Defeating a Reach Block
Protect the shoulder
Reach Blocks can be difficult to defeat.
It takes great technique, quickness, and strength.
Here are a few thoughts:
What is a Reach Block?
A Reach Block typically occurs on Run Plays to the outside.
It involves an Offensive Lineman working horizontally to try and overtake a Defensive Lineman.
If the Offensive Lineman is successful, they will “hook” the Defensive Lineman out of their Gap, or at least create enough vertical and/or horizontal space for the Running Back to gain some yards.
Defensively, we must fight to prevent that.
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Now back to today’s article…
Diagnose the Block
It’s difficult to defeat a block if you don’t see it.
It all starts with the concept of Attacking Targets (which I wrote about here).
A Defensive Lineman wants to have a pre-determined target to shoot their hands to.
Typically this target is the Shoulder and “V of the Neck”.
With a Reach Block, the target is coming TOWARDS the Defensive Lineman and trying to overtake their far shoulder.
A key point is this:
The Defensive Lineman must recognize the Reach Block before their first step lands in the ground.
If they do this, they have a shot.
The Offensive Lineman, obviously, has the advantage of knowing the play call.
So even if the Defensive Lineman is “head up” after their first step, they are still in good shape.
Their athleticism can take over after that.
Horizontal and Vertical
Once their first step hits the ground (and the Defensive Lineman has diagnosed the Reach Block), they must now work to widen and protect their shoulder.
If the Offensive Lineman is able to overtake their far shoulder and “hook” the Defensive Lineman, it will be tough to recover.
But it’s not good enough to just keep getting wider.
For every yard the Defensive Lineman moves horizontally, they will also want to work a yard upfield.
Get vertical and disrupt the play.
Anchor
Once the block has been defeated and you have good Gap leverage, work to anchor.
This means fighting the pressure and not getting washed.
By this point in the play the Defensive Lineman should have eyes on the ball carrier.
Anchor, set an edge on the blocker, disengage, and make the play.
Here are some clips of Defensive Linemen defeating Reach Blocks:
All the best,
Jon Svec
Defensive Coordinator
St. Francis Xavier University
X-Men Football
Email: jsvec@stfx.ca
Twitter: @jonsvecx
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