Cocoa Tigers' Defensive End Drill: Building Power and Speed
The Cocoa Tigers' coaching staff has developed a drill to help 4A defensive ends improve their power and speed. The 'Power Step Drill' involves setting up four cones in a square formation, with each cone 5 yards apart. Defensive ends will start at the top cone, then perform a power step (keeping their back foot planted) to the next cone, followed by a speed step (lifting their back foot off the ground) to the next cone. The drill consists of 3 sets of 10 reps, with a 2-minute rest between sets. Coaching cues include: 'Keep your back foot firm' and 'Drive through your front foot.' This drill translates to game performance by improving the defensive end's ability to quickly change direction and explosively accelerate off the line of scrimmage.