I could go through screens and other parts of the passing game, but I just wanted to go through the basic pass protections that I used the majority of the time in a game.
To finish things up, I am going to discuss how I coach Sprint Out protection. I will be talking about the reach type of sprint out protection, not turn back. I have never ran or coached turn back protection, but my initial view on it is that it requires a solid RB to seal the end and it leaves up the possibility of a LB flowing over top of the blocking and getting in your QB's face. I know people run it and run it effectively, but I am just not familiar with it enough to talk about it specifically.
The goal with my Sprint Out protections is to seal off the play side and give the QB a lane to run outside and look to either pass or run with it. Yes, there may be a few chasers from behind, but that is why the QB is taught to continue to run as he throws or just tuck it in and run with the ball. I would rather has someone having to work from the backside to get the QB, then a play side LB has a clean shot at him as he is sprinting out.
I usually teach Sprint Out protection similar to how I would teach zone blocking, specially OZ. If you are covered, you are looking to attack the outside shoulder of the defender and work your butt around to reach him. If you are uncovered, work to the next DL, looking for stunts by that DL or a blitz by a LB. If you do not get any work, peel back and look for work. So most time the backside Tackle will be stepping and hinging to get the backside rush, while there is usually 1 or 2 other OL that will be free to help pick up any chasers. The RB will fill the play side edge and take any extra blitzer to that side or help the PST with his block. He needs to clean a path for the QB to get outside and do his work.
I am not going to break things down based on front because it shouldn't matter what front they run. If you are doing a full slide like this, it is not so much what front you are playing, but if you follow the proper rules/protocols to execute the blocking scheme properly.
Here are my rules/protocol for my Sprint-Out protection:
1. TAKE YOUR STEPS AND TRUST YOUR STEPS!!!
2. ID any blitzer or overhang player
3. Communicate your blocks or scheme.
4. If you do not get work, FIND WORK!!!
5. If you got work, you work it until the whistle blows or you dump him into the bleachers.
I am going to discuss these in reverse order, working from #5 to #1.
#5 - If you take your step and you have a guy in your gap, you must work to get to his outside at all costs! If that means your ride him to the sideline, so be it. We must not allow him to get to the QB, so stay with him until the echo of the whistle. Even if you do not get him hooked, but stay with him, that gives your QB time to throw or an alley to step up and throw/run.
#4 - This is the fun part. If you step and no one comes to your gap, you now look backside to see who can pick off. First, look for any buddies that are struggling to get their man hooked...take your steps, turn back, and light him up!!! If your buddies are good, peel back and light up any chasers of the QB from the backside. Usually it will be a DE from the backside, thinking he can chase the QB from behind...Again, peel back and light him up. Always find someone to hit, never just stand there, looking around.
#2 & #3 - This two rules/protocols go together and could probably just be one step. We must ID any kind of blitz/stunt/overhang the defense is giving us. We must then COMMUNICATE the defense and who each of us will pick up. It shouldn't matter if the defense knows or not, they will be coming no matter what...now you just need to take your steps and man up! We need everyone on the same page with the scheme, so no one chases a defender and we leave up a gap for another defender to shoot through.
#1 - The most critical part of this protection is taking your steps and trusting your steps. If a team is any good, their defense is going to try to stunt/blitz you when they think your are sprinting out to try to get you to mess up your protection and give them an opening. If you take your steps, someone will be coming to your gap...it may not be the one that you thought would be there, but if you step with authority and slam into anything that comes your way, you will pick up the stunt/blitz. Over the last couple of years, I have played against one of best small schools in the country, Marion Local. They love to stunt/blitz out of their 3-4 look, especially on passing downs. I have seen some of the most exotic blitzes from them over the years. We have always been able to block up their looks if the OL trusted their steps and stepped with authority (our OL didn't always do that, but when they did, we were success).
Those are some rules and protocols that I lay out to my OL when we block Sprint Out protection, or any protection for that matter. The big thing with any protection is know your job, take your steps, and step with authority. Just because it's pass protection, doesn't mean you can't be aggressive and violent with your movements.
OL must be aggressive and violent in every action they do in the trenches...it is not a place to be passive or you are going to get hurt. Only the real men get in there and get the job done!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment