In coaching defensive linemen and linebackers in a base pass rush, there are several tips and points of emphasis that can extract maximum value from a one-on-one match-up. When coaching the outside cage rusher in particular, the key coaching point that I like to focus on is for the rusher to get off the ball and get vertical fast. While this may seem elementary, it is important to continue to emphasize the point that you want to run to a spot in the backfield when you get a drop-back pass. Bull-rushing and clashing pads too early simply leads to blocking yourselves. There are simple, yet specific reasons why this initial burst of speed is so important:
1) It Sets Up the Speed Move: This is obvious, yet important to keep in mind. Some guys can just run by offensive linemen. There’s no magic to coaching these kids once they get going. Their advantage is their athleticism and getting vertical fast sets them up to use it.
2) It puts the O-linemen in conflict. It takes a special kind of athlete on the offensive line to be able to patiently kick back, stay square and know that he can execute his job against an aggressive rush. O-linemen take pride in protecting their QB and they don’t like getting beat. Typically, if you can get off with some speed and press them vertically, linemen are going to have their patience put to the test.
3) It defines our next move – when an O-lineman reacts to you running vertically, how he responds physically will help define what the optimal move is.
Recognizing the optimal pass rush strategy is something of a fine art, and can be tricky for some players. Some guys are better at working certain moves than others, and players want to operate within their comfort zone. It’s important to educate players that different situations call for different techniques. It’s far from an exact science, and a lot of it has to do with how each individual pass-rusher matches up against individual O-linemen. The point is, if players know what situations to look for and how to respond to them, they will have a more diverse arsenal of moves at their disposal.
A good starting point to work from is the Speed Rip. This goes back to the point that some guys’ “best move” is just to run by O-linemen. In simple terms: if you’ve got the edge, take it. What we want to look for is the offensive lineman opening up his hip early in response to the initial vertical rush. When a pass rusher sees this, he should be confident that he can get to the QB. As the O-lineman attempts to engage with his hands, you want to knock him down with your inside arm, the same arm that you will use to execute the rip. The key coaching point when executing this move is your pad level. The rusher needs to dip his shoulder down low and underneath the hands of the O-lineman as he attempts to re-establish contact. The next step for the rusher is to rip his inside arm upwards and extend his reach all the way behind his own ear. That last point is also important, since finishing the move that way works to clear the O-lineman’s hands from your body. If you can get to his back hip and clear out his hands, all that’s left to do is bend to the QB and make a big play.
The next move you can work is the Outside-Arm Grab. This is a great move for a rusher who still thinks he can get to the edge with speed, but can’t get to the O-lineman’s back hip fast enough to effectively rip by him. This is a common scenario when facing a lineman who is disciplined with his hips enough to keep them square in his pass set. It’s still important to set the move up by knocking the O-lineman’s hand down with your inside arm. However, the next step in executing this move is for the rusher to clear his hips and reach with his outside arm, grabbing and pulling the lineman’s up-field shoulder. The rusher will then finish with a punch or a rip to discard the blocker, although the finishing move that he chooses is of little importance. What is important is that he clears his hips when attempting the grab, and using the O-lineman’s momentum against him by pulling him forward as he attempts to re-set his hands.
Another effective move is the Push/Pull. I like this move against O-linemen who have good feet and can keep their hips square while also getting depth in their pass set. The best way to beat these guys is to use their momentum against them, which is why the initial “push” is so important, since a lineman who is gaining depth vertically has a lot of momentum going backwards. We want to try to get your hands inside and lock out with arms, pressing the O-lineman away from you. As he tries to counter this momentum by leaning back toward you, then you will pull him forward in an attempt to get him off balance and then finish with a rip or a punch.
Finally, it’s important to educate pass rushers on how to handle the over-set by the O-linemen. When we push up-field vertically and the O-lineman has gotten so deep and wide that the edge is closed off, we like to come underneath at the level of the QB. This can be very effective when done correctly, and is nicely set up as a natural counter when the O-lineman reacts aggressively to the initial vertical rush. What’s important to note is that you should be at or past the level of the QB in the backfield before making this move, ensuring that a lineman can’t ride you down inside and allow the QB to roll out and escape the rush. The first vertical push is important, to define the set of the O-lineman and get him to overcompensate in an attempt to protect the edge. Our next move once you have reached the level of the QB is to club or “hump” with the inside arm. Basically, you want to throw him where his momentum is already taking him and then counter back underneath. If you do this with correct timing and set it up properly with a definitive vertical rush, you will often be able to create a path for yourself to get to the QB without compromising your cage responsibility.
Describing the “ideal” situation for each move is a way to provide tentative guidelines for the players to follow so that they know what to look for. Teaching pass rushers to understand how to respond to the O-lineman’s movement is important; however, as I mentioned before, it’s not in any way an exact science. A pass rusher’s best move in a given situation depends on many factors, including but not limited to his own technical abilities, as well as how he matches up against the lineman across from him. What is essential is that they understand the importance of maintaining the integrity of their rush lanes, and that they understand how getting vertical and running to a spot defines the rush. This is particularly important when it comes to coming back underneath at the level of the QB, which can be an effective strategy even for a player who is not very athletic, but consistently gets vertical enough to influence the over-set.