Red Hawk

D-Line Manual
Mike Cieri
Defensive Line Coach
Montclair State University
2009, 2010 NJAC Champions
D3 Playoffs Sweet 16

DL Run Stopping
Techniques & Drills
Michael Cieri

ASSISTANT FOOTBALL COACH

Special Teams Coordinator & Defensive Line

Montclair State University

2003, 2009, 2010 NJAC Champions
D3 Playoffs Sweet 16

This video will concentrate on preparing

defensive linemen to stop the run. I will take you
through a typical practice week & how we
breakdown the practice segments. Included will
be an in-depth discussion on the techniques &
drills utilized to develop a sound & effective get
off, blow delivery, block explosion. Video will
clarifying the coaching points.

D-Line Creed
Paralyze their Resistance
with
Your Persistence"

D Lines Job
Stop the Run
&

Pressure the QB

MSU Red Hawk DEFENSE

THE TRADEMARKS OF MSU 4-3 MULTI-DEFENSE
AN ATTACKING, SWARMING DEFENSE
A DEFENSE THAT GANG TACKLES
ONE THAT MAKES BIG PLAYS WITH EMOTION
PRINCIPLES:
ATTACK & SWARM
OUT-PHYSICAL THE OPPONENT
ASSIGNMENT EXECUTION
NO LONG RUNS OR PASSES
CONFIDENCE
FUNDAMENTALLY SOUND IN TECHNIQUES
MAKES BIG PLAYS

Play Minimum 8 D Linemen Each Game

Be Lean and Be Fast

Character of a Red Hawk Defensive Linemen

Football is a Team Game Be a Team Player
Make Sacrifices to help team, ultimately Helping
Yourself
Each Player on the Team has a Role to Play
It is Your Job to do everything mentally and physically
to be successful within your role and the team concept
Applaud the Accomplishments of Your Teammates
Attitudes are Contagious
Practice with a Purpose
&
Each drill is designed to help
you improve.
There is a definite correlation between the way you
practice & the way you perform in games
Practice at game speed
Always Look for Ways to Improve
Make Each Drill Important and Perfect Focus!

Stop the Run

Pressure the QB

Character of a Red Hawk Defensive Linemen

You Must Make a Commitment to all Areas

Practice
Weight Room
Film Study

STUDY YOUR OPPONENT. Look for tendencies, strengths and

weaknesses so that you can take advantage of them when the time
comes to complete
REVIEW YOUR PERFORMANCE. Your preparation for the next game
begins with assessing your previous performance. Try to correct
mistakes and build on your successes and then put the game behind
you and get ready for the next one.
&

Stop the Run

Pressure the QB

Meetings
Off-Season Conditioning
All Year Round Academics
Ask Yourself
Am I Committed?

Am I Sincere?

Can I Be Trusted

1. Desire

Defensive Lines Mentality

All DL Must Have the Willingness and Burning Passion to Excel

Get to the BC or Passer on Every Single Play

Practicing Tough and Hard

Allows You to Play Instinctively during the game Building

Confident, Fast & Aggressive
REVIEW YOUR TEAMMATES ASSIGNMENTS. Will help you make
adjustments & decisions that will work for the entire team
&
REHEARSE MENTALLY. Visualize as many situations as possible
that you will encounter in the game

2. Physical Toughness

3. Intelligence (Know Your Assignment)

Stop the Run

Pressure
the
QB
4. Conditioning Takes Precedence Over Everything

Win the 4th Quarter

CONCENTRATE DURING WARM-UPS. Use time to get ready
physically & mentally. Working hard can relax you, prepare your
muscles, & give you confidence before a game begins.

