Transition from run to pass rush

Rushing the Passer

For a defensive lineman, rushing the passer usually is the high point of playing the game. Against the running game, the offensive play selection dictates the style and type of reaction a defensive lineman must make. The defensive lineman's response to certain types of blocks or blocking schemes is predetermined. This all changes when the offense elects to pass the ball. Then, it is the defensive lineman who has the options, and it is the offensive player who must do the reacting.

Rushing the passer is a learned skill, one that can be assimilated in a systematic fashion. It also is a skill that allows for individuality, with the defensive lineman able to work on and adapt the pass rush techniques best suited for his body structure and physical ability.

Before going onto the practice field, defensive linemen need to know some basic principles of rushing the passer. These are areas of mental rather than physical concentration. Once learned, they will increase the effectiveness of the pass rush greatly.

The defensive lineman first must understand the importance of "getting off the ball" if he is to have success. He should pay close attention to the down and distance for the offense, realizing that the longer the distance the offense needs to go, the greater the possibility there is for a pass. As the probability of a pass increases, the defensive lineman adjusts his stance. He decreases the width of his feet, adds a greater stagger in his stance, and places his front foot directly under his hip, closer to the line of scrimmage. His hips should be raised to a position slightly higher than his shoulder pads, and he should put more weight on the hand that is on the ground. When anticipating a pass by the offense, the defensive lineman should have his head up with his eyes focused on the ball, his body weight well forward. This style of stance allows him to move across the line of scrimmage the instant he sees the center snap the ball.

A defensive lineman's basic job against a pass play is to pressure the quarterback. He may not always be able to tackle the quarterback before he throws the ball, but he may be in position to force the quarterback to hurry his throw or to obstruct the pass. If a defensive lineman rushing directly at a quarterback sees the quarterback is about to throw, he should be prepared to stand tall, raise his arms into the air, and obstruct the quarterback's vision and passing lane. By thinking and acting in this manner, if the pass is thrown in his direction, the defensive lineman often will be in position to cause an incompletion, tipping the ball into the air or knocking it to the ground.

The entire defensive team, and the defensive line in particular, must realize that an incomplete pass is the same as a running play that gains nothing. Often it is the hurrying of the pass or the tipping of the ball in flight that causes the pass to be incomplete or intercepted. Although the sacking of the opposing quarterback is an exciting and an important play for a defensive lineman, these two other types of play may be equally important to the outcome of a game.

Just as a defensive lineman understands the different types of blocks he may face on running plays, he also must have an insight into the different ways the offense blocks on the various types of pass plays: drop-back, sprint-out, play-action, dash, roll-out, and screen. These pass plays used by the offense should be introduced and explained in the classroom and then practiced, one at a time, on the field.

Regardless of the type of offensive pass play being executed, a defensive lineman first must defeat the offensive player assigned to block him. Defeating this player must be his number one priority after he has determined that a pass play is coming. Once the blocker is defeated, the defensive lineman is in position to obstruct the pass or pressure the quarterback. A young defensive lineman, in particular, usually looks for the quarterback immediately, never realizing that the quarterback probably is not in a position to throw the ball so quickly. It is during these first few moments of each pass play that a defensive lineman must concentrate on defeating the offensive blocker and not on the man with the ball.

Above all, the defensive lineman must develop an intensity and purpose in his pass rush. He must understand that he has to keep his feet moving and not be stopped, steadily boring in, collapsing the pocket, exerting more and more pressure on the quarterback. No matter how tempting it seems, this is not the time to push and shove the blockers around. The defensive lineman's goal always is to shed the blocker and get to the quarterback as quickly as possible.

There are seven basic individual pass rush techniques that can be learned by a defensive lineman. No one defensive lineman will be able to become proficient at all of them. What each player needs to do, after he has been introduced to and practiced all seven techniques, is select the one or two that are best suited to him.

A defensive lineman who is short in stature will waste valuable practice time trying to master an "arm over" pass-rush technique, and a defensive lineman who lacks upper-body strength may become frustrated if he is asked to "bull" rush time and time again. It is up to the player and the coach to find the correct rush techniques for each player. The defen-sive lineman should constantly practice these individually selected and specific pass-rush techniques until he becomes a master at executing each of them.

In all the following drills, defensive players are used for both the offense and defense. A defensive lineman's ability to rush the passer is greatly increased if he understands the techniques used against him by the offensive player. The best way to learn offensive techniques is to be forced to play the position in practice. Many times the starting defensive linemen are not asked to take their turn on offense. But instead of helping them by allowing them to rest, the coach actually is hurting their development by taking away a valuable learning experience.

