Fangio Read the Turn Pressure

Here is a simple Cover 1 dog from Vic Fangio's 2017-2018 Bears defenses with a rushing LB reading the turn of the protection. Bears are in Nickel personnel.

The Rush: 

DE's are wide rushers. Front has a DT in a 3 technique to the side of the RB with a shade DT away. The LB opposite the RB is reading the OG's pass set. If the guard sets inside to the shade DT the LB pressures the B gap. If the guard sets out to the LB in the B gap the LB loops to the opposite A gap to find daylight in the rush. 

The Coverage:

Cover 1 man free coverage with the LB to the RB in man coverage on the back. 

First example is on 2nd&7

The guard sets out to the pressure LB, the LB wraps to the opposite A gap. The pass set for the Center is very difficult. The LB is able to win vs. the Center on the redirection set. The pressure also creates a 5 vs. 5 pass rush. The DE is able to win his 1 on 1 vs. the OT on the edge.

2nd example is a 1st&20 later in the game with the Bills in obvious pass mode. 

Both LB's sugar around presenting a possible 6 man blitz. The Guard sets inside to the A gap DT allowing the LB the clean run through in the B gap.

3rd example is on 3rd&8

The 5 man rush creates 5 OL vs. 5 rushers. OL have to exchange 2 man twists/stunts 2 OL vs. 2 rushers with no help. When a defense is in a 4 man rush the 5 OL may have an unoccupied adjacent OL who can help with a twist. In a 5vs5 situation all the OL are occupied prevent adjacent OL help. In this situation the C/G do a good job of IDing the LB wrapping creating an interior twist action. The issue is degree of difficulty. The C/G are in a Goldilocks situations. Goldilocks: the porridge is too hot, too cold, or just right. Here if the Center is too fast the DT penetrating in the A gap has good inside leverage on the G when the Center leaves to set the wrapping LB. The DT does a great job ricocheting through the G's inside shoulder to create quick pressure. The Guard's redirection set to an inside leverage DT is very difficult. If the Center hangs longer on the DT making it easier on the Guard, it is very hard on the Center to redirect set on the wrapping LB. Often the Center in a bad body position to effectively block the wrap which was shown in the earlier example from the Buffalo game (Example 1). The result to both the C and G have to be just right.

4th example on 3&8

Here the Bears change the presentation. The front is in an overload with 3 DL on the same side of the Center. The DL is overloaded to the RB and opposite the pressure. The overload helps encourage the Guard to set inside to the overload allowing the LB to quickly run through in the B gap.

5th example on 4&6

The pressure LB gets the Guard setting wide on the movement pass with the QB getting out of the pocket. The LB doesn't wrap inside and instead works for width to continue pressuring the QB as the launch point changes. Added bonus in coverage is the hover technique of the DB on the TE. When the TE blocks to help secure the edge for the QB sprint out, the DB hovers. Hover is staying over the top of the man responsibility with depth and vision on the man and the QB. This allows the hovering DB to break like a zone dropper would undercutting routes around him and providing help to man coverage defenders. The QB attempts to throw the ball on a lower trajectory with velocity to fit the ball in vs. man coverage. The man coverage throw allows the hover DB to vision and break getting his hands on the ball.

Good stuff as always from Vic Fangio. He has been coaching good defense for a long time. I'm excited to see his defense in Denver this season. 

Broncos Pass Rush

The Broncos have generated pass rush in several ways in 2020. I recently went on the Cover 2 Bronco Podcast with Jeff Essary and Joe Rowles. Check it out the episode here - Cover 2 Bronco. I thought I'd share some film and thoughts of what I've been watching the Denver defense do to get to the QB.  One major factor is Denver's ability to capitalize on hybrid skill set athletes on defense.

Denver has several athletic interior DL who can isolate and attack Guards and Centers in the pass rush. Here the DT hits the Guard with a jab to a quick arm over to win with speed. 

Athleticism inside also allows for the DL to use pass rush games.

Here Denver used an interior pass rush twist to punish over sets with the zero technique Nose the DT on the twist is able to create quick interior pressure.

Having players with hybrid skills and athleticism allows for creativity when building a four man pass rush. 

