T N T E

7 potential rushers, so QB makes "Y"

call, keeping TE in. RB automatically
blocks away, and get "Edge" call from
RT. Now able to block FOUR weak

80 Protection
B B
E T N T E

7 potential rushers, so QB makes "Y" call,

keeping TE in. RB will automatically block
away, and gets "BOB" call from LT. Now
able to block FOUR weakside rushers.
Pass Protection
Fundamentals
PPP--Pass Protection Posture

The most important component in an offensive lineman's pass protection is his

"set": getting his body in position to block the rusher. If a lineman has a good
pass set, he has won 75% of the battle. He wants to get to a position where he
has his nose on the rusher's inside armpit.

Two Pass Sets we will use:

• Lateral Set
• Kick-Slide