DL ACCOUNTABILITY (Coaching Points)

Dos

Be a hand fighter
Have active feet
Leverage All Blocks
Beat and destroy
#1(Key)
Need to separate from
the blocker
Maintain Pursuit Speed
Get in on every tackle

Dont

Dont Stop Your Feet

Dont look for the ball too
early
Dont go backwards
Dont go to the ground
(If you do, dont stay their too long)

Dont trust your teammate

Dont be inactive
Dont trade 1 for 1
Change the Math
Get things on your terms

DL Fundamentals (Grading)
Expect Production
SAKER
Stance
Alignment
Keys*
Execution
(Get
Off)
Reads
*DLine
Recognitions/ Pre-Snap Calls

Defensive Line Efficiency

Expect Production
Play TAPS
Tackles
Assists
Pressures
Altered Pass
Battered Balls
Force Fumbles
Sacks
Interceptions
Make Practices Competitive
Simulate Game Conditions &
Situations

DL
Coaching
Principle
Keep
It Likeable &
Learnable

Week Teaching Schedule

Monday
Film Review (prior opponent)
Review Game Plan (new opponent)
Personnel (Opponent)
Basic Defensive Schemes (Game Plan)
Indy Techniques (Reinforce/Improve)
Run Fits w/LBs-Sec.Force (Inside Run)
Team (Basic Defensive Schemes-GP)
Film Review (new opponent)

Tuesday
Run Techniques, Blocking Schemes, Blitzes & Stunts /
Run / Play Action Emphasis

Wednesday
Pass Rush Moves, Pass Blitz & Stunts w/ Sub Packages
Pass Blocking Scheme Emphasis

Thursday
Special Pass Rush Considerations (Ball Disruption,
Screen/Draw Reactions)
Pass Rush Blitzes vs Protection Schemes
rd

Defensive Line Practice Breakdown (Tuesday)

Pre Practice

Barrel Review (Alignments & Assignments (Blitzes/Stunts)

Dynamic Warm-Up & Flexibility (DWF)

Agility and Footwork

Run & Pass

Get-offs (Stance and Starts)

Run & Pass

Blow Delivery (Explosion and Escape)

Team Pursuit (Team Run, Team Pass/Screen-Locked Up)

Block Protection (Individual Technique

Development)
Run & Pass

Indy, Group

One on Ones & Combos (w/Offensive Line)

Block Scheme Recognition & Reaction of Opponent
Group, Team

Barrel Review (Alignment/Assignments)

TB
FB

Strong Left
Bang Cover 9

QB
SE

T
SB

N
MB

QE
WB

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

Barrel Review (Alignment/Assignments)

Dynamic Warm-up & Flexibility

(DWF)
Monday and Wednesday

Tuesday and Thursday

Walking Lunge w/Twist (Forward)

_(Down)
Walking Lunge w/o Twist
(Backward)_(Back)
High Knees w/ Arm Thrusts
(Down)
Butt Kicks w/Arm Thrusts_(Back)
Lateral Shuffle_ Rt (Down)& Lt
(Back)
Carioca w/Over the Fence_Rt
(Down) & Lt (Back)
6 pt Get-Offs (Down)
Push Up Get-Offs (Back)
NFL Combined Get-Offs (Back)

Knee Huggers Knee

Lunges_(Down)
Sprinters Skips Scissor
Lunges w/Start_(Back)
Frankensteins w/Same Leg
- Frankensteins w/Cross
Leg (Down)
Power Squats Bounding
For Height/Distance (Back)
6 pt Get-Offs
Push Up Get-Offs
NFL Combined Get-Offs

Each DWF is Excuted for 20 Yards

DWF (Various Get Offs)

DL Drill Coaching Points

Demand Perfection

Poor Effort = Repeat Rep

Emphasize Maintaining Low Pad Level

Keep them Down, Z Bends in the Knees

Utilized Various Types of Change of

Direction
Encourages Flexibility & Quickness

Put the Pedal to the Metal

Set the Tone for Practice
Develops the Attitude
Outwork Your Opponents

Finish

Always with a Burst (Builds Desire to Make

Plays)
Add 5 Yard Burst Run to End of the Drill

Change of Direction Agilities

(Improve Neuromuscular Efficiency)

Closed Teach Precise Techniques in a High-Quality Practice

the makes for retention and efficiency
Linear Bags - Get-off (5 yds.) Up/Down - Shuffle / Pro Agility

Pro-Shuttle
Up-Down
Nebraska Agility Get-off/ Angle Run (Shuffle, Carioca) / Crawl
(cones) / Angle Run (Shuffle, Carioca) / Sprint Forward

