The NFL is set to make its celebrated return to tinsel-town next weekend when the Seattle Seahawks visit the Los Angeles Rams. In a prelude to the NFL’s return, the Rams were featured on this year’s installment of Hard Knocks. The behind-the-scenes look at the preparations revealed the Rams plan on relying on a stout defense and perhaps a little bit of Hollywood magic.

Maybe this year’s defensive line can look to its past for some inspiration. Rosey Grier, one of the original members of the ‘Fearsome Foursome’, played 11 outstanding seasons in the NFL, earning three All-Pro nominations.

After retiring, Grier did not hesitate when the time came to act…and I am not referring to his long list of acting credits. Currently one of the oldest living former NFL players, Grier often found himself portraying tough guys in front of the camera.

However, Grier rose to the occasion when it was time to act in real life on June 5, 1968.

That morning, Grier and well-known writer and former NFL quarterback George Plimpton wrestled with Sirhan Sirhan in the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Grier was a bodyguard for presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy on the fateful day he was assassinated.

After the shots rang out, Grier immediately sprang into action without hesitation or thought for his own well-being. Always humble, even when playing the role of real-life hero, Grier downplayed his courageous act.

“All I did was put my hand over the weapon, pulled the trigger back so it wouldn’t fire and I wrenched it out of his [Sirhan Sirhan] hand and put it in my pocket,” said Grier to PBS.

Grier’s years of experience as a defensive lineman in the NFL likely helped him to navigate the large group of people to reach and disarm the assassin, saving others in the hotel from potential harm.

The purpose of this drill is to teach all defensive players how to create the necessary space to find the ball carrier, then shed the block and make a tackle.

Drill Setup:

Align players on opposite sides of the line. Prior to the drill starting, the defensive player should bend his knees to get into a good low-level pad position and pre-engage the blocker.

Place a coach, manager or extra player directly behind the blockers to act as the ball carrier.

Key Coaching Points:

Upon the coach’s whistle, defensive players will ‘lock out’, or forcefully extend their arms with thumbs facing up and elbows in, to gain separation from the blocker while remaining engaged with the block.

The defensive player will then peek his head to his side of the gap responsibility in an attempt to locate the ball carrier. Once the ball carrier declares his intention to run to their side of the gap, defensive players should shed the block and explosively throw the blocker to the side opposite his head.

The defensive player should then step through with the same leg that is on the side they have just thrown the blocker and shuffle his feet through the hole to find the ball carrier.

Throughout the duration of the drill, defensive players should never stop moving their feet.

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