Chalk Talks w/ Coach Ken Wilmesherr- Teaching the 6 Step Blocking Progression

By coachbigb on 02 March 2012 in Chalk Talk, Offense with No Comments

Ken Wilmesherr is the offensive line coach at Grossmont Junior College in El Cajon, CA. In his tenure on the staff of the Griffins, Wilmesherr has developed numerous All-Americans All-State selections, and All-Conference players. During that period, a number of his linemen have received scholarships to continue their gridiron career at four-year universities. Prior to accepting his present position, Wilmesherr spent four seasons as an assistant gridiron coach at Southwestern College in Chula Vista, CA. Over the course of this coaching career Wilmesherr has authored numerous instructional articles on various aspects of football play, as well as become a sought-after clinic speaker.

(picture and bio from www.coacheschoice.com)

Ken Wilmesherr

Grossmont College

Offensive Line Coach

Teaching the 6 Step Blocking Progression

And a Double Team Block

When teaching any blocking progression from a simple base man blocking progression to the covered or uncovered blocking progression in the zone concept there is a six step sequence that must take place to have success. Also, teach your linemen a thought process, which starts in the huddle. Offensive line play is a game of leverage and a game of angles. Teaching your offensive linemen the proper footwork will put them on the proper angle to block the defender as well as have and success blocking.

The 6 step sequence that must take place for any block to be successful.

1. SPLIT

2. STANCE

3. APPROACH

4. CONTACT

5. FOLLOW THROUGH

6. FINISH

1. Splits: Vertical and Horizontal: Smart splits – size of splits may vary with:

Defensive structure, defensive personnel. Offensive play and individual personnel. Lineman’s ability, confidence, and quickness

2. Stance: develop a good one; it is the base from which all action starts. Poor Stance = Poor Start.

3. Approach: Footwork, eyes (Shoot the eyes), quickness. Shooting the eyes allows for lineman to make proper adjustments. TIME OF DOMINATION, always work for quickness. Everything will be based on a lineman’s ability to beat his opponent. (3 inch rule).

4. Contact: Punch is delivered up and through the defender (forklift the defender). The punch (thumb lift) is a matter of QUICKNESS, TIMING, and LEVERAGE. Hips under the base of support. Strike with leverage. To create depth into the defender an offensive lineman must: First step: directional, accelerate, lead leg. Second step: power, explode, drive leg. Third step plus have the ability to bend at the knees, maintain an adequate base (base of support), with their center of gravity as close to their base of support as possible. There are two types of leverage we are always after, PAD LEVERAGE and HAND LEVERAGE.

5. Follow Through: Unlock the hips. Finish off the defender. Bring the hips and follow through. If the hips are not under their base of support they will be

consistently pushing and not driving. Drive and react to the defender. When teaching any drill always have a redirect in your drill.

6. Finish: The goal is to drive the defender 10 yards and put them on the defender on their back. For every action there is a reaction so it is imperative you

teach reflexive reaction.

Teaching the Double Team Block

The double team is a two man-blocking scheme between two adjacent offensive linemen blocking a down defender. The double team block is similar to that of the combo block in terms of the footwork and the punch on the first level defender the only difference is the offensive linemen will not come off to a second level defender. Like the combo block there are a post blocker and a seal blocker-working hip-to-hip and shoulder-to-shoulder getting vertical movement on the down defender. The objective of the double team is to drive the defender five yards up field putting him on his back. The inside blocker is the post blocker and the outside blocker is the seal blocker.

THE FOOTWORK: The post blocker will either step with his inside foot or his outside foot depending on the down defenders alignment. If the defender is head up on the post blocker he then will take a 4-inch lateral jab step inside because the down defender could spike (stunt inside). If the down defender is aligned where he is not a threat to spike inside the post blocker will now step with his outside foot. The second step is a vertical step up field getting movement on the down defender. The seal blocker’s first step will be slightly sideways and up field with toes pointing forward keeping shoulders square. Second step is a vertical step getting vertical push on the down defender. It is imperative the post blocker and the seal blocker keep the point of the shoulders together creating a large blocking surface. The shoulders must stay square (do not get turned). Also, it is important that the post blocker and the seal blocker maintain a hip-to-hip and shoulder-to-shoulder relationship on contact, which will not allow the down defender to split the double team.

THE PUNCH: Both linemen should punch upwards (thumb lift) on the down defenders breast plates trying to get lift (hit on the rise). Post blockers punch on the down defender provides lift and vertical movement (set the table). The seal blocker also provides lift on the down defender while securing outside leverage. Both the post and the seal blockers provide lift (low to high plane) on the down defender while getting vertical movement driving the defender up field.

Coaching points:

1. Check for the proper technique by both the post and seal blocker, which is the proper footwork, the proper punch.

2. Check to make both blockers maintain the proper hip-to-hip and shoulder-to-shoulder relationship on contact.

3. Check to make sure they are both the post and seal blockers are getting the proper lift and vertical push on the down defender driving him five yards up field placing him on his back.

(More items from Coach Wilmesherr)

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/coach-bigb/2011/04/06/zone-blocking-concepts-with-coach-ken-wilmesherr

Radio Interview

http://www.scribd.com/doc/52327450/Zone-Blocking-Part-III-Drills

(Drills ppt.)

http://www.scribd.com/doc/52327332/Zone-Blocking-Part-II-Footwork-Blocking-Schemes

(Footwork)

http://www.scribd.com/doc/52327208/Zone-Blocking-Part-I-Philosophy-and-Concepts

(Concepts)

Enjoy coaches!!!!

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