Sack Drill
Here's a great drill to teach and reinforce correct tackling fundamentals, good footwork, and a nose for the football.
Defensive Line Drills
Match Hips Drill
This is a great fundamentals drill that teaches defensive players how to sink their hips and quickly react to a wide receiver.
Open Field Tackling
This is a fantastic drill to work on pursuit and tackling form in the open field.
Block Recognition Drill
Here's a great fundamental drill to get defenders reps reacting to and dealing with a variety of blocks in a game-like situation.
Karate
Purpose To teach defensive players how to control the hand fight between them and an offensive lineman. Set Up Have players pair off with teammates of similar size and strength, and stand
Screen Reaction Drill
Purpose To teach defensive lineman how to react to and pursue the ball on a screen pass. Set Up Have four defensive linemen lay down on their backs,with their heads on the
Shed Block Drill
Purpose To work on defeating blocks, pursuit, and tackling. Drill Setup You’ll need a coach with a blocking shield, and a tackling dummy. The defensive players should form a line about 5-7
Bad Ball Drill
Purpose To work on a players ability to make difficult catches. Set Up Have the receivers form a single file line, and stand about 15-20 yards in front of it. You’ll also
Fill The Gap Drill
Purpose To teach proper pursuit and tackling techniques. Set Up Line up 4 dummy bags about 2 yards apart, with a final cone 5 yards after the last bag. You’ll also need
Breakthrough Drill
Purpose Teaching runners to stay low, run with power and be decisive Drill Setup Have two defensive players line up side by side with blocking bags Have a third defensive player line
D Line Scramble Defensive Drill
Purpose To put the defensive lineman through a gauntlet of sorts, working on a variety of necessary skills. Set Up You’ll need two cones, 3-4 flat bags or blocking shields (or anything
Inline Tackling Drill
Purpose This drill is a half speed, game-like drill that simulates shedding a block, creating a pursuit angle and stopping a ball carrier at the line of scrimmage. Set Up Set up
Shake and Bake Drill
Drill Type: Defensive Line Drill Purpose Very effective in stopping an offensive lineman from kicking back and taking him to where you surface to get to the quarterback; it also allows
The Redirect Drill
Drill Type: Defensive Line Drill Purpose This defensive line drill focuses on having a quick reaction, getting across the line, finding the ball, and getting to it in the shortest line
Draw and Screen Drill
Drill Type: Pass Rush Drill Purpose Allows players to gain better take-off, great movement and acceleration to the quarterback. Set Up Set up 4 pop up dummies onthe line of scrimmage. Place
“Around The Corner” Defensive Line Drill
Purpose This drill focuses on the lineman’s footwork, and their ability to explode not only off the line, but through the quarterback. Set Up Set up a tackle dummy, and stand 5-7
“Rush Against the Pop-Up” Drill
Drill Type: Pass Rush Drill Purpose In this pass rush drill, we simulate ball movement without using the offensive line or each other, instead performing a rush against a short pop-up
Score Tackling Drill
Drill Type: Defense Drill Purpose This drill emphasizes getting in front of ball carriers and attacking them square. Set Up Set up 4 bags, or 4 lines of cones (3 cones deep)