Before a defensive lineman can learn individual pass-rush techniques, he must understand where he is trying to go with his pass rush. He needs a feel for where the target, i.e., the quarterback, will be located. The sprint drill is designed to give the defensive lineman a definite point at which to direct his rush.

It also serves to emphasize, above all else, that a defensive lineman must keep his feet moving toward the target.


Drills for Rushing the Passer


Sprint, Touch, and Go

In this drill, the offensive players line up with their arms resting on their thighs. They don't move or block. As the center moves the ball, one defensive lineman at a time charges across the line of scrimmage, touches the offensive player in front of him with his near hand, and sprints toward the target (something such as a towel placed on the ground). He should be instructed to run through the target area. The depth of the target from the line of scrimmage can be changed each day to give the defensive linemen a feel for a five, seven, and nine-yard drop by the quarterback.

In the following drills, the offensive players are "live" and execute a pass-protection lock against the rushing defensive linemen. The blocker attempts to stay between the pass rusher and the target area for as long as possible.

The drills feature only one defensive lineman rushing against one offensive blocker and begin with the command "Hit!" by the coach. The drills end when the coach says "Stop!" or blows the whistle. Blowing the whistle is the best way to end any drill because it conditions the defensive players to respond to a sound that stops play during an actual game. However, a whistle cannot always be used to end a drill, because it is distracting to other players who are practicing different techniques on nearby areas of the field.

Shoulder-Club and Slip

This pass technique starts with a fast outside charge by the defensive lineman. The first step is with the inside foot. If at all possible, the defensive linemen should try to reach the offensive blocker by the time he takes his second step with his outside foot.

The defensive lineman then brings his outside hand hard under the outside shoulder pad of the offensive blocker. He pushes the blockers pad up and in with his hand.

As the defensive lineman feels his hand make contact, he steps with his inside foot, drops his inside shoulder, and drives it under the outside armpit of the blocker.

Once he is in this position, the defensive lineman straightens his back, bows his neck and head back, and pushes up with the big muscle groups of his legs.

Next, it is important for him to force his hips forward and attempt to run by the offensive blocker. Most young players forget to force their hips forward, often completely stopping their foot movement, and merely lean on the offensive blocker and never reach the target area.

This is an excellent pass-rush technique for a defensive lineman who is average or short in stature but who has good speed off the ball.

Wrist-Club and Over-Arm

Again the rusher will use a quick outside charge, stepping first with the inside foot and then trying to reach the offensive blocker by his second step with his outside foot.

For this technique, the defensive lineman takes the outside arm and, with the forearm at a 45-degree angle, strikes a blow to the outside wrist of the blocker, driving the blocker's outside hand and arm across his chest.

As this contact is made, the defensive lineman takes his inside arm and reaches over the outside shoulder pad of the blocker. Once his arm is over the shoulder pad, the defensive lineman tries to drive the point of his elbow hard into the back of the blocker. This action serves to propel the defensive lineman past the blocker.

When contact has been made with the elbow, the defensive lineman once again forces his hips forward, accelerating past the offensive man toward the target.

A defensive lineman must have speed and adequate height in order to use this pass-rush technique effectively.

Rip-and-Run

Both of the previous pass-rush techniques involve outside charges. With the rip-and-run technique, the rush goes to the inside of the offensive blocker. It also differs from the previous rushes in that the defensive lineman uses only one arm instead of two when executing the technique.

On the snap of the ball, the defensive lineman steps quickly with his outside foot across the front of the blocker. As he takes his second step, he lowers his outside shoulder, driving it under the inside armpit of the blocker. With his outside arm bent at the elbow in a 45-degree angle, the defensive lineman rips up and back, lifting the inside shoulder of the blocker as much as possible.

It is important for the defensive lineman once again to force his hips forward, driving with his feet and accelerating toward the target.

This is an excellent change-of-pace pass rush for the outside pass rusher who has speed and upper body strength.

Bull Rush

This pass-rush technique is most effective against offensive linemen who have a fast drop off the line of scrimmage. For most defensive linemen, it is difficult to reach the blocker by his first or second step. What the defender faces is an offensive player who is giving ground quickly. Because this offensive part of the drill can be a problem to teach and simulate, it is best to have the offensive guards line up one yard off the line of scrimmage and the offensive tackles line up two yards off the line prior to the snap of the ball.

At the snap of the ball, the blocker starts retreating, ready to absorb the rush of the defensive lineman.

