I am a former NFL football player and I want to talk about offensive lineman today. My friend and fellow College Football coach Irv Eatman told me about some practice drills that are great for the offensive lineman.

In all drills, we base the fact that we want our lineman to move laterally. We want him to be able to move from side to side. We want him to be able to slide off his feet. In each drill we teach them not to stray from the line of scrimmage. We don’t want the hips and shoulders to open up. We want everything in front of them like a baseball catcher.

Exercise number one – Running ropes

The first week we have them in every other hole. Hands chin high. Arms flexed like a boxer. Hand six to eight inches from the chin so they can still hit. We go down and back and down and back 4 times. This is not a speed drill.

The second week we have them start to stand besides the ropes. As they make their way across the ropes, we grab them and smack them to see if they keep their balance.

Exercise number two – Wave exercise

The wave exercise emphasizes changing direction and lateral movement. You can have a little fun with this exercise. It can throw the lineman off balance when he isn’t concentrating. It is a good exercise to teach them to keep their shoulders straight.

Drill Number Three – Big Bertha Bag Drill

We have large bags that hold about 300 pounds of sand. We hit that bag every day. It hangs from a swing apparatus. Players hit the bag and keep their feet wide and shoulders square. You can have the lineman in a 2 or 3 point position. As soon as the bag swings forward, the player hits the bag. Have the player do 4-5 good reps. This offensive lineman drill teaches players to use their hands and develop a good stroke.

For more detailed information on offensive lineman drills, please visit my football training website listed below.