Agility and Footwork (Run-Tuesday)

3. Get Off & Bend w/ Angle Tackle & Re - Trace - Rt & Lt (2 reps
each side)
5 yds.

Circle Bend/Retrace
Play Flat to LOS

Circle Bend/Angle Tackle

Ball on Stick

LOS

Slow 2 Go & Play the Cut

Change of Direction Agilities

(Improve Neuromuscular Efficiency)

Open (Neck Up) To improve cognitive &

response-related elements
(Demands movement, hustle & rxns under competitive ever-changing conditions)

Wave Drills

Simply lined up the defense line &They begin by chopping feet

On the football coaches point of direction the players sprint
(forward, back Lt, back Rt, left, Rt, front Rt, front Lt, etc)
With one whistle they breakdown & chop feet until a new
direction is pointed
On two whistles, they do an up down and chop feet until
new direction is pointed
E
T
N
E
Optional: Individual w/Dummies

Defensive Line Five Essentials

Stance
Ready to take an explosive
power step

Attack (Get Off / 1st Step)

Short power steps starting

with the first step

Neutralize (2nd Step)

Stabilize the LOS by

stunning the blocker
w/hands, getting up field on
pass block,
disrupting/spilling blocking
schemes

Escape

Quickly & violently shed

the blocker by locking out

Pursuit

(Cant Get Out Hustled)

Utilizing Proper Angles

Run Stance

Relentless
Attack, Attack, Attack (Mindset) Pressure to
Control LOS

Starts with Great Get-off

Explosive Stance
60% of Body Weight on Forward
Key the Ball (Diminishes Offsides
Penalties)
Get a Pre-Snap from Stance or Splits
of Offensive Lineman
Ex-If Center & Guard are very close on one side
& a big split on the other side they are scooping
to the big split

Play One Gap Defense

Move LOS 2 yards back

Get Your Hat in the Crack

Normal Stance (Run Situation)

This Stance Permits Powerful, Explosive First Steps

Feet armpit width apart with very little

stagger (Toe Arch)
Toes / Knees pointed forward, not out
Hand closet to the key is down & foot
closest to the key is back
Down hand in line with foot that is back
Slight weigh on hands, legs under body,
knees flexed no greater than 90%
Heels off ground, back parallel to ground
(tail slightly higher than shoulders
Generates More Power
Head and Eyes Up w/ weight equally
distributed on balls of feet Eyes locked
on the ball
Free Hand Leading

Alignment Techniques
Edge Alignments
Alignment: Play on shoulder (1, 3) 0 Shade
Nose
Stance: Head Up: Staggered 3 pt. - Down
hand, staggered leg to shoulder side (Run).
Opposite footwork for Pass.
Key: Ball movement and man on you.
Responsibility: Play side gap.
Execution: Explode into offensive man
getting your hands on near shoulder and
inside on breast plates. Extend arms and
separate to ball.

Get Off (Run Downs)

Explosion step on ball movement (first step)

Push off with up-field foot bringing up offset foot (short first step)
slightly ahead of push foot for balance
Contact step (second/third step)
Bring push foot parallel or slightly ahead & make contact with
hands, getting eyes focused on key, getting 3rd step down
Drive blocker back - Make all steps as short and quick as possible
Penetration is vital!
Read block and react with proper escape on the run
Never be so intent on reading that your charge is delayed or
soft
Always Keep Feet Moving (Time is Money)
Allows for Quicker Reaction (ex. - Reach Blocks)
Butt Down, Head up, Ft Shoulder Width (Too Wide, Cant Escape)
Attack the Half Man (especially pass rush)
Aiming point is the numbers shaded to
Play with Your Hands (Maintain Inside Position with Your Hands)
On 1st Step, hands begin to shoot low to high, thumbs are up,
elbows in
As hands violently strike OLine full extension must be gained
(Prevents holding), full extension needed to disengage from block
Maintain Leverage w/Hands Inside (Butt & Pull Move, Bull Rush)

Stay Low-Bend Knees(Pads under pads, headgear under

Headgear)

Get Off Drills (Monday/Tuesday)

