Report: NFL has asked teams to stop using popular practice drill

One of the oldest, most common practice drills associated with football may be on its way out of the NFL.

According to Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports, the NFL has asked its teams to stop using the Oklahoma Drill in practices, citing health concerns. Particularly, the league has an issue with the increased of concussions during the drill.

The NFL has asked teams to eliminate the Oklahoma Drill over concussion concerns. It is one of the oldest, most traditional, most used drills by coaches, really, at all levels. I don't think NCAA can mandate this. Would have to come from conferences. Thoughts?

— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) May 23, 2019

The drill earned the title after Oklahoma head coach Bud Wilkinson (1947-63) started the drill during his time with the Sooners. While there are several variations, the most common is to have two players lined up three yards apart with blocking bags outside of each player. The two players then collide and the drill ends when a player is on the ground.

Here’s one variation of the drill:

With the NFL’s push toward safety, it’s understandable why it would want to see one of the more violent drills associated with the sport go by the wayside. But could there be a trickle-down effect?

If the NFL cuts the drill out of practices, will college and high school programs eliminate it as well? Or perhaps there will be a new variation that isn’t quite as violent that develops.

Either way, Oklahoma Drill has been an important aspect of football practices for decades now. It may soon be out of practices, though.