problems

Question
QUESTION: I have played football before in the 8th grade now i am going out for the JV team i did not play 9th and i didn't make it all the way through 8th grade football and i am always nervous and during practice i cannot seem to play right...agianst my fellow teamates....i am nervous i am 6'1 about 210 lbs i am most likly going to end up playing defensive or offensive linemen what should i do to help me get better in practice...and be less nervous

ANSWER: Dear Chris:
The reason you feel nervous is because you feel like you do not belong on the team. You missed a year or two of football and now you feel like the odd man out. Here is what I would do if I were you.

1. Pick the position that you want to play on the team, so that you can focused on learning the technique needed to play it.

2. Get into the best shape of your life. No one is going to look down on you if they are standing there try to suck air while you are still running around fresh.

3. Get into the weight room and make yourself bigger and strong. When your team mate see you in the weight room they will know that you are serious about joining the football team and they will respect you for it.

Let me know what position you want to play on the defense and I will give you some tips on how to be a better player.

How fast do you run the 40-yard dash?
Would you like to play linebacker or defensive end?
What position would you like to play?

Your friend, Coach Louis

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Well today was camp i did okay i didn't really feel as nervous...i have a good chance at defensive or offensive linemen also a tackle but i will wait and see how things turn out and give me best
ANSWER: Dear Chris:
Is there anything else I can do to help?

Your friend, Coach Louis

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: can you give me some advice..on how to be a offensive of defensive linemen

Answer
Dear Chris:
There are too many variables (each team is different) when playing both on the offensive and defensive line. Some teams like to use a lot of man to man blocking. Some teams like to use a lot of zone blocking. Some teams like to double team players. While others like to use misdirection to trick you out of position. And there are too many football schemes and blocking styles to give you a clear picture on how to block on offense. The Fly Offense, The Double Wing Offense, The Jet Offense, The Single Wing Offense, The Bunch Attack, Air Raid Offense, Multi-Set Offense, West Coast Offense, Empty Backfield Offense, The No-Huddle Offense, Flip Flop Offense, Double Slot Offense, The Toss Offense, The Air Option Passing Attack, And The I-Formation all have their own way of blocking the defense.

I am going to give you a few tips on how to play both offensive and defensive line. Tips that hold true no matter what offense or defense you are playing on.

Defensive Linemen
To get into a proper defensive linesman stance, stand with your feet parallel, knees flexed, and bend forward, resting forearms on knees. Reach out with both arms, hands on ground. Then raise one hand, open, palm forward.

DOUBLE TEAM
If you are double teamed, turn your body sideways into the gap between the two blockers and if you need too drop down to one knee.


WHEN THE HAT MOVES FORWARD
When the offensive player moves forward, the defensive lineman must step to the blocker, with a forceful blow (by the heels of the hands) strong enough to stop the blocker in his tracks. He must then separate from him and move to the ball. If the offensive lineman tries to cut him, the defensive lineman must extend his arms and force the blocker to the ground. At the same time he must kick out his feet backwards and away from the blocker.


WHEN THE HAT MOVES INSIDE OR OUTSIDE
The defensive lineman must be able to shuffle laterally keeping a half a man ahead of the blocker while reading the play. Remember the blocker is trying to keep you from the play. So if he is trying to block you from the right side, the play is going to the right side. If he is trying to block you from the left side, the play is going to the left side.


WHEN THE HAT MOVES BACKWARDS, BULL RUSH   
The defensive lineman must rush hard and close the distance between himself and the offensive lineman. The defensive lineman now becomes the offensive lineman; so to speak, by driving his opponent back (with the heels of the hands) as hard and fast as he can to get him off balance. The same drive block the offensive lineman uses against you is now used by you to get to the quarterback.

Remember the offensive lineman is dropping back as fast as he can to pass block. If you can make contact and keep driving him backward he is going to lose his balance and fall down on his rear. And you will have a clear shot at the quarterback. There are many other techniques used to rush the quarterback however, I will only go over the bull rush because I do not want to step on anyones toes. Most coach like to pick which techniques are going to be used by their defensive linemen and they do not want another coach butting in to their business. The bull rush is the only one that can be used without anybody being the wiser. From far away it looks just like any other rush technique. Here is a tip that will put a smile on your face. You are probably asking yourself, is there anyway to know when he is going to pass or run block. The answer is, look at his feet.


READ THE LINESMEN FEET
If the play is a run, the linemen will have most of their body weight on the front of their feet and their heels off the ground. If the play is a pass, the linemen will have most of their weight on the back of their feet and their heels on the ground. They also might do this if they are going to pull. Some of the linemen point their feet in the direction they are going to pull.

You can use these tips both on offense and defense. If you are playing on the defense read the offensive lineman's feet. If you are playing on the offense do not let the defense read your feet. It is as simple as that. Anyway, you get the idea. Please let me know if you have any more questions I can help you with.

Your friend, Coach Louis