Equipment Needed
- Cones to mark the line
Mark the line of scrimmage
Cones make it easy to lay out a consistent line of scrimmage and landmark steps for every offensive lineman.
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- Line up 3–5 offensive linemen in their stances along a marked line of scrimmage.
- No defenders needed for the initial footwork rep.
Instructions
- On the snap count, all linemen take a lateral zone step in the called direction together, staying low.
- Each lineman reads whether a defender is in their zone (playside) or has crossed into a teammate's zone.
- If covered, engage and drive the defender; if uncovered, work to the second level to find a linebacker.
- Repeat the footwork both directions to build both-side comfort.
Coaching Points
- The FIRST step is lateral, not upfield — linemen who step forward first lose the zone-blocking angle entirely.
- Everyone steps together on the same count; one lineman stepping late breaks the whole zone's integrity.
- Eyes and hands should stay low through the step, ready to engage whichever defender appears.
- This is a footwork-first drill — don't add live defenders until the steps are clean and synchronized.
Variation
Add air bags or dummies to represent defenders for a controlled live rep, or add a full defensive front for a live team blocking period.