Defeating the Reach Block

From an outside shade, the reach block is one of the most difficult to fight against on the first step. First, as we are taking our first step with the shade foot (inside foot) we must mirror our key which is moving laterally to our outside. Thus, our first step actually narrows our base. It is vital that we don’t cross over our feet on this step! See below.

The second step is where we MUST win. The second step must beat the OL to the outside to re-establish outside leverage. At this point, we want our hands to grab ahold of the outside half of our key (just as in a base block situation). Upon establishing outside leverage position, we must maintain contact with the key and continue to fight both laterally and vertically to heels depth. While fighting, we need to find the ball carrier. Why are they reaching us? The ball must be coming, too! Don’t over-run the ball. Once we get to heels depth with outside leverage, work to the back hip of the ball carrier. Why the back hip? The ball carrier is moving East-West at this point, looking for the edge. At some point, he must turn upfield, and that’s where we want to be! Once the ball carrier declares upfield, we must separate from our key to make a tackle. Techniques for disengaging are to shed, push/pull, or rip.

Heavy Shades Will Get Reached

It’s a fact of the game. If we are playing heavy for whatever reason, a reach is inevitable. If it happens, then we want to push vertical underneath the reach block immediately and look to get into pursuit fast! Dip & rip, club & rip, push/pull on back shoulder, or hand swipe are good techniques to get under the reach block since the OL is moving laterally to our outside.

We drill defeating reach blocks every week with a 1 v 1 with ball carrier drill.  The OL can downblock or reach, the ball carrier reacts to the block and we must read the block.  If it's a reach key, we fight as described above and track the hip of the ball carrier.  If it's a downblock, we play down the LOS at heels depth, tracking the hip of the ball carrier in the other direction. 

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