SLANT. Whether we cross an OL face or are merely sparking the gap, changing the key of the DL has paid dividends. We used to drill as follows: narrow base, wide first step (almost lateral to get into gap), dip and rip to turn shoulders away from the man you've lined up on. Then, once you've penetrated the gap (assuming you did), square up and find the ball. This just didn't cut it. Here's the way we do it now: narrow base, big first step that is both vertical and horizontal, and our eyes are immediately on the hip of the OL that we are stepping towards. The last part is the biggest game changer for us - we have a visual key, something we are used to doing in our base defense! What does the key tell us? The hip of the next OL can only do two things: come towards us, or not. That's it. It's a yes/no, true/false test.
If the hip comes to us, we must dip our shoulder and drive vertically upfield immediately! Why? Because he is coming to block us, so we must avoid and penetrate. This is especially true in slide pass protection or zone blocking schemes. If it's a zone combo, we are splitting immediately by gaining vertical depth on the first step and then again on the second because of the recognition of the second OL coming. If it's slide pass pro, we're knifing the slide immediately as soon as we see the OL moving to us. Note that the lateral width of the first step will be different depending upon if we are crossing a face or not.
If the hip is NOT coming to us, then most likely the OL we just slanted across/away from is trying to block us. Also, the OL we are keying is moving someplace for a reason. So, we chase his hip! By chasing his hip, we are attempting to avoid the block of the man on us and also reading where the play is going. We want to get our hips across the LOS and we will follow at heels depth until we recognize what the play is doing and where the ball is. Keying the hip of the next OL (that we are slanting towards) has changed the game for our DL.
Now, there's still the next phase - what to do after breaking through. We used to say, "break through and break down". I still catch myself saying sometimes, but I try not to. To link with our base run teaching, where we drive to heels depth and lockout, find ball and shed, we use the same verbage when we stunt now. After reading the hip, we either chase at heels depth and find the ball, or drive vertical until our hips are past the OL and find the ball. That's the only coaching cue I use now. It's less think, and ties into what we already do. Simplify and play fast!
GAP EXCHANGES (DL). We utilize two types of gap exchanges (twists): Picks and Loops. In one case, we area literally picking OT's with our DT's for the DE to get inside rush lanes. This is courtesy of Coach Eli Rashed when he was at the University of Toledo (best DL clinic I've ever attended!). Our DE will take one upfield step with his outside foot and show his outside hand to draw the attention of the OT. The DT takes aim at the inside shoulder and essentially traps the OT. We say, "Earhole and slingshot," same as Coach Rashed. We emphasize that the DT's angle MUST be upfield on the OT, so that there is NO possibility of the OT turning his shoulders back to block the DT. The DE then comes screaming under the DT and takes aim at the A gap. The OG is in a bind now, he can stick to the DT or pick up the DE. It's is often the case that the DT is the one who actually comes free, because the OG trades the twist, but the OT cannot block the DT! This has been a very successful twist for us, especially with a 3 and 5 technique, but it's not something we run frequently because it gives up C gap contain by the DL. We also teach the same technique for a N-T twist game, where the N will earhole the opposite guard, the T will show outside hand and then get flat off the Nose's tail into opposite A gap. The N must ensure his angle does not allow the opposite G to turn into him and block him. We will only utilize a pick exchange if we are anticipating a pass, as we are not getting eyes on any key or pausing at heels depth, but rather we want a free DL to rush the QB!
For loop exchanges, we do what most everyone else does. If we are exchanging a DE and DT, both will engage their man by taking two steps at him as they would any other play, and then the outside player (DE) will rip into the inside gap. To rip inside we teach a swipe/rip and a push/pull technique. Once the outside player rips into the gap he locks eyes on the hips of the next OL just like above. As soon as he rips, the inside player (DT) will disengage and loop around to replace the DE in the rush/contain. We can run loop exchanges on the interior with both the Nose or the Tackle being the first man (NUT, TON), like most even fronts do. These are good stunts when we want to ensure we maintain contain, as well as run stunts since we are still key reading and playing to heels depth.
#4and1 #KAI20
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