Warren De La Salle Pilots DE Drills: Mastering the 'Rush and React' Drill
At Div 1 programs like Warren De La Salle Pilots, defensive end players are constantly looking for ways to improve their speed and reaction time. One effective drill to help achieve this is the 'Rush and React' drill. This drill consists of 3 sets of 10 reps, with 30 seconds of rest in between sets. Players will line up 10 yards off the quarterback, with a focus on using their inside foot to drive through the tackle. As the quarterback drops back to pass, the DE will rush towards the quarterback, focusing on keeping their eyes on the quarterback and using their hands to deflect the pass. The coaching cue is to 'drive through the tackle, not just the ball.' This drill translates to game performance by improving the DE's ability to quickly close the gap and react to the quarterback's movement.