Drive block

The drive block (or base block) is the most fundamental run block: you fire off the ball and displace the man straight back off the line of scrimmage to open a running lane. The keys are all Coach Jay fundamentals — a tight 6-inch first step, low pad level (Drag the Gator Tail), hands inside the frame on the rise, hips rolling through contact, and Finish to the whistle. The cue is to lift and run your feet on contact rather than catch and stop — you want to move him, not meet him.

Defined by Coach Jay Freeman — 32 years coaching the offensive and defensive line.

Related trench terms

PancakeO-Line

A block that puts the defender flat on his back. The lineman’s highlight.

Down blockO-Line

A block down on the defender to the inside, sealing him away from the play.

First stepBoth sides

The initial 6-inch power step. Most plays are decided by the first step.

FinishBoth sides

To play through the whistle. The most important word in the lineman vocabulary.

Reach blockO-Line

A block where the lineman gets his head past the defender's playside shoulder to seal him.

Go deeper

• Coach Jay’s lineman training library — the technique behind the term →
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