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Under Pressure

Getting Home in the 4-man Rush
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Before I begin, I would like to thank the people at American Football Monthly for giving me this opportunity. I also owe Coach Dirk Koetter and Coach Brent Guy thanks for allowing me to represent our staff in these pages. These are some concepts we believe in at Arizona State. Hopefully, there are a few things you can use with your players as well.

You don’t have to be over 60 to be “old school.” A long time ago a very wise football coach told me “the best pass defense is a good pass rush.” We believe that to be true, so we will continue to pick our spots for pressure type calls, while stressing the importance of the defensive line in the 4-man rush.

The evolution of our sport has made it a very specialized game. Offenses and defenses use their personnel to each individual’s strengths. We are no different when it comes to pass rush. When we get certain down and distances that are high percentage pass situations, we get our best possible pass rushers in the game. It makes great sense to me to replace a run-stopping nose tackle with a faster, more flexible athlete if the situation allows for it. For instance, if your fifth best linebacker is one of your 4 best pass rushers, use him. He’s probably not helping you very much in coverage but may be able to contribute a great deal to your team in the pass rush. We primarily have used defensive ends to fill our rush team. Because there is no limit to the number of substitutions a team can make, we have created a personnel group for pass rush and given them a name. The naming of the group gives them an identity, and allows for the guys involved to take a great deal of ownership in the productivity of the group.


Diagram 1. 4-Man Rush Rules

When these players are in the game, we take the approach that we will make plays in the run game on our way to the quarterback. We don’t ask them to fit the influence trap or spill the power. They are pass rushers, not block reactors. Turn them loose and give them the tools to be successful. They have to develop a pre-snap routine that forces them to think of their move and its counter if the initial technique is unsuccessful. We also do what we can to give them rules to keep the rush balanced and aggressive. (See Diagram 1.)

The 4-man rush rules we use are very simple and sound. I’ll start with the ends. Both are called Edge Rushers. As we teach it, Edge Rushers are entirely different than “Contain Rushers.” Contain rushers are taught to never allow the QB to cross their faces. This slows guys down in my opinion and reduces your best guys’ production. They never get into the pocket where their target is. In contain technique, you will waste some of your best guys on most plays. The key to being a good edge rusher is to understand where the launch point is. It is at the depth of the launch point where the edge rushers have the option to take the under and make the play. It is important to know some of these guys will take it too early in the rush. When this happens, the QB could flush and break the pocket. This causes the other three rushers problems. When you install the technique, it is important to have a QB who can see this and beat the edge to the outside. It is a much easier lesson to learn in practice than in games, so give them plenty of reps.

The other variable that affects an Edge Rusher is when the tight end stays in to protect. As the protection develops, and the edge recognizes the tight end is involved in the protection, it is important to know where the easiest counter is. We coach our edge rushers to beat the tight end over his outside pad. We want to eliminate the offensive tackle as often as possible and stay singled with the tight end. Once the edge counters to the outside pad, his normal rush rules apply with respect to the launch point.

Today’s offenses are utilizing more gap style protections than ever before as well as keeping more blockers in to protect. These two factors make it very difficult to get to the QB in a 4-man rush. Against these teams, it has been best for us to develop pressure strategies that beat those types of protections. The rush rules for the tackles have been developed to give us the best chance versus man or big on big protection teams. The inside guys have their own set of rules. These rules are based on the leverage in which they align. We call our 3-technique the tackle, and our shade or 2-technique, the nose.

Next in our rules discussion, we will discuss the tackle (3-technique). The tackle should be your most versatile rusher. He needs to understand both edge and power rush principles. In man type protections, he is usually singled on the offensive guard. If you are using an end to his side that the offense sees as a threat to beat the offensive tackle, your 3-technique will also usually have the most space in which to work. Because he has the most space, we give the tackle a 2-way go in all 4-man rush situations. We give the 3-technique a 2-way go based on the premise that the center will work initially toward the nose. We prefer for him to beat the guard on his edge, but he always has the option to take the counter to the A-gap. The tackle’s pre-snap thought should be something quick on the outside edge of the guard, followed by his counter to the A-gap.

Similar to the run game, the nose has to be able to hold up and be effective versus the double or “clamp” in the pass game. The nose should expect the clamp on every pass rush situation. This helps him with his pre-snap plan. If he is aware of the likelihood of the double, his counter to the B-gap becomes automatic. He should first attempt to win in the A-gap, but he should also be confident enough to know he can take the B-gap at any point in the rush. This counter helps to get him singled with the guard by removing the center from the protection.


Diagram 2. Watch Me

There are many ways beyond the rush rules that can help your team become more productive in the 4-man rush. We discussed earlier in this article about giving your guys “ownership.” Ownership the way we use it at ASU means freedom. Most coaches get nervous when using the word ‘freedom’ in any conversation about football. You have to be able to give your players enough information to ensure their freedom can lead to sacks and pressures. We give our guys a few different calls that allow for them to decide which game or stunts they should run. As you do your protection study early in the week, communicate with your players what would be the best stunts for the protections they will see. This can increase the likelihood of success. The players will also do their best when they know they will have a chance to tell you what a great call they made when they come to the sideline. Below are some of the twists and games that fit into the “freedom” or “ownership” category. (See Diagram 2.)


Diagram 3. Edge Me


Diagram 4. Edge You


Diagram 5. Games

The Watch Me call gives your defensive ends the option of a 2-way go at any point in the rush. It is a great call if an edge rusher has already won on an edge earlier in the game. The end takes his normal get-off as if he is trying to win on the edge, but if the offensive tackle over-sets, he should take the under without risk of contain problems. The inside guy to his side has the difficult job. He should soft bull the guard with his eyes on the end. If the end takes the under, he must disengage and cover the edge. If the end stays on the edge for the duration of the rush, he should become the aggressor with the guard. The 4-man rules (nose or tackle) apply. (See Diagrams 3 and 4)

The Edge call tells the edge rushers to execute their normal techniques but the inside guys have some options. At ASU, we let the tackle make the call. A “me” or “you” call determines the penetrator on the game. The tackle can also tell the nose to play it straight, if he likes his chances better singled with the 2-way go rule. (See Diagram 5.)

In the Games call, the ends control the tackle and the nose. They can play it straight, or they can call a game. “Me” and “You” still designate the penetrator. They can also include the Watch Me call if they think it’s best.

These are some of the things we do at Arizona State. Hopefully some of the principles can help your team become more productive versus the passing game.


Related Videos
American Football Monthly now offers a full line of coaching videos. So, if you enjoyed this clinic article, here are a few videos that you may find interesting:

1-FV00048H Defensive Ends (Fazio)
2-FV00048I Defensive Line (Plumbtree)
3-FV 00048E Defensive Middle Guard (McBride)


To find these videos and many others, view our online catalog at www.AFMVideos.com.

About the author
Ted Monachino


Ted Monachino enters his fourth year as the Sun Devils Defensive Line Coach in 2004. His 2002 defensive front four featured Terrell Suggs, a unanimous All-America selection and the most decorated player in school history. Monachino previously coached at Boise State, Southwest Missouri State, James Madison and Christian University. He is a graduate of Missouri where he received Academic All-Big Eight honors in 1989.
You can reach him at ted.monachino@asu.edu






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