Denver has joker package here playing 55 Chubb as the joker. A joker concept allows a specific defender to move around making that player a threat to insert into the pass rush in any area. A joker is a wildcard. This example allows the joker to attack a Guard and is paired with a pass rush twist opposite. If the pass protection doesn't honor the joker, the guard is on an island with a great pass rusher.If the pass pro slides to the joker the twist attacks the T/G forcing a difficult exchange. Again having athleticism from interior DL helps make this stunt work.

Denver can also get the ILB's in on the pass rush. Here the Broncos built a 4 man pass rush with 2 OLBs, 1 DT, and 1 ILB. The double pass rush twist helps manufacture opportunities of the OLBs, capitalize on the pass rush abilities of an ILB, and requires a DT who can covert to an edge rusher. 

Capitalizing on hybrid athleticism also means simulated pressure. The ILB inserts in the pass rush while the an Edge drops into coverage. The offense is forced to block 4 rushers with 6 blockers. This also keeps the RB from getting into a route. This pressure again requires athletic interior DL to balance the pass rush and work to contain. 

Denver has several ways to bring 4 while still using 7 players in coverage. Denver also has the ability to rush 5. 

Having 5 immediate rush threats at the LOS creates 5 games of  1 on 1 for the pass rushers. Here that allows an edge rusher with a 2 way go on an isolated OT. Not all pressures are sacks, this is a good example of getting the QB off his spot quickly which alters the timing and throw.

Another example of creating 5 games of  1 on 1 with 5 rushers. The interior rushers are working a twist to create inside pressure. 

Denver also stems around pre snap to create confusion about which 5 are coming and from where. 

Here is another example of combining 5 man pressure with DL twist. The most impressive part is in the coverage. The Safety covering the RB is able to play from depth and vision & break to provide help on the crosser while still leveraging the RB.

Denver here presents 6 man pressure with an interior twist game. The B gap rush LB comes out of the rush to eat the RB when the RB attempts to release into a route.

Denver again presents 6 man pressure with a 2 on 1 overload on the RB. The pass rush again eats the RB preventing any type of release. The ILB in the hole is able to vision and break providing coverage help to the Corner in isolation on the X receiver. 

Overall Denver has found some interesting pressure and pressure coverage concepts to get to the QB this season. 

Speeding Up Slow Developing Plays

One reason to call pressure is pressure changes the tempo of a play. Slower developing plays like play action pass and screen will not work on the timing they expect to operate on if pressure forces the play to happen more quickly. 

A 2nd reason to pressure is plays designed to manipulate defender's reactions in base defensive techniques can find difficulty creating the desired effect vs. pressures. A pressuring defender isn't making the same run/pass read like in a base defensive technique. Attempting to fool a defender is harder when the defenders actions were defined pre-snap and are less reliant on a post-snap read/reaction. 

Here are four examples from Week 6 in the NFL

Buccaneers are in base personnel on 1&10 vs. 12 personnel.

The concept is a simple ILB edge pressure backstopped with 3 under 3 deep fire zone. The pressure forces the RB to adjust to make his block off his play fake to pick up a full speed edge rusher. The defenders aren't manipulated. The rushers don't buy the run fake. The pass droppers know the pressure can disrupt run or pass allowing coverage players to be coverage players who react to run not primary run fitters. The QB's play action tempo is too slow for the tempo of the pass rush created by the pressure. 

Giants are in Nickel personnel on 1&10 vs. 21 personnel. 

The Giants are bringing a 4 man sim pressure rushing the Nickel off the edge backstopped by a 4 under 3 deep coverage. The usage of  21 personnel, motion to a 2 back formation, and flash fake are designed to hold underneath defenders. If the underneath defenders are held there will be space to throw the switch verticals in the void created between underneath droppers and deep zone defenders. The rush changes the tempo and creates immediate pressure in the QB's face. The zone coverage specifically the roll down Safety is unaffected by the play fake preventing a void in coverage from being created.

Patriots are in Dime personnel on 2&9 vs. 12 personnel.

The pressure is 6 man blitz backstopped with Cover Zero man. The man coverage player on the RB engage rushes to add a 7th rusher when the offense presents a 6th blocker. The plus one pass rush requires the QB to account for the unblocked rusher. The QB has little to no time to react to an unblocked rusher following the quick play fake. 

