By Ken Wilmesherr • Offensive Line Coach • Grossmont College
There always seems to be a debate among coaches in regards to either teaching the flipper (The Crowther Progression) or the three-prong punch in the running game. It is my belief that both techniques can coexist in any run blocking scheme with success if taught properly. Below are the teaching progressions for the three prong punch and the 2-man Crowther Progression.
Teaching the Three-Prong
Punch in the Running Game
The objective of the three-prong punch teaching progression is to isolate the punch and the hips in the running game. It teaches linemen to strike a blow and snap the hips. When teaching the components of the three-prong punch, you can use a sled, shields or pair up your linemen facing each other on their knees on a line approximatley 12 inches apart. Teaching the components of the punch involves a 3-step progression, which isolates the punch and hips in the run game.
There are three steps to the three-prong punch progression:
1. Load the guns.
2. The punch - strike a blow.
3. The Dallas roll - hip roll.
First, place your linemen on their knees, resting their butts on the heels of their feet.
1. Load the guns - landmark for the hands when teaching this part of the progression is to have the top of the heel of the hand at the pocket line and not at the hip. Arms are dangling by their sides, ready to strike. Your linemen should not rest their hands on their thigh boards. You will say, “Jab” and they will load their guns with elbows tight to their side. After they load their guns, have them hold that position and make corrections if needed. Make sure they are not over-loading the guns. You want them to be as efficient as possible with little wasted movement. Their butts will remain on the heels of their feet throughout the first step of the teaching progression.
2. The punch - striking a blow. They will punch either the sled or the lineman they are paired with. The punch teaches linemen to strike a blow. The punch is inside the framework, which will create hand leverage on the defender. Punch with the thumbs up (thumb lift at 12 o’clock), elbows tight to the side and punching with an open hand and with the heel of the hand. If the punch is executed properly, the elbows should disappear, punching from a low plain to a high plane or through their eyes. When teaching this part of the progression, have them hold their punch and make corrections if needed. Their butts will remain on the heels of their feet throughout the second step of the teaching progression.
3. The Dallas roll - hip roll - after the punch, have your linemen snap the hips (unlock their hips) falling forward, gaining leverage on either the sled or their partner in which they are paired. This part of the progression teaches hand and pad leverage. The hip roll needs to be explosive. This phase of the teaching progression teaches linemen to punch through the defender (the pad) and snap (unlock the hips) the hips.
When teaching the final phase of the progression, put all the components together. Load the guns, the punch, and the Dallas roll. Also, this component of the progression is vital because it teaches the hip roll (power is generated from the hips). It is vital that offensive linemen understand the importance of unlocking the hips in this final phase of the teaching progression. The cadence in the final phase of the teaching progression is jab, punch, and finish when all three components are being taught.
After you have taught the three-prong punch progression, you can incorporate the feet by working on a two-step punch drill. This drill will incorporate the three-prong punch progression and the position and power steps and drive leg in the run game. This drill will teach linemen the position and power steps to strike a blow at a 45-degree angle.
Teaching the 2-Man
Crowther Progression in
the Running Game
The objective of the 2-man Crowther progression is to teach offensive linemen the key components to a drive block. Also, the Crowther progression teaches linemen to strike through defenders with pads out (pad leverage) rather than pads up. It teaches the strike and the hip roll (power comes from the hips). It also teaches the importance of the position step, and the power step. It is key on every run block that your linemen execute the proper position and power steps. With the position and power steps, there is a lead leg and a drive leg.
There are six steps to the 2-man Crowther progression:
1. The pendulum swing.
2. The triangle.
3. The hip roll.
4. The position step.
5. The position and power step.
6. One man drive.
1. The Pendulum Swing - the offensive linemen will be in an upright position with a slight bend in the knees. They then will place their chin slightly over the pad and slightly outside of the sled. The linemen then will strike with the pad with the back of the wrist. They will strike through the pad as he strikes the pad and the hips will unlock slightly. The opposite arm will reach for the sky, which helps keep the shoulders square. The pendulum swing teaches offensive linemen to strike a blow.
2. The Triangle - the offensive linemen will remain in an upright position with knees bent slightly and on the insteps of their feet. The offensive linemen repeat the same motion as in step1 with the pendulum swing. The linemen will strike through the pad with the back of the wrist as thy reach for the sky forming a triangle. As the linemen strike through the pad, the hips will unlock slightly. Remember, power comes from the hips. With the opposite arm, the linemen will reach for the sky forming a triangle which keeps the shoulders square and creates a big blocking surface. As the linemen strike through the pad, their needs to be a full range of motion.
