“Counter-Gap Read Drill” Teaches Offensive Linemen How To Read, Finish Off Pursuing Defenders

THE COUNTER GAP read drill is a highly effective drill that I’ve been using for years to teach the backside pulling offensive guards, offensive tackle and the tight end the proper technique for reading and blocking defenders while on the move.

Drill Procedure

Set up two stations for this drill. One station is for the left OG, left OT and TE running this drill to the right, and the other one is for the right OG, right OT and TE running the drill to the left.
Place one large blocking dummy perpendicular to the line of scrimmage, opposite the side where the center would align.

Position a defensive end and an inside linebacker on the side of the dummy away from the blockers, each holding a shield.

A coach aligns in front of the defenders and away from the blockers to signal defensive movements.

At each station, the backside OG pulls to either kick-out block an upfield DE or log-block a DE who is closing the hole.

Meanwhile, the OTs and TEs at each station, pull to lead-block the LB.

Key Drill Points
To maximize the effectiveness of this drill, stress the following key points:

  Teach the OT or TE to feel and read the block of the OG in order to effectively block the LB on his pursuit angle.

  The coach signals the DE to either get upfield or to close the trap lane and tells the LB to stay in the hole or scrape over the top of the DE.

  Use the blocking dummy to simulate the pile that occurs at the point of a double-team block.

  The blocking dummy also simulates a down block on either a 3-technique or a 1-technique defender, so when a trap occurs, the OG can pull up tight to kick-out block the LB.

  Stop the drill as needed and correct each blocker to improve coordinated counter-gap blocking techniques.

If these coordinated pulling and kick-out block movements become second-nature to the linemen, it takes the guesswork out of their assignments and will help their aggressiveness and blocking tenacity.

DIAGRAM 1: Counter-Gap Read Drill (A).

DIAGRAM 2: Counter-Gap Read Drill (B).

DIAGRAM 3: Counter-Gap Read Drill (C).

DIAGRAM 4: Counter-Gap Read Drill (D).