Wittenberg’s Red Swarm:
Four Man Pass Rush
O n behalf of Wittenberg University, our
coaching staff and players, it is my
honor to present this article for The
Package American Football Coaches Association’s
2002 Summer Manual.
At times, our defensive game plan
changes drastically from week to week. One
week we would prepare for the Wing T and
turn right around the following week and
game plan for shotgun or five wideouts.
We believe that it’s important to have
the kind of defensive flexibility to handle
these different offensive attacks without
wholesale changes. Most of the time you
will find us in a four-man front regardless of
our opponent’s offense. This provides the
type of balance that defenses both the run
and pass.
Over the past several years we have
faced many outstanding passing teams
and blitzing was considered too risky.
Often we would depend on a four-man
pass rush to create pressure on the quar-
terback. We have experienced some suc-
cess statistically (Diagram 1).
From 1998 through 2001 we have aver -
aged almost 40 sacks a season. In 2001
we concluded our season ranked 18th in
Jack Giambrone rushing defense, eighth in scoring defense,
14th in turnover margin, and 21st in total
Defensive Line Coach yards allowed per game.
Within this article we’ll discuss and dia-
Wittenberg University gram three key areas that make up our
pass rush package:
Springfield, Ohio The Pass Rush Checklist
The Scouting Report
The Call
The Pass Rush Checklist
The Basics
The pass rush checklist consists of a set
of items we teach our defensive linemen
throughout the year. The checklist is con-
stantly reviewed and drilled during the
course of the season. The checklist is even
monitored during the game as they attack
the offensive linemen on their way to the
quarterback. The simplicity of the checklist
makes it easy for both coach and player to
use anytime.
Diagram 1
1998
Passing yards per game 127.8
Defensive pass efficiency 74.7
Total yards per game 224.8
Interceptions 26
Sacks 37
Team record 11-1
• AFCA Summer Manual — 2002 •
There are five things the defensive line-
men must be aware of when rushing the
quarterback:
Stance
Make up step
Half man
Move
The line
Stance
The base should narrow, from that of the
normal run stance, with the legs loaded
under the chest. A toe-to-heel relationship
with the feet; some players can be several
inches behind the heel when building their
stance. The body weight should be forward
and on the balls of the feet. A typical term
we use when describing the weight shift is
“air under the heels.” When field conditions
are poor we emphasize the weight to be
placed on the inside cleats. Visualize a
sprinter in the starting blocks before the
starting gun and you have the pass rush-
er’s stance only with a wider base as
described above. The player should bring
the off hand up so it’s positioned over the
thigh. The off hand will be important in a
decision to bull rush. Players should be
adept at both right and left handed stances
but more importantly players should be in a
stance that (they feel) will give them the
best start off the ball. We practice our
stance almost daily with particular attention
given during the post season.
Make Up Step
The charge is low with the first step ahead
of the placement of the down hand. The sep-
aration between the defensive and offensive
linemen must close very quickly. If the initial
step does not clear that down hand, the offen-
sive lineman will have time to create the sep-
aration he must maintain to protect the quar-
terback. Coaches should review game tape
to insure players are stepping directly up field.
The second step is also critical and should be
used to make up separation. The toes, knees
and hips should be pointed straight ahead
and square with the rest of the body.
1999 2000 2001
191.9 164.7 162.9
106.6 95.8 104.9
297.0 246.8 284.9
17 22 16
30 45 44
11-1 12-1 11-2
 Alignment will play a key role in closing
the distance between linemen. Crowding
the line of scrimmage is to a defensive line-
man as knowing the snap count is to an
offensive lineman. We take every inch we
can. Remember the thought of closing the
distance between the offensive and defen-
sive lineman as quickly as possible.
Crowding the line of scrimmage assists in
getting on the offensive linemen quickly.
Coaches can check this visually from the
sidelines and make adjustments.
Half Man
Half Man or Getting on the Edge.
Attack the offensive linemen on one side.
Several years ago while reviewing game
tape we noticed many players attacking
offensive linemen right down the center
line. That collision, unless it was a good
bull rush, resulted in no pressure. Another
key thought while attacking half man is
the reduction of the defensive man’s tar-
get or area an offensive linemen can
attack.
Today we talk about getting to an edge
— powering to an area of an opponent and
forcing a shoulder turn. It’s easier to work a
pass rush move against half man than it is
to attempt to overpower the entire lineman
— path of least resistance.
Move
Most players have what they consider a
best move. They should learn to perfect
that move so it becomes their go-to move.
During the course of the year defensive
linemen must strive to learn and master
others (swim, rip, push pull, speed or spin).
Having multiple pass rush moves gives
opponents more to work on when they view
you on tape.
Except for the speed rush we always
coach every move to have two parts. For
instance, a rip move is set up with an
aggressive outside arm punch. The push
pull move is set up with the players hands
inside giving a bull rush look. All moves are
