Content by: Coach Dennis McKnight
“The Run & Shoot offensive production is undeniable. The numbers speak for itself and in historical fashion. The success of the QBs, WRs, and yes, even the RBs in the Offense is astonishing. It is especially true when you look at where many of the programs and organizations were before being introduced to our Offense. . . What truly makes our Offense go is not the plays, it is the incredible selflessness required (yes, required) by all players and coaches for the Run & Shoot to be successful. In our Offense, there is no unit that must be more selfless than that of the Offensive Line, this is especially true in our pass-first offense.
While there have been many historic skill players produced in our Offense, and while they get the glory, the common misconception about what we do is; âGreat QB and great WRs will equate to success. No doubt, that will helpâŠHowever, the Offensive Line is truly the engine that makes the system work!
We only have 2 base protections, but the intricate IDâs, calls, and techniques are what sets it apart from your traditional protections. The secret for our productivity is repetition and selflessness.
Now, itâs time to learn the protection scheme of the Run & Shoot OffenseâŠa protection scheme that has produced more offensive linemen in the NFL than Run & Shoot QBâs, WRs or RBâs. How about that?“
– Dennis McKnight
O-Line Drills: Emphasis and drill videos below
First and foremost, pass protection starts with communication. We need to all be on the same page. Our center identifies who we have in on protection scheme. So there is no confusion, we have our guards echo his call.
Communication
- Identify the front.
- Identify who we have.
- Echo the call.
- Secondly, we emphasize – Believe What You See.
Believe What You See
- See the field.
- Anticipate Stunt Tendency.
- Anticipate Blitz Tendency.
Trust Your Technique
- Trust your footwork.
- Trust your body posture.
- Trust your hand carriage.
- Trust your punch.
O-Line Drills below:
Punch Drill
Step-Punch-Look
Shuffle and Strike
Reset
Slide
2-Man Pass Pro
Other O-Line Drills below: All inculde description of drills and video.
Slide Drill
Purpose: Develop proper foot relationship with the ground on lateral movement.
Coaching Points: Player No. 1 will slide right. Player No. 2 will slide right when player No. 1 reaches second cone. After all players slide right, they will slide left. Looking for good posture, good hand carriage and heavy back foot on slide.
Punch Drill
Purpose: Develop proper punch technique.
Coaching Points: Players will partner up, defender will face offensive blocker. On command, defender will patiently walk at offensive blocker. Offensive blocker will execute six punches. We will execute two sets of six punches. The first set, we will quick set our right foot. The second set we will quick set our left foot. Emphasize good quick set, good posture, good hand carriage and good punch technique. We would like a slight upward punching motion to gain separation from the defender.
Fast Hands Drill
Purpose: Develop feet, eyes and hands (punch).
Coaching Points: Players line up in three groups, two defenders will line up
approximately four yards apart on the same plane. The offensive blocker will straddle the two defenders. On command, the offensive guards and right offensive tackles will always start to the target on the right.
Left offensive guards and left offensive tackles will always start to the target on the left. Centers will alternate between the left and right targets. We are looking for good posture, good hand carriage and a heavy back foot when we are sliding from target to target.
3 Bag Fast Hands Drill
Purpose: Develop feet, eyes and hands (punch).
Coaching Points: Players will line up in two groups, three defenders will line up
approximately one yard from each other on the same plane. Right offensive guards and right offensive tackles will quick set and execute a punch to the middle target, slide to the right and execute a punch to the right target, slide back to the middle and execute a punch to the middle target.
Left guards and left tackles execute the drill in the opposite manner. We are looking for good posture, a good slight upward punch and a good heavy back foot on the slide.
Angle Set Drill
Purpose: Develop feet, eyes, and hands on tackles angle set.
Coaching Points: Players will line up in two groups, three defenders will line up
approximately one yard from each other on a 45 degree angle. Right offensive guards and right offensive tackles will line up to the right, left offensive guards and left offensive tackles will line up to the left.
On command, the offensive blockers will execute an angle set and punch each target down the line. (See variations of this drill in the Extra Drills section)
1 Move Drill
Purpose: Develop separation between defender and protector.
Coaching Points: Players will partner up into three groups. Offensive blocker will line up three yards in front of two cones spread out six yards apart. Defender will line up approximately five yards facing the offensive blocker. On command defender will run under control and break for either cone to the right or to the left of offensive blocker. We are looking for patience, good posture and good hand carriage. Offensive blocker should drop step to the direction of
the target, punch and work his pressure arm and pressure leg to the direction of the target.
Patience Drill
Purpose: Develop feet, eyes and hands. Develop timing of punch.
Coaching Points: Players will partner up. Defender will line up perpendicular to off e nsive blocker. On command, defender will jog to the left and to the right to move offensive blocker. Offensive blocker will execute a slight upward punch when the target comes towards him. Offensive blocker should execute four punches during this drill. We are looking for patience, good posture, good hand
carriage and a good heavy back foot while sliding to the target.
Quick Set Drill
Purpose: Develop quick set and punch along with lateral movement to pressure.
Coaching Points: Players will partner up. Defenders will line up facing offensive blocker approximately two feet apart from one another straddling white chalk line. On command, Defender will quick swim to his left or to his right. Offensive blocker will quick set with his right foot and execute a slight upper punch to the defender and work his pressure arm and pressure leg to the direction of the target. (See variations of this drill in the Extra Drills section)
(Credit: Coach Mike Cavanaugh)
(See more of these drills in the Extra Drills section)