Building the Wall: A Drill for Dominant OL Play
The De Smet Spartans, along with programs like Blue Springs, Park Hill, Lee's Summit North, and St. Louis Vashon, are incorporating the 'Pad Stack' drill into their offseason training. This drill targets the linemen's ability to maintain a strong stance and generate power from the ground up. The drill consists of 3 sets of 10 reps, with a 30-second rest between sets. Players start in a 3-point stance, then explosively drive into a pad stack, focusing on keeping their back straight and core engaged. Coaching cues include 'Drive through the pads' and 'Keep your eyes up.' This drill translates to game performance by developing the linemen's ability to absorb and distribute force, ultimately leading to improved run blocking and pass protection.