Steelers are in Nickel personnel on 2&8 vs. 11 personnel.

The Steelers bring a simple Nickel edge pressure sending the DE wide and Nickel on a low track backstopped by 3 under 3 deep fire zone. The Browns are running a RB screen that is well schemed and set up for a potential big play with 3 OL leading the way for the RB. There isn't time for the QB to set up and deliver the ball off the play action fake. The DE who makes the play is in principle going to be controlled by a down block from the OT, orbit WR reverse bluff, and a TE blocking across the formation. The DE is edge rushing as part of the pressure preventing the down block/reverse manipulation and is too fast off the edge for the TE's block. 

Great stuff from Todd Bowles, Patrick Graham, Bill Belichick, and Keith Butler. Pressure is a tool and sometimes the tool is used to speed up slower developing plays and prevent defender manipulation.

Reading the Slide of the Protection

 The Dolphins are in a 2-4-5 Nickel personnel on 2nd & 10.

The Rush:

The End and Will are rushing as contain rushers. The interior 4 are reading the blocks of the OL to determine if they rush or drop out to hot drops. In this example the right interior stay as rushers while the left interior rushers drop out. More on this concept later.

The Coverage:

Cover Zero man with 2 hot droppers. The Safeties are using engage hug rush technique, attacking their man responsibilities forcing the TE and RB to block the players covering them in man coverage. When the X goes in motion the Corner runs with and bumps the Nickel reassigning with the new formation.

The read of the protection is a straightforward idea: 

If the OL is blocking toward the LOS defender the defender doesn't want to run into a player set up to block him, drop out with zone eyes to help on hot throws. The pressure is overloading the protection the QB must get the ball out fast.

If the OL is blocking away from the LOS defender the adjacent OL then must be responsible for blocking him. By attacking the near hip of the OL the defender is reading, it will take the defender as far from the adjacent OL's block as possible and put him on the fastest path to the QB

In this example starting from left to right:

DE - Contain rush

Rush - Reading the Guard, G blocks to him drop to hot throw

DT - Reading the Center, C block to him drop to opposite hot throw

Rush - Reading the Center, C blocks away, penetrate off Center's near hip

Mike - Reading Guard, G blocks away, penetrate off G's near hip

Will - Rushing C gap, becomes contain rusher if TE and RB release on routes

Safeties - Engage rush the TE/RB

If the turn of the protection had been different:

DE - Contain rush

Rush - Reading Guard, G blocks away, penetrate off G's near hip

DT - Reading the Center, C blocks away, penetrate off Center's near hip

Rush - Reading the Center, C block to him drop to opposite hot throw

Mike - Reading the Guard, G blocks to him drop to hot throw

Will - Rushing C gap, becomes contain rusher if TE and RB release on routes

Safeties - Engage rush the TE/RB

In this example the Rush will attack the RB which both creates immediate pressure on the QB and prevents the RB from getting into a route. The RB blocking inside also allows the Safety to be free off the edge. The penetrators will again create stress on the interior of the protection with the OL setting away from them. 

These are the types of man blitzes that allow the defense to make the OL wrong no matter how they choose to block, help deny hot throws, and prevent rushers from running into OL set up to block them. 

Great scheme from Dolphins Defensive Coordinator Josh Boyer and Head Coach Brian Flores. 

Overload Cover 1 Peel Pressure

Illinois is in 4-3 personnel on 3rd & 9. On the motion the Corner/Safety spin the coverage. The Safety takes over the motion receiver while the Corner takes over the post.

The Rush:
The Ends are off the edges. The Sam/Mike are overloading the B Gap with the DT slanting inside. Weak side the the DT is rushing his B gap. The Mike is bluffing a dropout before re-inserting into the pressure. 

The Coverage:
Cover 1 Peel with the pass rush accounting for the RB.

The mugged up Mike, choked Will, and walked up Sam create a 7 up presentation from the defense. 

The Pass protection is a 7 man concept. The defense gets home bringing 6 with the overload concept. The OT sets inside for the Sam. The Guard passed the DT to the Center setting the Sam. The T/G end up doubling the Sam while leaving the Mike free. The OT squeezing the protection also forced the RB to scan to the DE off the edge. The defense getting the RB isolated vs. a DE to the strong side and the TE isolated vs. a DE weak side is two favorable matchups without the ILB added in as an unblocked rusher.

