By Ken Wilmesherr, Offensive Line Coach
Grossmont College
Sprint-out protection is used when the quarterback is breaking contain and sprinting out of the pocket to the left or the right. Depending on the defensive structure, sprint-out protection can be a man protection scheme to the call side and an area protection scheme to the backside.
It is important that linemen know and understand the launch point of the quarterback in the sprint-out protection scheme because the pocket will move, so as the pocket moves the offensive lineman must move and redirect his feet. Like any protection scheme it is imperative your linemen understand the launch point, because it will change rush angles of the defenders.
Call Side Guard and Tackle: If covered, the call side linemen (CSG and CST) will set to reach the call side gap working to the call side defender protecting the inside gap. A lineman is considered covered when a defender is inside the framework of the offensive lineman on the line of scrimmage. If a call side lineman is uncovered he will then soft post and pivot to the call side gap and dual read. The call side linemen will protect the call side gap if no one comes and he will than hinge with depth moving the pocket.
The landmark for the call side offensive linemen is the outside armpit of the down defender. The call side offensive linemen will punch the outside armpit of the defender with his call side hand (the dominate hand, with the thumb up, called a thumb lift) controlling the defender’s shoulder. The inside hand then will punch the middle of the defenders chest with the thumb up. It is important to maintain vertical and horizontal leverage as well as inside leverage while blocking the down defender.
If covered, the call side lineman is reaching the down defender and pinning him inside. The footwork is a (1st step) slight (set to reach) bucket step, the (2nd step) is to the midline of the defender, the third step will bring the offensive lineman back to balance (to the proper base of support). Linemen need to understand the footwork will change depending on the alignment of the down defender to the call side.
If the call side lineman is uncovered, he will than soft post and pivot and dual read. The first step is a lateral pivot step (pick it up and put it down) with the call side foot. The second step is a drop step with the inside foot at a 45-degree angle. Dropping the inside foot allows the offensive lineman to turn his shoulders to the line of scrimmage and move the pocket with some depth.
Center: If the center is covered, having any defender within his framework of the body he will set to reach the defender to the call side. If he is uncovered, not having a defender within the framework of the body, he then will soft post and pivot and dual read, eye balling the second level defender and checking for a backside rusher. If he is blocking the back side rusher the center will do so with depth. The landmark and the punch are the same as the call side linemen.
Backside Guard: The backside guard will soft post and pivot protecting the inside gap if no one comes (hinge with depth); the uncovered lineman on the backside will dual read. A dual reader is an uncovered offensive lineman who is eyeballing a second level defender and then works to a backside rusher. If the second level defender blitzes, the dual reader will block him; if not, he will check for a backside rusher with depth. The landmark and punch are the same as the call side linemen and center.
Backside Tackle: The backside tackle will kick at a 45-degree angle toward the launch point of the quarterback and block any threat inside out. An important coaching point is, if the backside tackle has any outside threat, he needs to run the defender getting width. This will disallow for any inside penetration by the defender. The backside tackles landmark and punch is determined by the path of the defender.
Running Back: The running back is responsible for the edge rusher. If there is a fire off the edge and a 5 tech, it is the responsibility of the call side tackle to alert the running back by making an alert call because the blocking assignments will change.
Coaching Points:
Running Backs Footwork and Blocking Assignment:
· Lead Step
· Crossover Step
· His aiming point is one yard outside of the end man on the line of scrimmage.
o Alert adjustment on the snap may be made because the end man on the line of scrimmage may change.
· Beware of an alert call for outside pressure (it is the responsibility of the call side tackle to alert the running back by making an alert call)
The Offensive Line Footwork:
· CST to BSG
o Step to play side gap if covered (set to reach).
o If (uncovered) no threat hinge with depth and move the pocket.
· BST
o Kick out at a 45-degree angle toward the launch point of the quarterback.
o Block any penetration by working inside out.
o Force the defender to run around not inside by gaining width.