1. STANCE

For a defensive line blog it only makes sense that the first post be about stance.  This is where it all starts!  A poor stance will lead to poor results.  A good stance, you have a chance!  As a D-Lineman, you primarily have two types of movements, either you're read stepping or you're stunting.  Each movement has a slightly different stance.

Read step (base defense) stance: When read stepping you want to have the ability to adjust where your first step lands based upon the movement of your OL key.  To do this, you need a fairly balanced stance.  Begin by getting your feet shoulder-width apart (the outside of your shoulder should be in plane with the inside of your feet).  Your shade foot is the back foot, since this is the foot you are stepping with first.  You should have a toe-heel relationship with your feet, so your shade foot toes are even with your other foot's heel. 

If you use a 3 point stance, now, bend at your hips and knees into a squatting position and place your shade hand on the ground at a point in front of your helmet.  You should have to reach slightly to get to this point, but not too much.  Once your hand is on the ground you should feel most of your weight on the insides of your feet.  Your back, when looked at from the side view, should be flat or even have a slight forward lean (shoulders below hips).  If your back is angled upward at all, you need more reach with your down hand.  Your off-hand should be up near your head ready for contact, do not let it rest on your thigh!

If you use a 4 point stance, start from your knees and place both hands on the ground out in front of you.  Get your feet into the proper alignment described above, then raise up your hips so that your back is flat, as described above.  If your back is angled up, bring your feet up underneath you more and elevate your butt.  Both of your knees should form right angles.
 
Stunt stance:  If you are stunting then you will be taking an aggressive first step into the gap you are stunting.  This means you will want a slightly narrower base and more forward lean.  Begin by getting your feet inside of shoulder width so that the outside of your shoulders are in plane with the outside of your feet.  You want a toe-instep relationship with your feet (instead of toe-heel), and the back foot will be the foot nearest the gap you are stunting since your first step will be with this foot.

For a 3 point stance, place your down hand well out in front of your helmet so that you have to reach for it. Most of your weight should be on your down hand and your toes.  Your hips should be above your shoulders so that you have a downward lean towards the line of scrimmage.

For a 4 point stance, get both hands well out in front of you and raise up so that your hips are above your shoulders.  Your knees should form obtuse angles.

Regardless of which post-snap movement you are doing, your eyes need to be locked onto your key once you're in your stance.  Block out all offensive communication, listen only to your guys, and focus your eyes on your key and be ready to pounce once it moves! 

Notice the hips above the shoulders, obtuse angles in knees and eyes focused on his key!

Notice the flat back, good knee angles, off hand ready, and eyes focused on the key!