If the OT/OG fanned to the DE/Sam the RB would have be isolated inside on the Mike inside and weak side TE/DE matchup is still unfavorable. Still two favorable pass rush matchups. 

Nice pressure design from Lovie Smith. 

Running a Bear Front Twist Pressure from Even Front Spacing

The Patriots are running a 5 up Cover 1 twist pressure from Nickel personnel on 3rd & 6 during the 3rd preseason game last year. The pressure is most common from Bear front spacing, examples featured previously are linked from Alabama, Wisconsin, and the Baltimore Ravens. New England uses an even front spacing with a mugged up ILB to build the pressure. The post snap execution is the same.

The Rush:
Ends are contain with the interior running the 3 man twist game. The LB and DT cross face and penetrate while the DT works up before wrapping.

The Coverage:
Cover 1 with Corners over with a weak side in/out combo coverage by the Safety/LB on the RB/TE

The 5 up presentation gets OL into a man protection principle. The manned up OL is forced to sort out the 3 man twist. The crossing face action of the LB/DT forces the OL to set then change direction. To pick up the wrapping DT the OL would be forced to set, change direction, and redirect. That is difficult ask for any OL. The wrapping DT does a nice job of keeping his shoulders square and gaining ground to the QB as he wraps. 

This is a tried and true pressure concept. The Patriots do a nice job of changing the pre-snap presentation to disguise the classic bear front concept in a even front spacing. Changing presentations is a great way to get more from top pressures. The pressure is the same week to week but the offense has to ID the pressure from various presentations. Great strategy to get the most from your top pressures.

Always good stuff from Bill Belichick even in pre-season games. 

Coaching Stress Areas: Double A Gap Mug Cover 1 Peel Blitz

Many defenses now have a portion of the pressure package bringing 6 rushers while playing a Cover 1 coverage concept. The widest rushers peel if the RB flares while the interior rushers handle the RB on any attempt to release through the LOS or screen behind the LOS. SImply defined the RB is handled by the rush. The concept is easy to explain but does have some stress areas. 

Here is a simple example from a double A gap mug situation. Any number of pressure patterns and alignment can be run backstopped by Cover 1 Peel. The pressure isn't the primary focus of this post.

 

If the RB flares the widest rusher (DE) peels and handles the route. One concept that has to be built into the pressure is an interior rusher must work to contain. In this example the DT contain rushes through the B gap when the peel occurs. The edge can be too soft if pass rush doesn't adjust to firm up the edge on the peel. 

One adjustment from offenses to attack peeling defenders is to fast motion the RB instead of postsnap swinging the RB.

Depending on the skill set of the widest rusher this can be an area of concern. Asking a DE to handle a fast motion RB can be big challenge for the coverage. 

One solution is to run a skill or big skill body out of the box with fast motion. This can be coached up and done. Two issues: the LB is thinking he is in the pressure and must be quick to react to handle the fast motion run out. This can be a difficult pickup in man coverage. Also removing a box aligned player alters the pressure. Now the OL can go for 5 for 5 potentially handling the pressure.

An alternative solution is to turn the coverage into Cover Zero on the motion.

When the fast motions happens the pressure stays a 6 man blitz with the post Safety running to handle the RB. If this is the adjustment we plan to use we align the post Safety over the alignment of the RB. The advantages are we are using a DB to handle the motion and the pressure is now 6 on 5 overload. 

One issue with this technique is the potential of the Safety getting caught up on the way to cover the RB. The Safety may have to deal with being being blocked on a crack scheme by the slot WR blocking for the RB on a swing screen. Another traffic issue is the possibility of the Safety getting picked by inside releasing routes from the WRs preventing the Safety from efficiently covering the RB.

On the motion we can push the man coverage. The Nickel can widen to handle the RB while the Safety comes over to handle slot WR.

This same concept can be applied to a stack or bunch formation.

In this example the Nickel is locked on the point WR. We would rather leave the Nickel in the press. The push by the Safety sends the Corner to the RB motion while the Safety takes over the off the ball WR.

