Running Back Daylight Outside Drill

Purpose

To work on the runningback’s ability to find the open gap (daylight) on sweep plays and hit that opening hard and confident.

Description

Setup:

• Mark an offensive line with pylons or linestrip or at least the Tackle/Tight-End position on the playside.
• Place 3 players on the defensive side (about 1 yard behind the LOS) to the designated playside: one about 2 yards outside the Tackle/Tight-End position, the other two outside about 3-4 yards apart.
• Runningback lines up in his normal position
• Coach signals to the “shields” how many should slide fast:
  • 0: all three will just slide slowly along the LOS towards the sideline leaving the area between them and the sideline open for the Runningback.
  • 1: only the most outside shield will “overpersue” along the LOS towards the sideline.
  • 2: only the innermost shield will slide slow.
  • 3: all three shields will slide fast leaving the area between them and the Tackle/Tight-End postion for the Runningback open.

Excecution:

1. Runningback will run his normal sweep path with football (Variation: Use a Quarterback to hand off or pitch the football to add even more real live to the drill)
2. when Runningback is about the Tackle/Tight-End position  the shield-holders start sliding according to the coaches signal.
3. The runningback continues on his path until he recognizes the opening, then he cuts towards that opening and continues downfield about 4-6 yards.

Coaching Points

• Runningback should always run hard and fullspeed.
• Runningback shouldn’t slow down but cut fast toward the opening without loosing speed!
• Hips and shoulders should always point point towards the sideline until the cut then upfield.

Equipment

• Ball(s)
• 3 Shields
• Pylons or
• Linestrip