It is important for the defensive lineman to explode off the line with a low, hard charge, keeping arms bent, elbows near his sides, and hands open with the fingers up. As he nears the blocker, the defensive lineman drives the heels of his hands forward and up, punching them into the armpits of the blocker. When contact is made, the pass rusher extends his arms, keeping his feet moving with short, powerful steps. Keeping his back straight and the top of his helmet under the chin of the blocker, the defensive lineman drives the blocker straight into the quarterback. If necessary, the defensive player must be prepared to scramble directly over the blocker as he works toward the target area.

This is an excellent pass rush technique for any defensive lineman to use against a soft, deep-setting offensive blocker. It is especially good for a big, strong defensive player who may not have great speed off the ball.

Bull-and-Jerk

The bull-and-jerk technique starts off similar to the bull technique. The variation comes at the point of contact and involves both the offensive and defensive players.

When contact is about to occur, instead of continuing to give ground, the offensive blocker plants both feet and fires or lunges out at the pass rusher.

The defensive pass rusher must anticipate this adjustment by the blocker. When he sees it taking place, the defensive lineman should be prepared to change his technique. Instead of punching out with his hands, he now grabs the front of the blocker's jersey, and, using the blocker's own momentum, jerks him either to his right or left.

It is important to step across the blocker with the foot on the side of the jerk, thus allowing the pass rusher's hips to pass the blocker and giving the defensive lineman a free rush to the target area.

Big, strong defensive linemen who plan to use a bull rush technique must be prepared to incorporate the jerk technique as part of their individual pass-rush package.

Bull-and-Slip

This is another variation of the basic bull rush technique that should be used against a fast-setting offensive lineman, who, at the instant of contact, does not plant his feet and fire out but instead chops his stride, gathers himself, and does not permit the defensive player to push him back into the target area.

It starts at the snap of the ball with the same low, hard charge off the line of scrimmage. As the pass rusher feels the blocker getting stronger and stronger (but not overextending), he pushes up on the blocker's shoulder pads with one hand, steps across the blocker's body with the opposite foot, lowers his hips by bending his knees, and drives his free arm and shoulder pad under the blocker's raised armpit.

Once he is in this position, the pass rusher straightens his legs, lifting the blocker up. Keeping his back straight, the defensive lineman then keeps his feet moving, pushing his hips forward and up, allowing him to accelerate past the offensive blocker toward the target.

Shoulder-Club and Spin

This is the most difficult pass rush technique for young or beginning defensive linemen to master. It should be taught only after the preceding six pass rush techniques have been learned and perfected.

In order to have success with this technique, the defensive lineman must convince the offensive blocker that he is going to rush hard to his outside. The pass rusher starts exactly as he would if he were going to use a shoulder club and slip pass rush against the offensive blocker.

The offensive blocker will be moving quickly away from the line of scrimmage, fighting to keep the pass rusher from getting to his outside. When the defensive lineman sees the blocker's momentum moving him away from the line of scrimmage, he reaches out with his outside arm and starts the club move. Instead of slipping with the inside hand and arm, the pass rusher drives his inside forearm and hand into the rib cage of the blocker. This action should further propel the blocker away from the line of scrimmage.

As the inside arm and hand make contact, the defensive lineman leans into the blocker and spins to the inside. it is important that the defensive player spin toward the target area and not back toward the line of scrimmage. Frequently, a young player tries to spin before he has hit out with his arm and hand, allowing the blocker to stop his movement easily and drive him to the outside, away from the target area. Once the pass rusher feels he is free to the inside, he fights for separation and accelerates toward the target area.

This is an excellent technique for a quick outside rusher who wants to take advantage of an offensive player who retreats from the line of scrimmage too quickly.

One tendency all young defensive linemen have when first learning to rush the passer is to turn into the offensive blocker This is why we start with the sprint-rush technique drill, showing defenders the proper path to the target area. Defensive linemen should have only a straight-on pass-rush path, rush-ing jersey number to jersey number when using one of the bull techniques. On all of the other rushes, it is important for the defensive lineman to set and maintain the rush lane, exposing only one hip to the blocker.

Remember, a great pass rush comes from a player who has decided what technique he is going to use, has practiced and perfected the technique best suited for him, and has an intense desire to get to the target area.

Because pass rushing is an individual skill, it often is advisable, once all the techniques have been introduced by the coach, for the player to tell the coach what technique he is going to attempt. This is especially true when the pass rush drill is run against actual offensive players.