George Deleone - Individual Development and Offseason

The video discusses developing players in individual practice and the offseason, with an emphasis on maximizing every second of coaching time. The speaker, who has been coaching since 1970 and is currently in his 50th year, still uses the same practice plan for the offensive line as his first year of coaching at Southern Connecticut State College. The speaker prefers a handwritten practice schedule because it changes every day.

A 30-minute individual practice session is broken down into three 10-minute segments:

• First 10 minutes: Base blocking fundamentals and techniques.
• Second 10 minutes: Combination blocks, including zone or gap schemes.
• Third 10 minutes: Scheme related to the opponent.

Traditionally, the speaker started individual practice with run techniques, but due to an emphasis on improving pass protection at Baylor, they now start with pass protection drills.

Additional practice elements include:

• The next 10 minutes after individual are spent on group work, which the speaker defines as offense versus the defensive line, focusing on every scheme that applies to the game plan.
• The transition from group work is used to segue into inside run.
• During special teams periods, the offensive linemen, who are not covering kicks or blocking punts, work on pass protection drills.

The speaker also outlines fundamental offensive line techniques and drills:

• Stance: A balanced stance with 50% of the weight forward and 50% back is preferred for a predominantly zone team, allowing players to step with either foot. The stance must be coached, as well as the first step, to build a solid foundation.
• Leverage Drill: This drill is done every day and emphasizes getting pads under the opponent's pads and hands inside (leverage). Players are taught to keep their eyes up and pound the ground on the inside half of their shoe. The feet must be accelerated at the end, finishing with the back arched and eyes up.
• One-Step Punch Drill: This drill is used early in preseason camp and spring ball to teach a 6-inch step, shooting the hands back to the hips, punching, and then going into the leverage drill.
• Punch and Drive (Dry Block): This drill focuses on the second step coming with the punch, which is nothing more than dry blocking. It's crucial to get hands inside to control the opponent.
• Elbows Against the Rib Cage: This is a fundamental principle that must be drilled repeatedly, as the biggest problem the speaker sees is kids extending their elbows away from their body.
• Board Drills (Over and Up): The speaker believes in using boards, which he notes is a "lost art," because they help maintain the base. The "over and up" drill is used for inside zone blocks where players step over a line and the second step drives the side of the board.
• Shoot Drills: Shoots are used to get pads down and a pipe is placed beyond the shoot to encourage players to stay lower longer. The first step is on the ground, hands go back, and the second step comes with the punch.
• Sled Work: Sled work (over and up) is the first thing done at practice before stretching. The sled is crucial for simulating the resistance players will face in a live block without going live.
• Pulling Technique (Trapping): For pulling and trapping, the technique involves putting the elbow into the back pocket, pivoting on the back foot, and taking a lead step with the play-side foot. The speaker emphasizes five steps after contact.