Football Lineman Drills

Offensive and defensive linemen are very under appreciated. They rarely get any of the credit they deserve - especially offensive linemen. Yet how well the linemen play usually decides a game. That's why it's so important for each lineman to play well and it's also the reason why football lineman drills are so important.

Different Positions Don't Always Equal Different Football Lineman Drills

Soccer Drills

Of course there are different drills for an offensive lineman and a defensive lineman. This is because a defensive lineman always wants to explode and move forward on a play while an offensive lineman may want to explode into and block a defender (for running plays), pull and block a defender (for running plays too), or they want to drop back and protect the quarterback (for passing plays).

Football Lineman Drills

However, there are some drills that both sides of ball need to practice. These drills involve improving a player's explosiveness off the ball and a player's agility. Two great football lineman drills are the Tennis Ball Drill and the Combine Agility Drill. One of the many great things about these lineman drills is that they can be practiced on a player's own time.

Tennis Ball Drill

For the Tennis Ball Drill a lineman will need a tennis ball and a person to help out with the drill. The person helping out will hold the tennis ball straight out in from of him/her. The lineman will get into a three or four point stance. At the beginning the player and the helper should be about five yards apart.

The helper should say "hike" or something similar to let the lineman know he has to fire off the ball. Then the helper drops the tennis ball. The lineman has to fire forward and catch the ball before it bounces twice.

Once the drill becomes easy the helper should stand back another couple yards. This process should be repeated several times. The purpose of the drill is to help improve a lineman's explosiveness off the ball.

Combine Agility Drill

Every year college football linemen hoping to go the NFL are asked to do this drill. The drill begins on the fifty yard line with the player facing the sideline. The lineman first opens his hips to the right and runs to the forty-five yard line. He then touches the line with his right hand. Then he opens his hips to the left and sprints to the other forty-five yard line. He touches that line with his left hand and then sprints back past the fifty.

The lineman should then take a thirty second break and then repeat the drill. Drills can be done in bunches of five or more. The purpose of this drill is to improve a player's agility and stamina.

Drills Improve Explosiveness, Agility, and Stamina

There are many different techniques that offensive and defensive linemen have to learn. However, there are some skills that are the same. That's why some football lineman drills can be used for both offensive lineman and defensive lineman. Two football drills that both sides of the ball can practice are the Tennis Ball Drill and the Combine Agility Drill. These drills work on a lineman's explosiveness off the ball, a lineman's agility, and a lineman's stamina.

Football Lineman Drills

Football Lineman Drills

Offensive and defensive linemen are very under appreciated. They rarely get any of the credit they deserve - especially offensive linemen. Yet how well the linemen play usually decides a game. That's why it's so important for each lineman to play well and it's also the reason why football lineman drills are so important.

Different Positions Don't Always Equal Different Football Lineman Drills

Soccer Drills

Of course there are different drills for an offensive lineman and a defensive lineman. This is because a defensive lineman always wants to explode and move forward on a play while an offensive lineman may want to explode into and block a defender (for running plays), pull and block a defender (for running plays too), or they want to drop back and protect the quarterback (for passing plays).

Football Lineman Drills

However, there are some drills that both sides of ball need to practice. These drills involve improving a player's explosiveness off the ball and a player's agility. Two great football lineman drills are the Tennis Ball Drill and the Combine Agility Drill. One of the many great things about these lineman drills is that they can be practiced on a player's own time.

Tennis Ball Drill

For the Tennis Ball Drill a lineman will need a tennis ball and a person to help out with the drill. The person helping out will hold the tennis ball straight out in from of him/her. The lineman will get into a three or four point stance. At the beginning the player and the helper should be about five yards apart.

The helper should say "hike" or something similar to let the lineman know he has to fire off the ball. Then the helper drops the tennis ball. The lineman has to fire forward and catch the ball before it bounces twice.

Once the drill becomes easy the helper should stand back another couple yards. This process should be repeated several times. The purpose of the drill is to help improve a lineman's explosiveness off the ball.

Combine Agility Drill

Every year college football linemen hoping to go the NFL are asked to do this drill. The drill begins on the fifty yard line with the player facing the sideline. The lineman first opens his hips to the right and runs to the forty-five yard line. He then touches the line with his right hand. Then he opens his hips to the left and sprints to the other forty-five yard line. He touches that line with his left hand and then sprints back past the fifty.

The lineman should then take a thirty second break and then repeat the drill. Drills can be done in bunches of five or more. The purpose of this drill is to improve a player's agility and stamina.

Drills Improve Explosiveness, Agility, and Stamina

There are many different techniques that offensive and defensive linemen have to learn. However, there are some skills that are the same. That's why some football lineman drills can be used for both offensive lineman and defensive lineman. Two football drills that both sides of the ball can practice are the Tennis Ball Drill and the Combine Agility Drill. These drills work on a lineman's explosiveness off the ball, a lineman's agility, and a lineman's stamina.

Football Lineman Drills

Football Offensive Lineman Drills by Former NFL Player Irv Eatman

I am a former NFL Football player and I want to talk today about offensive lineman. My friend and fellow Football University Coach Irv Eatman spoke to me about some practice drills that are great for offensive lineman.

On all drills, we base the fact that we want our lineman to be lateral movers. We want the to be able to move side to side. We want them to be able to slide there feet. In each drill we teach them not to turn away fro the line of scrimmage. We do not want there hips and shoulders to open. We want everything in front of them like a baseball catcher.

Soccer Drills

Drills number one - Running ropes

Football Offensive Lineman Drills by Former NFL Player Irv Eatman

First week we have them hit every other hole. Hands chin high. Arms flexed like a boxer. Hand six to eight inches from there chin so they can still punch. We go down and back and down and back 4 times. This is not a speed drill.

Second week we have them start standing besides the ropes. As they go through the ropes we grab them and hit them to see if they and stay balanced?

Drill number two - Wave Drill

The wave drill emphasizes change of direction and lateral movement. You can have some fun with this drill. You can catch the lineman off balance when they are not concentrating. It is a good drill to teach them to keep there shoulders square.

Drill number three - Big Bertha Bag Drill

We have big bags that holds about 300 pounds of sand. We bang on that bag every day. It is hung on a swing set apparatus. The players bang the bag and keep there feet open and there shoulders square. You can have the lineman in a 2 point or 3 point stance. As soon as the bag swings forward you have the player hit the bag. Have the player 4 or 5 good reps. This offensive lineman drill teaches the players to use there hands and develop a good punch.

For more detailed information about offensive lineman drills go to my football coaching website listed below.

Football Offensive Lineman Drills by Former NFL Player Irv Eatman