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AFM Magazine


Tiger Training – Missouri’s 10 Key Defensive Line Drills and Techniques – How you can fortify your pass rush.

by: Craig Kuligowski
Defensive Line Coach University of Missouri
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The key to any defensive pass rush is putting pressure on the quarterback. Missouri conducts drills daily to
accomplish just that.

At the University of Missouri, I have been very fortunate and blessed with defensive linemen who have and are embracing this attitude. In my time here, we have increased our sack total each year. We have had many players go on to All-Conference honors. We have had players lead the Big 12 in sacks and in tackles-for-loss. We have had a defensive lineman break the single game sack record, single season sack record and career sack record. 

    We believe strongly in rushing the passer first. In order to be good on the DL, you must be aggressive. In order to be aggressive, you must be attacking. In order to attack, you must explode off the ball. You must attack with the hands first. Getting into a good position with your hands will allow your players to play physical instead of “running around” blocks.

Our aggressive pass rush strategy is based on the following:

1. Our 43 defense uses a one gap philosophy for the DL.

2. You can stop the run on the way to the passer – you can’t rush the passer playing the run first.

3. Getting pressure on the QB is the most important maneuver on defense.

4. Penetration knocks off pullers and forces backs to make cuts they don’t want to make.

    We want our players to play with self-confidence. We want them to cut loose and make the big play. Players shouldn’t worry about making a mistake because they have prepared all year. They should know that their sack will come and it’s only a matter of time. KEEP COMING. They must also realize that they can beat their man cleanly and not get a sack. QB hurries, holding calls and intentional groundings mean they are on the right track.

    We study the ball and move on movement. When the ball is snapped, it should be like a string is tied from the ball to your players’ helmets. As soon as it goes backward, players should be moving forward. They must explode for penetration. Our first read is the screws (top of facemask) of the man they are aligned on. There should be no daylight between them and their man. Players should never be surprised by a pass. If in doubt, rush the passer. We want them to crash down on all down blocks. They will ricochet against any attempts to reach or cut us off.

    There are many things that will aid your players in their pass rush. They must make themselves a moving target and make the OL miss them.  They will attack the QB set-up area. We will emphasize using a rip or swim move on every play. We will use the same hand and foot together. In other words, if I am using the right hand to make contact, I should be stepping with the right foot. We want our players to master one move and one counter off that move. You may know 100 moves but you will not be able to perform them effectively under gametime pressure. We want to keep their hands and feet moving. We want to turn their numbers and open their hips so that they will be able to get by the OL without their opponent getting his hands on us. If they get deeper than the QB, we want them to spin or club back to the ball.

    Here are some simple drills to teach “Attacking with the Hands”:

1. 6-Point Punch: Two players align directly in front of each other on their knees. One player has his hands on the ground and the other player has his hands on his hips. On a sight key, the player with his hands on the ground strikes a blow to the other’s chest. His hands should land on the opponents’ chest plate with the thumbs pointed up and his hands should be above his eyes.

2. 3-Point Punch: Similar to a 6-point. Maintain a flat back and get feet firmly in the ground before contact.

3. Push/Pull: After firing to the first position, the player then pushes with one hand and pulls with the other hand to move towards the gap or to follow the player’s resistance.

4. Patch: Done from a 3-point or 2-point stance. Start with the head and body behind where you need to be for your assignment. Throw hips across the OL while locking him out. Then finish stepping across and throw the opponent off while finishing with a rip move to eliminate any chance of holding.

5. Sled:  Use a ball to simulate movement. Use a hard count so they must focus on the ball. Explode with hands inside. You must get full extension with the arms. Again, we would like hands above the eyes. Make them drive and finish together.

    We must give our players the weapons to succeed and they must be held accountable to executing their techniques and assignments. When we teach the rip move, we emphasize lifting it to the sky. When we teach the swim move, we emphasize the finish of pressing the OL to create separation to the QB. Coaching points such as these can make a huge difference. 
These specific drills can be practiced for improving pass rush techniques:

1. Gauntlet: Place five knockdown bags in a straight line 5 yards apart. Players use their favorite move four times in a row and then finish by chopping the ball out of the “QB’s” hand. Most frequently we use club and rip, club and swim and also spin. All these drills are done at full speed (See Diagram 1).



2. 4 Corner: Place four knockdown bags 5 yards by five yards in a square. Players use a sight key to explode off the ball and utilize their move four times in a row. Then repeat going the other way. Then, they can use different moves both inside and outside the “square.” This teaches your pass rushers to turn and open their hips (See Diagrams 2A and 2B).



3. Two Moves: Place two knockdown bags five yards apart and then use two different moves and finish on a tackling dummy and/or a “QB’s” arm to strip. Players start inside the first bag and practice club and rip moves outside the bag and club and swim moves at the second bag. Then, they start outside the first bag with a club and rip move outside of it and then spin to the inside of the second bag (See Diagrams 3A and 3B).



    We also utilize pass rush guide lanes for both the ends and the tackles. I want our DEs to use their speed off the ball to try to beat the tackle to a spot four yards directly behind his outside foot. We will try to “Race” around the tackle. DEs must force him to either stop the move or give up a sack. If the tackle sets outside the four yards deep spot,the DE can come under him with a strong move to continue to force his width and still keep outside leverage on the QB. If the tackle meets at the spot, the DE will use his inside arm and lockout his inside number. We will push him into the QB as if we were pushing a stalled car up a hill. The whole progression starts with the “Race”. DEs must be able to read the tackle as they go. They must force him to commit so that we can adjust. If he tries to beat you with power, use speed. If he tries to beat you with speed, use power. Done correctly, you can always get to the QB. 

    Our DTs are the push up the middle. They must be powerful and deliberate with their first move. All moves are used to get the guard to commit to a certain position, then they can take advantage of the weakness shown. In general, if they get a soft set from the guard, we want them to use their inside arm to the inside number technique to run him over. If they can use their speed to force him to turn his shoulder sideways, they can beat him either inside or outside. We want them to keep leverage on the front of the QB. If they get pushed too wide or too deep, then they can spin back and put themselves in a position to sack the QB. Align wide and use a quick move in your gap. If they force the guard to move out of his area, their moves will work well. 

   Here are some drills we use to teach bending in the pass rush lanes:

1. Circles: Race around a single circle, then race around two circles in a figure 8 fashion (See Diagrams 4A and 4B).



2. Circles with Bags: Start on one knockdown bag, then race around the first circle, using a move on a second knockdown bag placed in the middle of your figure 8. Then, come around the second circle and use a third move at the middle bag and finish with a “Tomahawk” (See Diagram 5).



     One technique that we use to strip the ball from the QB is called “Tomahawk”. We want rushers to secure the QB’s non-throwing arm with their inside hand and use their outside hand to come from high to low through the QB’s throwing wrist. It is a violent thrust that must be practiced over and over to master. We will not go a day in practice without doing drills to perfect the “Tomahawk”. Mastering this fundamental may be the difference between a win and a loss.

About the Author: Craig Kuligowski begins his 21st season coaching under head coach Gary Pinkel this fall and his 17th as a defensive line coach. A four-year standout at offensive tackle at Toledo (1987-1990) Kuligowski joined the Toledo staff as an assistant coach in 1992. He was the Rockets’ D-Line coach from 1996-2000 before joining the Missouri staff in 2001.






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