Having solutions for stress areas like RB fast motion is a key to making sure 6 man pressure with Cover 1 Peel holds up to offensive gameplans. There are two types of complexity: Obvious and Hidden. Cover 1 Peel appears very simple initially and in many ways it is, but there are hidden complexity challenges that must be handled.

Double A Gap Pick Pressure

Ohio State is in a hybridized 4-3 in a double A gap mug spacing. The down safety is a Nickel/Slot Corner skill set and the DE's are in 2 point stances.

The Rush:
DEs and DT's are rushing their gaps from wide alignments to create space in the A gaps. The Will is penetrating and picking the Center while the Mike is stutter then wrap.

The Coverage:
Cover 1 with the rush accounting for the RB

From the 6 up look the OL is manned up with the Center setting to strong side with the RB handling the weak side A gap threat. When the the Center sets strong the Will is able to execute the pick. This is similar to when an unengaged OL rib shots an adjacent engaged DL. The Center cannot see the pick and isn't in the body position to effectively engage with the penetrating Will. When the Mike wraps the Center is forced to redirect creating a further disadvantage vs. the pick. The result is 2 rushers through the weak side A gap. The Will gets the pressure following the knockdown on the pick of the Center. This pressure has been featured previously from the Falcons the article is available here. The major difference is the technique of the A gap rushers.

Nice pressure plan from Greg Mattison and Jeff Hafley.

Double A Gap Mug Cross Fire Pressure

The Patriots are in a Nickel personnel with OLB bodies at DE on 2nd & 6.

The Rush:
3 Tech DT to the side of the RB is working contain through the B gap while the opposite DT and Rush LB are in their expected rush lanes. The Mike engages the Center before crossing face. The Will shows in his A gap before timing his pressure off the Mike, ultimately the Will is pressuring the opposite A. The ILBs create a delayed A gap crossfire effect.

The Coverage:
Cover 1 with the Rush LB to the RB in man coverage on the back

The protection is a 6 man protection with the RB assigned to an A gap rush threat. The anticipated pick looks like:

The OL is handling the primary pass rush threats. The Center is handling an A gap threat while the RB has the opposite A gap rusher.

The technique of the A gap rush LBs is what makes this pressure effective.

The Mike engages the Center before crossing face. The Mike's initial rush combined with the Will's timing draws the RB to the opposite A gap. The RB wants momentum and speed to get set up to make his block. The Will's technique forces the RB to first be aggressive to the opposite A gap before being forced to redirect to pick up in the opposite A gap. This is a difficult redirect block for the RB to make effectively. The RB naturally loses power and body position on the redirect giving the pass rushing LB an added advantage. One valuable asset of pressure in general is it forces offensive players who expect to be initiators into becoming reactors. The forced reaction of the RB in pass pro helps the LB win the 1 on 1 matchup. The Rush's man technique to mirror the RB also has a nice effect. The T/G treat the situation like a twist game. The Guard still has eyes and is setting to the Rush for the twist exchange as the pressure happens inside preventing any help late from the Guard on the Will. 

The technique and timing is well coached and executed. The pressure not only creates 5 1 on 1 matchups in pass pro, it also isolates the RB on a LB in an A gap while putting the RB in a disadvantaged position to make his block. Picked up doesn't equal protected. 

As always this is really good stuff from Bill Belichick. 

Complementing 5 Up Pressure Concepts

The 2018 Seahawks are in an even front spaced Dime personnel on 3rd & 3 vs. 11 personnel with the TE flexed to presents a 10 personnel structure. 

The Rush: 
The Mike is engaging the Center before working the strong side rush. The Safety is pressuring the A gap with the 3 tech working a B gap pop to contain.

