The different attacking moves of a defensive lineman all get worked on in this great practice drill provided by the Youth Football Coaches Association.
The drill has four parts, where the defensive lineman works on four escape moves—the rip, the crossover swim, the swim and the spin. All four are great ways to lose an blocker and get to the ball carrier.
A diagram of the drill.
For a printable .pdf of this drill and others, visit the YFBCA website.
The Rip-Swim-Crossover-Spin Drill
Start the defensive lineman in a three-point stance, with four offensive lineman or dummies lined up in front of him. Staying low, the defensive lineman fires off the line. Attack the four blockers in front of you in this order:
- A rip move (undercut swing of inside arm)
- A crossover swim to the outside (inside arm swims over to side of offensive lineman)
- Swim over defender's outside shoulder with inside arm, driving elbow into the back.
- A spin move off the offensive lineman
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