the defensive line

The Defensive Line – Heart of the “D”

Five “Musts” of the Defensive Line

Must Have a Great Stance & Get Off

Must Hit his Visual Key on Every Single Snap

Must Be Committed to Being the Hardest Workers on the Field

Must Be Relentless in Pursuing the Ball

Must Have a Selfless Attitude – No “ME” Players

Splitter Defensive Line Technique One Gap Technique – Play Fast

Pre-Snap Alignment & Three Point Stance

Regular Stance Jet Stance

Feet Slightly wider than shoulder width. “Man” foot staggered toe to heel relationship.

Narrow feet to sprinter’s stance. “Gap” foot staggered and more narrow than regular stance.

Hands Down hand to the covered offensive lineman (“Man” Hand). Be equal in right handed and left handed stances. Off hand low and cocked for punch.

Bring off hand back & up for sprint take off

Eyes Look through your eyebrows at the shaded shoulder of your visual key. See the ball in your peripheral vision to the inside, or the O/S hand or leg of OT. Never Jump Offside!

Eyes to ball – Get off on the first twitch

Body Position

Flat back. Good angles in knees for explosive get off. Weight slightly forward on down hand.

Butt up & weight forward.

Get Off the Ball Regular Stance Jet Stance

First Step Explode with six inch power step into covered man. Explode up the field with gap foot. Sprint for back foot of OL.

Hands Shoot & fit hands to near number of offensive lineman. Must strike offensive lineman on every snap. Thumbs up. Aim for breastplate of shoulder pads and grab cloth. Lockout arms.

Shoot hands to gap side number. Think pass, react to run.

Eyes Eyes to numbers of visual key. Keep head under the chin of the offensive lineman.

See pass rush technique.

Second & Third Step

Get second step on the ground as quickly as possible. Stay square on second step and keep solid base (shoulder width). DL should identify block by third step and work release.

Work pass rush move, or bend to ball. Retrace your steps against screen or draw.

“SPARK” Step On any dog, blitz, or movement, the DL must execute a lateral step to the proper gap. To “Spark” properly, the DL must take a tight alignment, keep his shoulders square, and get his head across the OL.

Base Alignment – Eye to Eye alignment to the side of the shade.

Wide Alignment – Foot to Foot alignment to the side of the shade.

Jet Alignment – Entire alignment is outside the framework of the lineman’s body.

One Technique

Alignment: Inside OG Visual Key: Guard Pressure Key: Center Run Action To: A Gap Run Action Away: Ball Depth Pass Rush Lane: A Gap

Three Technique

Alignment: Outside OG Visual Key: Guard Pressure Key: Tackle Run Action To: B Gap Run Action Away: Ball Depth Pass Rush Lane: A/B Gap

Six Technique

Alignment: Outside OT Visual Key: Tackle Pressure Key: TE/Near Back/Guard Run Action To: C Gap Run Action Away: Ball Depth Pass Rush Lane: Contain

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A B CABC DD

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Gaps

Techniques

Seven Technique

Alignment: Inside TE Visual Key: Near Back/Guard Pressure Key: Tight End Run Action To: C Gap Run Action Away: Ball Depth Pass Rush Lane: Contain

Nine Technique

Alignment: Outside TE Visual Key: TE Pressure Key: Near Back/Guard Run Action To: D Gap Run Action Away: Ball Depth Pass Rush Lane: Contain

Shade Technique

Alignment: Outside C Visual Key: Center Pressure Key: Guard Run Action To: A Gap Run Action Away: Ball Depth Pass Rush Lane: A Gap

Zero Technique

Alignment: Head Up Center Visual Key: Center Pressure Key: Guards Run Action To: Backdoor Run Action Away: Ball Depth Pass Rush Lane: Either A Gap

Communication Calls Defensive linemen can identify many things from the stance or alignment of an offensive lineman. Our calls will communicate offensive tendencies to the rest of the defense.

Red Heavy run stance by an offensive lineman.

Blue Soft pass stance by an offensive lineman.

Black Wide splits for inside run.

White Tight splits for outside run.

Release Moves

Pull Release Fit hands & lock out arms. Execute a hard, violent pull away from gap responsibility. Clear hips &

feet through to gap.

Rip Release Fit hands & lock out arms. Push gap hand up the field, and pull off arm hard and low. Clear hips &

feet, and drive rip arm to the back of the blocker.

Swim

Release

Fit hands & lock out arms. Push gap hand up the field, and pull at back of blocker’s jersey. Punch

with off hand over the shoulder of blocker. Clear hips & feet, and drive swim arm to the back of

the blocker.

Patch

Technique

Used from a defeated position, when the DL has lost gap integrity. Lock out your arms, throw hips

across body of OL, and rip backside arm to escape.

Visual Key Pressure Key

A defensive lineman’s “Visual Key” is the

offensive player who he looks at on the

snap of the ball. This key will tell him

where the play is headed, and he will react

to that key on the fly.

