Defensive End Dominance: The 'Shed and Swim' Drill
As the summer heat sets in, defensive ends at top programs like Lincoln East Spartans are putting in the work to dominate on the gridiron. One effective drill to add to your training regimen is the 'Shed and Swim' drill. This exercise targets the DE's ability to shed blockers and quickly close on the quarterback. Set up two cones 10 yards apart, with a defender at the starting cone. Perform 3 sets of 10 reps, focusing on proper footwork and hand placement. As the defender approaches the second cone, a blocker will attempt to shed them. The defender must quickly shed the block and 'swim' through the hole to the quarterback. Coaching cues include 'get skinny' and 'swim, don't push.' This drill translates to game performance by improving the DE's ability to quickly close on the quarterback and make tackles in tight spaces.