3 Drills for Defensive Linemen
Whether you are looking to build strength or increase agility, there are three great drills for defensive lineman you will want to consider. The key to success lies in running these drills consistently until the football players begin showing results. By focusing on the fundamentals and training hard, you will be prepared when that next big game comes along.
Four Point Wave Drill
The first drill in our list is the four point wave drill. The goal of this drill is to show the players how to stay low and use their feet to keep pushing forward at all times. To begin, you have the linesman get in a defensive four-point stance. Then, when you blow the whistle, the players will start moving their feet. Whenever you move the football left or right, the players will shuffle in that direction. After running them like this for a couple minutes you can wave them forward so they can sprint past you and you can move on to the next set of players.
Tackle Sled Drill
Another great drill for defensive lineman is the tackle sled drill. In this drill, you have your players line up against the tackle sled and then explode after the whistle to drive the sled back 10 or 15 feet. You can mix up this drill by using offensive calls instead of the whistle so players can avoid being offsides.
Basic Snapping Drill
Finally, we have the basic snapping drill. In this drill, defensive lineman will line up on either side of the football. The coach will simulate the snapping of the ball and the players will be required to sprint forward for 10 or so yards. This drill encourages the defensive players to be extremely quick off the ball. However, you should mix it up so the players get used to moving at the right time rather than being offsides.