Get - Offs
Visible
Ball Drop
3 Yard Away

Waist High Release

1. 6 pt Starts (5 yds.) (Teaches Moving Forward) A. 6pt B. Pushup Start C. Pro-Combine Start - Rt & Lt (2 reps each)
2. One Leg Balance Starts (5 yds.) - (2 reps each leg)
3. Get Off Tire Strike and Push - Rt & Lt Stance (2 reps each) /
Under Chute
4. Get Off Bag Strike, Lock and Separate, Rip Escape (2 reps
each) / Under Chute

5. Get Off Slant &Spark w/Rip & Bag Strike, Lock &Separate, Rip Escape - Rt
& Lt Stance (2 reps each) / Use Chute Add: Long Stick

Get Off (Chute/Sticks-Various Get-offs)

Get Off (Chute/Sticks-Various Get-offs)

Get Offs (Run-Tuesday)

Get-Off/Stance
Stay Low
Get Off Chute Drills (Power/Bull Rush/Edge Technique)
A. Push Tires
B. Sticks and Bags
Rt/Lt
Handed
Stance
5 yds.
Ball on Stick

Push-Off
on
Up Field
Foot

Coaching Points:
Get-Off on Ball Movement
Dont Step Under
Stress
Lead w/ Hands
Visual & Pressure
Run the Feet
Keys
Stay Low

Coaching Points:
Get-Off on Ball Movement
Dont Step Under
Lead with Hands/Punch #
Run the Feet
Stay Low
Dip & Rip on Command

Alignment Techniques
Slant Technique
Alignment: Played from a head-up
alignment
Stance: Balanced 3 pt.-Hips slightly above
shoulders. Anticipate Ball Movement.
Key: Ball and near hip of OL moving to.
Responsibility: Gap youre moving to
Execution: Beat the man your aligned on by
taking a quick 45 degree angle step (Aiming
Point-Far Hip of OL moving to). Angle
Shoulders, Rip the backside arm. Then,
shoot your arms out to the near hip of the
OL your moving too.

Alignment Techniques
Spark Technique
Alignment: Played from an Head-Up/Edge alignment
Stance: Balanced 3 pt.-Hips slightly above
shoulders. Anticipate Ball Movement.
Key: Ball and near hip of OL moving to.
Responsibility: Gap youre moving to (Outside
Contain)
Execution: Beat the man your aligned on by taking a
quick 45 degree angle step (Aiming Point-Far Hip of
TE or Ghost TE moving to). Square Shoulders, Rip
the backside arm. Get Up-Field. Maintain Contain.

Get Off (Run Tuesday)

Get Off Chute Drills (Slants & Sparks)
A. Slants (Sticks/Bags)

Rt/Lt
Handed
Stance

B. Slant on Air Under Chute

Coaching Points:
Get-Off on Ball Movement
Dont Step Under
Take Proper Angle Steps
Rip Backside Arm,
Lead with Hands/Punch #
Run the Feet
Stay Low
Dip & Rip on Command

C. Sparks

Vs Reach Block
Vs Pass Set
Vs High Wall

Blow Delivery
(Explosion
and Escape)
Blow
Delivery

Explosion and Escape

(Tuesday)

Hand Placement
(Control Your Key)

Head Up - Thumbs up & Elbows in,

aiming at top of numbers
Edge Same Thumbs & Elbows
with outside hand on tip of the
shoulder & inside hand on near #
of key
Bad Hand Placement Reset

Locking Out
With good hand placement, now
lock out arms
Creates clear view to your gap
(Peek Technique)

Controls Blocker
Minimizes greatly the
opportunity for offense to
hold us or re-block us
Enables the shedding of block
to pursue & make the tackle

Lock Out & Rip Escape (Run-Tuesday)

Coaching Points on Form Tackling

Be Perfect
Pad Level = Zs in the knees, head, hands,
hips & feet
Eyes & Head Up / Arm through the armpits
Roll Up the Hip = Stick hips into BCs Belly
Button
Accelerate Run Your Feet in Front of BC
Grab the Cloth on the back of the jersey
Finish Head goes across to the ball, taking
the ball carrier back

Hint: Give the BC an aiming point to run to so that your angle is consistent