Great offensive line drills aren't about collecting more drills, they're about identifying the blocks your offense actually needs and building practice around the problems your linemen must solve on Friday night. In this episode, Daniel Chamberlain and Joe Daniel break down practical drills for gap and zone schemes, combo blocks, pulling, pass protection, and first-step footwork while explaining how to eliminate traditional drills that don't translate to game situations.
- 4:58 - Identifying Which Blocks to Drill in Your Scheme
- 12:39 - Overrated O Line Drills Sleds Boards and Chutes
- 14:58 - The O Line Coach as Advocate for Your Linemen
- 16:13 - Minimizing Block Engagement Time for Smaller Linemen
- 31:57 - Vertical Pass Set Drill Using Yard Lines
- 35:08 - Group Pass Protection Drill vs One on Ones
- 37:43 - Combo Block Drill with Hip to Hip Pad Technique
- 48:21 - Gap Scheme Pull and Kick Drill with Chute Landmarks
- 56:54 - Base Blocking Drills Zone Reach and Down Blocks
- 60:54 - Pass Protection Footwork and Birdwalk Communication Drill
Build Better Offensive Line Drills
1. Build Drills Around the Football Your Linemen Actually Play
Start by identifying the blocks, footwork and techniques your offensive system actually requires. Your drill menu should come from your scheme and the problems you see on film, not a collection of traditional offensive line drills.
READ: Complete Guide to Coaching Football Drills that Win Games
2. Learn to Diagnose What Your Offensive Line Needs
Break offensive line execution into smaller problems you can attack in practice. Use game and practice film to identify the specific skill that is failing, then build drill work around correcting that problem.
LISTEN: Better Football Drills That Get Faster Results | FBCP S20E20
3. Make the First Two Steps the Foundation
Build offensive line technique from the first step to the second step, then add aiming points, fits and finishes. Mastering those first two steps gives your linemen the best opportunity to execute blocks without relying on size or strength.
LISTEN: Individual Drill Periods for Skill Development | FBCP S21E01
4. Simplify the Job for Your Offensive Line
Reduce the number of blocking schemes your players have to master and build the offense around what your linemen can execute. Use formations, tags, shifts and other adjustments to create answers without constantly changing their core blocking rules.
LISTEN: How to Design Run Plays That Get Big Yards | FBCP S20E16
5. Develop Communication and Combination Blocking
Teach offensive linemen to recognize fronts, communicate responsibilities and work together instead of treating every block as an isolated one-on-one matchup. Build simple rules that let players solve movement and second-level defenders together.
LISTEN: Coaching Combo Blocks in Your Offensive System | FBCP S17E08
6. Progress Individual Technique Into the Run Game
Move from controlled footwork and blocking drills into pods, half-line work and group run periods. Keep the same techniques and communication your linemen learned individually while gradually adding the movement and decisions they will see on game day.
LISTEN: Practice Planning: Group Run Drills for Skill Progression | FBCP S21E05
7. Build Offensive Line Development Into the Practice Plan
Give your offensive line enough focused practice time to reinforce the blocks and communication your offense needs that week, then carry that same focus through individual, group and team periods.
DOWNLOAD: Perfect Practice Plan Template