made while the defensive lineman is
attacking up the field or on the run. We also
practice each of several pass rush moves
daily. We give special attention to those
that we have not perfected.
The Line
The line to the quarterback is deter-
mined by the quarterback’s drop.
An important detail in gaining the correct
line is to have the defensive linemen con-
tinue to run/accelerate at full speed. Over
the past couple of season’s we have had
an increase in the number of offensive
holding penalties just by stressing running
the line to the quarterback at full speed.
A quarterback that quick sets in a three-
step drop or throws a check-off fade is hard
to sack. The defensive lineman must take a
direct line to the quarterback and at best will
only have time to make one quick move. The
goal here is to pressure the throw, obstruct
his vision or knock him down.
Today, many statistics are being used to
calculate production grades for defensive
linemen. Pressuring the passer or knocking
him down are points a defensive lineman
can earn in our production chart system.
We use these production charts to deter-
mine who is making plays.
In the traditional five-step quarterback
drop the entire defensive front will now
have more of a potential impact as they
work together in pursuing the quarterback.
In the four-man pass rush it should be
stressed that each defensive lineman has
an assigned pass rush line. Each defensive
lineman should maintain that pass rush
lane or line to the quarterback. In the four-
man pass rush there are two inside lanes
and two outside pass rush lanes.
Coaches must stress that having more
than one player in a single pass rush lane
leads to a dangerous pass rush break down.
Passing windows open allowing the quarter-
back with an improved view of the field. This
also provides the quarterback with another
dangerous option — running with the ball!
Coaches should keep in mind that
younger players most often will not master
all of the five in a single season. We teach
these items in the above order by impor-
tance. As the player matures the coach
should expect the player to master and
evaluate the checklist continually.
The Scouting Report
The scouting report consists of several
different studies; a player’s video review of
his opponent, a coaches’report and position
meetings to combine both. It’s critical to
understand the type of player you’ll be fac-
ing. We ask our defensive linemen to evalu-
ate the offensive linemen in these six areas:
Stance: Does the player tip the play? Two
point or three point? Wide or narrow base?
Footwork: Does he have quick feet?
Does he cross over? Post foot position?
Shoulders: Does he turn his shoulders
too quickly on wide rush?
• AFCA Summer Manual — 2002 •
Hands: Does he extend his arms to cre-
ate space? Are his hands low?
Head position: Does he drop his head?
Does he lock on one man?
Opponents: How does he handle bull
rush, swim move, rip move, spin move,
wide rush?
A coach will review many characteristics
of an opponent’s offense. One, is the
review of the quarterback. Several things
that I look at when scouting the quarter-
back are:
• Drop: Three- or five- step?
• Delivery: Over the top or sidearm?
• Pocket Protection: Will the quarter-
back roll out, sprint out, boot or sit in the
pocket?
• Footwork: Does he set his feet and
delivery with good follow through?
• Breakdown: Is the quarterback a
threat to run?
• Direction: Does the quarterback
have a favorite receiver? Favorite area of
the field?
• Snap Count: Will he change up the
snap count?
• Blitz: How does he react? Will he
change the play when the pre snap read is
a blitz?
• Positions: Does he play other posi-
tions? Does he hold on field goals/extra
points?
• Is the back up quarterback a different
type of player? Option quarterback?
The Call
The call refers to the defensive line
stunts. The following diagrams detail sever-
al line games that we use here at
Wittenberg.
Two Man Game
Diagram 2: Inside/Outside (End and
Tackle).
Diagram 3: Inside/Inside (Tackle and
Tackle).
Diagram 2
Three Man Game
Diagram 4: Inside/Inside/Outside (Two
Tackles and End).
 Diagram 5: Inside/Outside/Inside (2 Closing
Diagram 3 Tackles and End). As coaches, we wish we had all the
*Each call can be run weak or strong. To answers. For every move there is a
the field or boundry. counter move. And for every counter move
there’s a counter move to counter that
Four Man Game counter move! I guess that’s some of the
Diagram 6: All Lane Exchange (Both joy we receive from coaching this great
Tackles and Ends). game.
The goal of this article is to present sev-
Diagram 6
eral new and different ideas to help in
developing a better pass rush. At
Diagram 4 Wittenberg, we have been open to and
have experimented with these different
ideas, finding techniques that fit within our
overall scheme and developing drills to per-
fect those techniques. These ideas have
come from many different sources;
American Football Coaches Association
Diagram 7: All Lane Exchange (Both publications, coaches and even players.
Tackles and Ends). Our hope is that we have given coaches an
idea or two.
Diagram 5 Diagram 7
If you need additional information,
please give us a call. Should you find your-
self in Springfield, Ohio feel free to stop by
and observe practice.
In closing, I’d like to thank the American
Football Coaches Association for giving us
an opportunity to do what we love to do —
discuss football.
Good luck in your upcoming season.

AFCA Official Corporate Partners

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thank its Official Corporate Partners.

• AFCA Summer Manual — 2002 •