A defensive lineman’s “Pressure Key” is

the offensive player who can most quickly

affect him. While he does not look at this

key, he must react by “fighting pressure”

when this key attempts to block him.

Tilt Technique

Alignment: 45° Angle on Center Visual Key: Center Pressure Key: Guard Run Action To: A Gap Run Action Away: Ball Depth Pass Rush Lane: A Gap

Block Protection

Base

Block

Get Off the Ball & Knock the Blocker

Back

Fit Hands to Gap Side Number

Show Color in Your Gap – Can’t be

Reached!

Third Step Release Move

Flatten & Chase

Double

Team

Get Off the Ball & Knock the Blocker

Back


Attack Seam – Whip the Post

Man

Sit & Grab Grass if Giving Ground

Zone

Reach

Get Off the Ball


Play like Base Block

Disengage from Blocker when Ball

Declares

Squeeze Gap & Do not get Over Stretched

in Gap

Down

Block

Get Off the Ball


Fight pressure from O/S OL

If OL has head across your hips, club and

go over the block

If OL does not, flatten and chase

underneath the block

Pull

(Cross

or Wide)

Get Off the Ball


Bend and chase the puller to the play

Veer/

Get Off the Ball


Trap

Block

Drive OL down the line

Find trapper or kick out back – Wrong arm

& “Trap the Trapper”

If Veer – Get head across & tackle the dive

back

Loop/

Influence

Block

Get Off the Ball


If OL loops & does not attempt to block

you – Smell a rat!

Get eyes back I/S & do your best if you see

trap

Do not widen hole & do not run up the

field

Basic Pass Rush Lanes & Assignments

Position End Nose Tackle Stud

Lane Contain Rusher

Squeeze Pocket

A Gap

Push Pocket

Two Gap Rusher

Push Pocket

Contain Rusher

Squeeze Pocket

Pre-Snap

Plan

Get off the ball.

If OT pass sets – race

to aiming point 4

yards behind his inside

foot. Work move

when you get there.

Get off the ball. Expect

double team. Try to get 2

yards deep vs. two

linemen. Make Bull Rush

or Club & Rip your best

move.

Get off the ball. Work

best side of OG – Can

rush in A Gap or B

Gap. Make Bull Rush

or Club & Rip your best

move.

Get off the ball.

If OT pass sets – race

to aiming point 4

yards behind his inside

foot. Work move

when you get there.

Musts Not allow QB to get

outside.

Feel screen. Retrace

your steps if you are

fooled on draw.

Not allow QB out the

front of the pocket.

Feel screen.

Must not run past QB.

Not allow QB out the

front of the pocket.

Feel screen.

Must not run past QB.

Not allow QB to get

outside.

Feel screen. Retrace

your steps if you are

fooled on draw.

When

You Get

There

Sack the quarterback – No Misses!

Contain rushers must use back number as their aiming point on the QB.

Tackle high and wrap arms of the QB – don’t let him get off a pressured throw.

Attacking from front side of QB – punch through the ball on the way to wrap.

Attacking from the backside of QB – strike down and through throwing arm on the way to wrap.

If You

Don’t

Hands high & time the ball to bat down the pass. Don’t leave your feet.

4 yds. 4 yds.

2 yds.

Contain Rushers aim for back number of QB

Versus Double Team – Interior Rushers must push for 2 yards in front of QB

To be a great pass rusher...

Get off the ball on every play.

Don’t Quit – You never know when the sack is coming.

Keep your weight forward & keep your feet moving forward.

Have one move & one counter move that are perfected – have a plan!

Know the game situation.

Spin or club back if you get deeper than the ball.

Play with confidence – They can’t block you!

Always Rush ½ the Man!

Pass Rush Moves

Bull Rush Get off the ball

Fit hands to gap side number

Used versus overset by OL

Drive through outside number of OL

Try to drive the OL into the QB

Club & Swim

Get off the ball


Club OL hands with O/S arm

Punch I/S arm over and drive through back number

Clear hips through and accelerate to the QB

Club & Rip

Get off the ball


Club OL hands with O/S arm

Lower I/S shoulder and rip arm underneath OL

Pry hips through and accelerate to the QB

Chop & Pull

(Windmill)

Get off the ball


Chop down with I/S arm across OL hands

Grab at pull back shoulder of OL with O/S arm violently to turn his shoulders

Swim with I/S arm to pry past OL & accelerate to the QB

Push-Pull Get off the ball


Execute Bull Rush to force OL to drive shoulders forward

Grab jersey at both shoulders and violently pull OL down & away from gap

Clear hips & accelerate to the QB

Counter Spin

Get off the ball


Attack O/S shoulder of OL with speed

Lower body (sit down) and spin back to the I/S

Drive O/S elbow to back of OL to clear hips & accelerate to QB

Counter Club

Get off the ball


Attack O/S shoulder of OL with speed

Club OL hands with I/S arm & rip/swim O/S arm & clear hips & accelerate to the QB

the defensive line

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