Coaches Corner: Coach Tall -- Part 1

Coach Tall gave the most informative talk of the clinic. He started by going over the basics / fundamentals of stance etc, went into drills he used to improve fundamentals and other skills, and then he used / said drills in his practice.

This allowed us to actually see how Coach Tall used the drills and gave us idea exactly what we were looking at. Talked to multiple coaches at the defensive line practice sessions who were equally happy with what Coach Tall gave us. Going to add two drills that Coach Tall used to my practice schedule.

Coach Tall started by stating defensive line is at the low end of the food chain. That is exactly how I teach it as do most others.

Michigan under Coach Tall uses three different stances. Each stance has a different purposes.

Stance One was called a power stance. It is the every down stance.

1) You want to be in drive position to hold point of attack.
2) Feet slightly wider than shoulders.
3) Off hand ready to attack.
4) Outside foot at instep of front foot.
5) Watch the back tip of the ball for movement.

Stance two was called jet, it was used for pass rush situations, or other times you want to get up field in a hurry such as slants or stunts.

1) Only difference is foot positions.
2) In jet you use toe to heel foot position.
3) Your 1st step is 6 inches.

Stance #3 is called Steelers. This is used in goal line and other short yardage situations.

1) Feet are balanced, toe to toe / balanced.
2) Keep air under both toes.

Defensive line drills:

Coach Tall divides them into three groups, contact, movement, and escape.

Contact Drills

1) Fit and Collision for tackling.
2) Lots of Sled work, also uses sled for combination drills, working contact and movement.

Movement Drills:

1) Works in chutes for angles.
2) Also works with bags for angles and pursuits.

Escapes: defeat blocks, these are the ones I am adding.

1) Puts players in fit, rip inside hand through outside shoulder.
2) If getting beat player is to shrug his shoulders, drop the outside leg back and adjust leverage.
3) This next drill is excellent and when asked Coach Tall about his explanation made tons of sense.

You put defender into pressed out position with blocker. Blocker walks in either direction, defender has move his feet and keep leverage. At command defender rips through using technique above and keeps outside leverage. Reason this is so important is because with so many teams zoning it is almost impossible to just sit in gaps. If defenders feet stop moving and offensive linemen keep his moving he will gain leverage on the defender and the RB will find the seam.

Part 2 will discuss some players on the defensive line.

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Written by CoachBt and ErocWolverine