By 13-14, defenders should have multiple shed techniques in their toolbox. This drill teaches rip, spin, and leg drive as three separate options.
Equipment needed: 2 heavy bags, 4 cones, 2 shields, 2 balls.
Setup: Create two 5-yard by 5-yard boxes. In each, place one blocker with a shield. Defender lines up 1 yard away.
How to run it:
- Blocker engages the defender with the shield. Defender’s choice: rip through (violent hands pushing the blocker’s arm up and stepping through), spin out (pivot 180 degrees and slip off the edge), or drive legs (stay engaged and push the blocker backward).
- Each shed technique takes about 1 second. Once shed, defender sprints 3 yards to a cone.
- Blocker stays engaged to teach the defender to move quickly.
- Do 3 reps of each technique (rip, spin, drive). Then add a runner and defender has to shed and pursue.
What to look for:
The rip should be explosive: hands cocked, violent extension. The spin should be tight and fast, not a full 360-degree circle. Leg drive should feel like the defender is powering through the blocker, not pushing them. If a defender is taking two steps to shed, it’s too slow. The transition from shed to pursuit should be immediate. No reset. No pause.
Variation: Add a second blocker coming at a different angle after the first shed is complete. This teaches continuous movement and awareness. Defensive football is never one shed and done.