PASS RUSH
PASS RUSH
MENTAL APPROACH
PRESSURE ON THE PASSER EXEMPLIFIES THE SPIRIT AND AGGRESSIVENESS OF A STRONG DEFENSIVE TEAM. THERE MUST BE AN INTENSIVE "HELL BENT" ATTITUDE BY EVERY RUSHER IF WE ARE TO BE SUCCESSFUL. IT IS A GREAT COMPLIMENT FOR A DEFENSIVE TEAM TO HAVE A LOT OF QB SACKS, ESPECIALLY IF THEY ALSO ARE SUCCESSFUL AGAINST THE RUN. MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE NUMBER OF QB SACKS, THOUGH, IS PUTTING CONSTANT PRESSURE ON THE PASSER; FORCING BAD THROWS, BLOCKING HIS PASSES, FORCING HIM TO RUN: IN GENERAL - MAKING HIM SO JITTERY HIS TIMING AND EFFECTIVENESS ARE DESTROYED. ALL OF THIS IS VERY DEMORALIZING TO A QB.
PROBABLY THE MOST ISOLATED PLACE ON THE FIELD IS A DEFENDER COVERING MAN FOR MAN. IN ORDER FOR US TO EXPECT GOOD MAN FOR MAN COVERAGE, WE MUST PUT ENOUGH CONTINUOUS PRESSURE ON THE PASSER FOR OUR DEFENDERS TO COVER CLOSELY, CONFIDENTLY, WITHOUT FEAR OF THE QB'S HAVING TOO MUCH TIME TO THROW. EVERY TIME THE LINE FAILS IN ITS RUSH TO HARASS THE PASSER IN SUFFICIENT TIME, WE ARE GRADUALLY DESTROYING THE CONFIDENCE OF THE DEFENDER TO COVER HIS MAN CLOSELY.
THE BASIC KEY FOR SUCCESS, THEN, IS TO DEVELOP THE FANATICAL DESIRE TO GET TO THE PASSER - NEVER LETTING UP - ALWAYS APPLYING PRESSURE.
1. DRIVING FOR THE PASSER WILL -
A. SQUEEZE HIS AREA OF OPERATION.
B. FORCE HIM CLOSER TO ANOTHER RUSHER.
C. NOT GIVE HIM SECOND CHOICE RECEIVERS.
D. FORCE HIM OUT OF HIS THROWING AREA.
E. FORCE HIM TO THROW ON THE MOVE.
F. FORCE HIM TO RUN - HE MOST LIKELY IS A POOR RUNNER.
G. THROW HIM FOR A LOSS.
H. CAUSE HIM TO FUMBLE.
I. MAKE HIM JITTERY GETTING AWAY FROM CENTER AND THROWING QUICKLY.
J. MAKE HIM LOSE CONFIDENCE IN HIS PROTECTION.
2. GETTING THE HANDS UP WILL -
A. DIVERT THE QB'S ATTENTION.
B. BAT THE BALL.
C. TIP IT FOR AN INTERCEPTION.
D. FORCE A BAD THROW.
E. FORCE QB TO PULL THE BALL DOWN AND RUN.
F. FORCE ELEVATION ON THROW - GIVE SECONDARY MORE TIME FOR ADJUSTING, MORE RANGE, EASY INTERCEPTION.
3. DO NOT LEAVE YOU FEET PRIOR TO RELEASE OF BALL AS IT WILL ALLOW QB TO FIND A NEW THROWING LANE.
PASS RUSH: BASIC FUNDAMENTALS
1. ANTICIPATION AND QUICK RECOGNITION OF A PASS.
2. QUICKNESS AND DECISIVENESS ON YOUR INITIAL MOVE. HAVE A PLAN.
3. CONTACTING OUTSIDE SHOULDER OF THE OFFENSIVE LINEMAN BY YOUR THIRD STEP.
4. COORDINATION OF THE HANDS, FEET, AND HEAD MOVEMENT.
5. KEEP YOUR MOMENTUM TOWARDS THE PASSER WITHOUT LOST MOTION. GET PENETRATION INTO THE THROWING LANE AND FORCE THE PASSER TO MOVE FROM HIS POCKET - DIVERT HIS ATTENTION.
6. COME LOW, KEEP YOUR SHOULDERS FORWARD OF THE FEET TO PREVENT BLOCKER FROM GETTING UNDER YOU.
7. USE BLOCKER'S MOMENTUM.
8. SHED THE BLOCKER AND BURST BY HIM BEFORE HE CAN RECOVER.
9. KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PASSER WHILE YOUR HANDS, HEAD, AND FEET GET YOU THERE.
10. STAY IN YOUR LANE. IF YOU ARE KNOCKED OUT OF YOUR LANE, WORK BACK INTO IT.
11. IF YOU HAVE NOT REACHED THE PASSER WHEN HE STARTS TO THROW, IF HE IS FACING YOU, GET YOUR HANDS UP; IF HE IS FACING AWAY, RUN THROUGH HIM FROM BEHIND. TACKLE HIM HIGH AND PIN HIS ARMS.
12. CONTAIN MEN KEEP FEET ON GROUND.
13. CONTAIN MEN DON'T GET BLOCKED BEYOND THE QB.
14. CHANGE UP YOUR RUSH.
15. TURN AND SPRINT IN THE DIRECTION OF THROWN PASS TO RECOVER FUMBLE; GET IN ON CLEAN-UP TACKLE, OR HELP BLOCK ON INTERCEPTION. STAY HIGH.
THE CORRECT, CONTROLLED, PASS RUSH CONTAINS THE QB. WHILE THIS RUSH MAY TAKE SOMEWHAT LONGER FOR THE DE'S TO GET TO THE QB, THE QB WILL BE CONTAINED AND HE WILL NOT HAVE MORE THAN 3.5 SECONDS TO DELIVER THE PASS. OUR SECONDARY CAN COVER FOR 3.5 SECONDS. BEYOND THAT IS WHEN TROUBLE DEVELOPS IN THE PASSING GAME.
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