THE CROWTHER PROGRESSION

1. The Pendulum Swing: The pendulum swing teaches offensive lineman to strike a blow. The offensive lineman will be in an upright position with a slight bend in his knees. He then will place his chin slightly over the pad and slightly outside of the pad. Then he will strike the pad with the back of the wrist. He will strike through the pad. As he strikes the pad, the hips will unlock slightly. The opposite arm will reach for the sky, which helps keep the shoulders square.

2. The Triangle: The offensive lineman will remain in an upright position with his knees bent slightly and his weight on the insteps of his feet. The lineman repeats the same motion as in step 1. The lineman will strike through the pad with the back of the wrist as he reaches for the sky, forming a triangle. As the lineman strikes through the pad, his hips will unlock slightly. Remember power comes from the hips. With the opposite arm, the lineman will reach for the sky forming a triangle that keeps the shoulders square and creates a big blocking surface. The lineman should strike through the pad with a full range of motion.

3. The Hip Roll: The lineman is arm’s-length away from the sled and on his knees. His weight should be back on his heels with his shoulders slightly forward. The lineman will snap his hips through (unlocking the hips and thus generating power) as he strikes the pad at a 45-degree angle. He reaches for the sky with his opposite arm and keeps his head tight to the side of the pad. As the lineman strikes through the pad, the opposite arm will reach for the sky. The lineman will strike through the pad as he did in steps 1 and 2. The hip roll is meant to teach the lineman to punch through the defender (the pad) and snap (unlock the hips). The key terms are reached for the sky and strike through the defender (the pad).

4. The Power Step: Starting from a proper 3-point stance, the lineman will strike the pad with the flipper at a 45-degree angle. As he strikes the pad, he is driving his knee (same foot, same shoulder) through the pad, which simulates driving the knee through the crotch of the defender (one step only). As he strikes the pad and drives his knee through the pad, the opposite foot stays stationary. If the lineman is striking the pad with the right flipper, he will drive the right knee through the pad. If he is striking the pad with the left flipper, he will drive the left knee through the pad. The opposite arm is reaching for the sky. The power step teaches the offensive lineman to knock the defender off the line of scrimmage.

5. The Position and Power Step: Starting from a proper 3-point stance, the lineman will take a 6-inch position step (directional step) with his outside foot and then take a power step with his drive leg through the pad (inside leg – same foot, same shoulder) which simulates the crotch of the defender (two steps only). If the lineman is taking a position step with the left foot, the power step is the right foot. If the lineman is taking a position step with the right foot, the power step is the left foot. Make sure the lineman is on the insteps of his feet when working the position, power steps. If the lineman is flat-footed he will ‘stick and stay’ thus becoming unexplosive. The lineman is to strike the defender with the flipper at a 45-degree angle and reach for the sky with the opposite arm. The lineman should feel he is striking the pad up and out.

6. The One Man Drive: From a proper 3-point stance the lineman will work all the components of the drive block. The lineman will position step, power step, and strike a blow at a 45-degree angle through the pad while keeping his head tight to the side of the pad while pumping his outside arm. For a lineman to be successful driving the sled he has to be on the same angle as the sled chassis and maintain his base of support throughout the drive block. The one-man drive is a great learning experience for the lineman because it teaches him all the components of a successful drive block.