Getting faster with our first two steps

This may help

www.coachbdud.com/2016/01/14/ol-blocking-progression-varying-drill-tempo/

I've done several things with a step per whistle and then just speeding it up. I've always thought it helps with good muscle memory and instincts.

We on the OL rep our first step every single day, from late January through the end of the season. We'll at times add the 2nd step, but HS kids need all the work they can on having a perfect 1st step.

It’s one thing to get the first two steps down as quickly as possible, it’s another to get them to understand the difference between anticipating and reacting to the snapcount.

One of my offensive linemen turned from my worst lineman (“no aggression”) into our biggest asset on offense. He was smart as hell, just didn’t have the confidence to play with the required quickness.

I noticed that when my players take off fully confident KNOWING that the count will be synced with their first step, they will be so much more aggressive with the first AND second step AND their strike.

I did two things to accomplish this:

1) Anticipation
I asked my starting QB to record his snapcount a couple of times on his smartphone.
Prepractice I had all of the linemen tightly together and played the recorded snapcount.
I had all the linemen clap their hands on the anticipated snapcount. You would be surprised at how quickly they’ll understand how they are NOT anticipating, while this probably is the easiest drill in the world.
Once they get the idea, I send them the same record, so they can practice their anticipation at home. Some will, others won’t, but it’s those that practice at home that will improve in getting the first foot in the ground.

2) Confidence
I did everything I could to increase the confidence of the linemen in anticipating the snapcount. I hardly was on offensive linemen when they were (a tad) early out of their stance, but would absolutely jump on them when they are late.
Also, I think the QB cadence plays a big role in this.
Whenever the QB is a little slow and not sharp in his cadence, I go bananas on him especially when an offensive lineman goes offsides, anticipating the count to be sharper and/or faster.
The QB needs to understand the importance of a rhythmic and consistent cadence to help his line out.

Shorten them.

First step with the forward foot is just a few inches.  You're pushing off the toes of your back foot.

The first step has a simultaneous "grab the six-guns" with both hands.  Hands should be in position at the exact same time the first step strikes the ground.

The second step is just a few inches forward of the first, with a simultaneous STRIKE with both hands from the six-gun position.  Feet never stop.

Being fast is one thing...being QUICK is another. 

I teach my guys that the faster that they can get the second step in the ground the better they will be. I firmly believe the person that wins the first two steps will win the play.

We work on this with the boards, but especially in the preseason, we work on air. We use a line and we make sure we are getting that second step down faster.

We have them "feel the weight" on the push off leg rather than concentrate on the first step. Quick straightening of the leg opposite where you want to go, I feel, prevents the delay you get when you concentrate on the front step only. If you do this you don't reach with the front leg and it is pre-bent close to the angle it needs to be to quickly push off of it for the 2nd step. Preventing delays of waiting to get over the push off foot is the key. It's a lot like over striding when sprinting.

I like the idea said above about recording the snap count on phone, who doesn't have one... Plus if you use a phone, its scientifically proven to make your kids take it 77.23% more serious.

But honestly, we don't do this (wish we would) but roll your cadence/words into 1 so the players can get a rolling start and anticipate the snap count better.

For example, "Down (2 second pause) SettttHUT!" and teach the kids to start to leave on the end of Set.

I like this idea and almost you work one drill each day with full speed reps being the emphasis the day before games.

Simplify. Our OL getoff is phenomenal. With that said, it's because we only try to do a few things well.

We have 4 runs: IZ/Stretch/Power/Wedge - getting to the point where we run these 4 plays effectively was a 2 year process. Year 1 we only ran IZ and Power.

Breaking those things down we have 3 different steps the OL has to learn: tight, wide, and inside. We teach the IZ footwork based on the front ("angle of departure" changes based on 3down/4down front). Power is a tight inside zone step to the inside and run your track. The kids rep the heck out of it day after day both run through and live. It's as simple as you can get.

One of my coaching points is getting the second foot down. I tell them whoever gets it down first wins.