The Coverage: 
Cover 1 with edge covering the RB

The pass protection is a 5 man scat with the RB free releasing. The initial presentation from Seattle forces a 5-0 putting the covered OL into 5 1on1 matchups. The look shows 5 rush threats with the box Safety on the RB in man coverage. The weak OT/OG are forced to fan/fan on the rush threats. The OT has no way of knowing initially the edge rusher is actually manned on the RB and will leave the pass rush when the RB releases. The DT does a good job of attacking the B gap to occupy the OG before working to contain. By the time the OG passes the DT to the OT it is too late to reset to the A gap pressure. The Mike does an excellent job of engaging the Center to create space in the opposite A gap while still working a pass rush move. The Safety isn't one of the 5 most dangerous threats initially creating a pass rush opportunity. The Safety does a nice job staying tight in the A gap to prevent the OG from being able to redirect and set the new A gap threat. The tight man coverage prevents routes from developing while the pressure forces a fast throw and contact on the QB. Consistent Pressure > Sacks. Play forced a 3rd & 3 to a 4th & 1.

Good pressure plan from Ken Norton.

A Gap ILB rush Technique vs. Empty

The Colts are in a Dime personnel on 3rd & 7 against an 02 personnel empty set.

The initial formation is 3 receivers strong and both TE's weak. The Colts match up with Corners on the WR and Safety/Dime on the the TE's. Following the motion the Titans built a one back set with a TE in the backfield.

The Rush:
Four down DL in their rush lanes. Mike stacking the weak side DT and bursting to the midline rush lane late.

The Coverage:
Cover 1

The pressure is a very simple 5 man rush concept the brilliance is in the nuance that made it successful. The offense is in an empty 5 man protection concept before they motion the TE in to the backfield. The protection stays in a 5 man scat concept with the backfield aligned TE free releasing in to a route. The 5 OL have to set to the 5 most dangerous threats.

The Nuance:
The weak side DT is in a much heavier 3 tech compared to the strong side DT. Strong side the 3 technique is a wide tilt alignment.

The Mike LB is stacked on the weak side 3 tech not aligned in the middle of the formation.

The Mike's alignment makes him a bigger weak side pressure threat influencing the set of the Center to the weak side. 

When the Dime motions into the box he shows as a weak side pressure threat before getting depth. This is very well done. It adds to the pre-snap thinking for the OL. When the Dime shows up you can see the Guard talking to the Center alerting the potential extra threat now in the box. The Dime's pressure bluff alignment further influences the Center's set weak. The Dime does a great job of deepening his alignment late to avoid a pick with the cut split Y outside of him when the backfield aligned TE runs the swing route. 

The DT's alignment, Mike's alignment, and Dime's presence all force the Center & Guard into a vise set on the 3 technique. Vise means one pass set inside and one outside. In this case the Guard would set the outside half of the 3 tech DT and the Center would set the inside half of the 3 tech. If no extra rushers come the weak side 3 tech gets a double from the Guard and Center. Against pressure looks:

If the 3 tech works wide the Guard can keep setting on the DT while the Center is now freed up and can come out of the vise to take over the Mike on an A gap pressure.

If the 3 tech works inside the Guard can come out of the vise and stay outside for the Mike (or Dime) in the B gap with the Center taking over the inside rusher.

The DT's alignment and the Mike's technique on the pressure makes the pick up significantly more difficult.

The DT is in a position to attack the middle of the vise pass set without committing inside our outside. The Mike stacks the 3 tech. The 3 technique stays down the middle of the vise of the Center and Guard. The OL is expecting an inside and an outside rusher but neither the DT or the LB commit to being inside or outside. Ultimately the protection gets two inside threats.  The Mike waits for the Center to commit to the DT. Once he does the Mike bursts to the midline on a clean run through. Once the Center is committed to the DT making it very difficult to see the Mike or come off to pick him up. 

IF the Center had come off the DT two things would have happened:

1. The Center would have had a brutally difficult redirect pass set on the full speed Mike. Can't fight physics, it is hard to overcome the momentum of being an OL setting one way, blocking a DT with force, then redirecting with the speed and force necessary to make a block in another direction. Also it assumed he could see the Mike. When making a block an OL wants to see what he is striking especially having vision to insure his pass set punch lands with good hand placement. Once he committed to the DT his vision to the Mike is mostly gone.

2. The Guard would have been forced to go 1 on 1 vs. the DT from the DL's outside half with no inside help. The leverage of the DT makes a straight line path for the DT to the QB possible. This would be a very difficult block for the Guard to regain a body position on the leveraged DT to make the block.

Lots of subtle detail make a basic pressure result in a run through sack. 

Really nice pressure concept from Matt Eberflus and the Colts.