YDW: Pass Protection Fundamentals Jack Gregory© 2011 All Rights Reserved

Elements of A Successful Passing Game In order to have an effective passing game you have to have a good passer, good receivers, and good pass protection. When it comes to pass protection I am not concerned with my line faking run or pulling. I am concerned with the play being successful and a major portion of that is protecting the passer. I let my eligible players fake and misdirect as my line protects to further mask/delay the pass rush.

QB Action in the Passing Game Drops (in the power game often there is action behind and in front of the QB so even if he is dropping the play appears as if it is a run) – Quick set – 3 step Play Action (passer sells run) – Fake and drop Roll/Bootleg – Roll out flow side – Bootleg back side Gun – Quick set/3 step = quick set – Play action = fake and quick set – Roll/Bootleg = same action a little more depth

Levels of Pass Protection Pass protection is broken into two levels of protection. – Basic pass protection which is built off our wedge run blocking scheme - we use it for drop back and roll out type plays against basic defenses that are young and inexperienced. – Advanced set of protection schemes for older teams and more advanced defenses that are well coached.

Wall Schemes (Basic) Wall – is simply a wedge scheme with the center firing out to create vertical movement so the rest of the line can mesh. This basic concept eliminates inside penetration and the backs are responsible for sealing/walling out the edge defenders. The reasoning behind this is pretty simple often the best rushers are often on the edge and offensively our best athletes are in the backfield so obviously the best match up is linemen protect the interior and athletes (backfield) protect the edges. Dash – is wall protection with the backs walling in the edge defenders on the play side so the passer can get outside.

Wall (Quick Set/3 Step Drop)

Wall Same as wedge with no vertical movement. Center takes two vertical steps and sets. Guards slide and mesh hips together. No one gets through inside. Tackles slide right under guards and mesh top of hip to backside of guards. No one gets through inside. If PSTE staying he slides under tackles in the same manner as the tackles under guard. No one gets through his inside. BSTE if staying will hinge under BST and mesh his inside hip to the backside of the BST. Let no one inside. If the BSTE is hinge blocking the BB will wall off the outside under the last blocker on the WALL. If the BSTE is not hinge blocking the BB will wall off the backside in the same manner. We always protect the backside of the passer first. Passer is responsible for play side pressure since he sees it coming.

Dash (power/roll)

Dash Same as wedge with no vertical movement. Center takes two vertical steps and sets. Guards slide and mesh hips together. No one gets through inside. Tackles slide right under guards and mesh top of hip to backside of guards. No one gets through inside. If PSTE staying he slides under tackles in the same manner as the tackles under guard. No one gets through his inside. BSTE if staying will hinge under BST and mesh his inside hip to the backside of the BST. Let no one inside. Depending on play you will have one or two backs that will pin and wall in the edge defenders. The first back will always attack the first defender on the outside hip of the last blocker on the wall. He will attack the outside arm pit and wheel his butt outside and wall the defender inside. If there is a second back he will go under and outside of the first back and execute the same move on the next defender to show.

Sprint (advance power/roll) Advanced pass protection In the Sprint scheme (Figure VII-F), if the center is uncovered and no backer is over, he will hinge (HHM) with butt facing the passer. Block from play side hip to away hip helping the wall guard first if needed. If covered or the backer over is a threat to blitz, or the WALL GUARD needs help he will LEM. Wall guard will LEM if covered; if uncovered they will SSM towards the wall tackle and double with wall tackle if no other defender shows. Wall tackle will LEM if covered; if uncovered he will SSM to the next defender outside (this often means he will double the defender that the RB is logging (walling inside). Pull guard he will hinge (HHM) with butt facing the passer; block with inside out priority. He will stay glued to the near hip of the center and bit deeper. Pull tackle he will hinge (HHM) with butt facing the passer; block with inside out priority. He will stay glued to the near hip of the pull guard and a bit deeper. Pull tight end he will hinge (HHM) with butt facing the passer; block with inside out priority. He will stay glued to the near hip of the pull tackle and a bit deeper. The pull tight end might not be involved in the pass protection if he is involved in the pass pattern. RB (either BB or BSWB [TB]) will cross over and log (wall in) the first defender on the outside hip of the wall tackle. As you cross the QB’s face, flash fake the hand off to hold the LB’s in place so the receivers have more space to operate and slow the initial pass rush. This makes everyone’s job easier.

LEG Modification LEM: LOAD – EXPLODE – MIRROR (covered) SSM: SLIDE – SLIDE – MIRROR (uncovered) HHM: HINGE – HINGE – MIRROR (sprint away)

Making the Block on the Edge Four Points of contact on the DEMLOS: 1)The PSTE must release through the nearest shoulder and his near hand should punch and push him back as he releases to slow his rush. 2)The BB should release across his face and his up field shoulder should rub the chest of the DEMLOS to slow his rush. 3)The PST should SLIDE SLIDE MIRROR the DE and if he needs to give ground in order to maintain his mirror he does so. 4)The WB gains enough depth so tht he can attack the outside arm pit and seal the DE inside so that the WB’s butt is facing the perimeter. Back side pressure: BST if uncovered will HINGE, if covered he will LOAD, EXPLODE, MIRROR. BSTE will always HINGE OVER the BST and you add an additional blocker to the play side (LEM if covered/SSM if uncovered)

Tight Rip Power Pass Right

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