3. The Hip Roll - the linemen are an arms length away from the sled and on their knees. Their weight should be back on the heels with shoulders slightly rolled forward. The linemen will snap the hips (unlocking the hips, generating power) through as they strike the pad at a 45-degree angle. They reache for the sky with the opposite arm and keep their head tight to the side of the sled. As the linemen strike through the pad, the opposite arm will reach for the sky. The linemen will strike through the pad as they did in step 1 and step 2. The hip roll teaches the linemen to punch through the defender (the pad) and snap (unlock the hips) the hips. That is, reach for the sky and strike through the (the pad) defender.
4. The Power Step in a proper 3-point stance - the linemen will strike the pad with the flipper at a 45-degree angle. As they strike the pad, they are driving the knee through the pad, which simulates driving the knee through the crotch of the defender (one step only). As they strike the pad and drive the knee through the pad, the opposite foot stays stationary. If the linemen are striking the pad with the right flipper, they will drive the right knee through the pad. If they are striking the pad with the left flipper, they are driving the left knee through the pad. The opposite arm is reaching for the sky. The power step teaches offensive linemen to knock the defender off the line of scrimmage.
5. The Position and Power Step - in a proper 3-point stance, the linemen will take a 6 inch position step, lead leg (directional step) with the outside foot and then drive the power step. Drive leg goes through the pad which simulates the crotch of the defender (two steps only). If the linemen are taking a position step with the left foot, the power step is the right foot through the pad (the defender). If the linemen are taking a position step with the right foot, the power step is the left foot through the pad (the defender). The footwork is position step, then power step (position, power). Also, make sure they are on the insteps of their feet when working the position and power steps. If they are flat footed, they will stick, becoming unexplosive. The linemen will strike the defender with the flipper at a 45-degree angle and reach for the sky with the opposite arm. The linemen are striking the pad up and out.
6. The One-Man Drive - in a proper 3-point stance, the linemen will work all the components of the drive block. The linemen will position, power step, strike a blow at a 45-degree angle through the pad, keep the head tight to the side, and pump the outside arm. For the linemen to be successful driving the sled, they have to be on the same angle as the sled and maintaining their base of support throughout the drive block. The one-man drive is a great visual for linemen because it teaches them all the components of a drive block as well as what it takes to have a successful drive block.
The 2-man Crowther Fit
and Finish Drill
The objective of the 2-man Crowther fit and finish drill is to teach linemen all the components to a drive block from the fit to the finish.
Fit and Finish drill using the 2-man crowther sled – place two linemen in a good fit position, knees bent, flat back, and head tucked tight to the side on both pads. One lineman is on the right pad using the left flipper and head tucked tight to the side and the other lineman is on the left pad with the right flipper and the head tucked tight to the side. Give two commands. On the first command, they will pump their feet as close to the ground as possible (cutting grass). Weight should be on the insteps of the feet.
On the second command, the linemen will drive the sled, getting vertical movement. Make sure linemen are not false-stepping. They should always work to get vertical movement. You can place a toe board in front of the linemen for a visual reference in regards to the position and power steps.
This drill teaches all the components of the drive block - flat back, wide base (base of support shoulder width), driving the feet, playing on the insteps, head tucked tight to the side, and the outside arm pumping.
Also, you can incorporate the finish into the 2-man Crowther progression. Place two linemen holding shields on both sides of the sled about 10 yards back. As the linemen are driving the sled, they will move backwards on command. The linemen driving the sled will butt roll and finish the block by driving through the defenders holding the shields.
Coaching Points:
1. The coach should check for all the components of a successful drive block - knees bent, flat back, head tucked tight to the side.
2. The coach should check for vertical movement. Make sure there is no false step and the linemen are always working for vertical movement. Weight distribution should be on the insteps.
3. Check to see if the linemen finish the block by driving through the defender holding the shield. p
About the Author: Ken Wilmesheer just completed his fifth season as Grossmont College’s O-Line Coach. He previously coached for three seasons at Southwestern College and has 29 years of coaching experience at the high school and college level. He can be reached at kwilmesh@cox.net.