ProTips: Football: Defensive Line Tips: Rushing the Passer

Learn diverse and effective ways to hurry the quarterback and disrupt the play.

Sacking the quarterback is one of the best parts of the game. Unless, of course, you’re the quarterback. For defensive linemen, there are three key components in rushing the passer.

1. First is getting in an elongated stance. You will put one foot 8" to 12" back from the front foot. Get your hand down further in front of your body than in your normal stance.  This allows the you to break out of your stance with more explosiveness.

2. The second key is attacking half of the blocker you are up against. Attack the outside half or inside half of the blocker — depending on the route you are taking — to get to the quarterback. Don’t go for the middle of the blocker. This gives them more of you to connect with and create leverage.

3. Last, use your hands to swim, rip or bull rush during the pass.