Mind, Hands, Feet Football
“You play any position with your hands and your feet. Everything is leading with the hands, playing with long arms, keeping the helmet out of the game. Your hips are coming through on the blocks.”
Bill Bedenbaugh, Co-offensive coordinator, University of Oklahoma
CUFF Progression.
Coil
Uncoil
Fit
Finish
In the progression we teach the athlete the stance, the strike, and the finish. In the stance, we teach how to create a strong foundation for contact prior to the snap of the ball. In the strike, we teach how and where to strike with the hands on an opponent. In the finish, we teach skills to secure control over an opponent and create separation. Using an example from our youngest Mudhog C squad with a defensive end going against a tight end on a running play. The defensive end position is played with the mind, the hands, and the feet. The player reads the play, engages with extended arms, and uses the feet to secure control and position to make tackles. See below to learn more and see how it is demonstrated within the MudHogs Tackle program.
Stance and Fire – The Pillar technique of defeating blocks begins with staggered stance as the defensive end is the furthest of the down players from the ball. The defensive end fires off on the snap of the ball and attacks the outside shoulder of the tight end with hands forward. The tight end simultaneously fires off on the snap of the ball with hands forward.
Strike and Separate – The pillar (defensive) and bridge (offensive) strike lands at full arm extension to deliver the power through the hips.
Note: The helmets do not make contact.
Secure control and finish – Through the pillar technique the defensive end creates separation and seeks the ball. In this picture the ball is coming through the center-guard hole and the defensive end begins closing the gap. Notice, the defensive end is looking at the running back and will engage the RB with the head behind the thigh and will rap and roll to get the running back to the ground. No helmet to helmet contact within an outstanding defensive play.
