NFL and College football 4 and 5 man pass rush games and pressures

 This article looks at  4 and 5 man pass rush games. Teams get creative and can run these stunts out of 4 hands down and 3-2 nickel looks. Also, some teams like the Steelers and Bucs will run it from their 5 man big package with 2 de, watt and dupree or barrett and JPP and it causes protection issues.

When you study sacks and sack percentage, you will find more sacks and pressures are obtained with movement and stunts than actual fancy pass rush moves. We all love to spend time with the fancy club moves, chop and rip, etc, but statistically teams get more out of games than anything else. 

How you devise your games is very important. Here are some things to consider:

 #1 it is based on protection. How do they handle games and what is their protection. 

#2 I think you need to look at personnel and see how they handle twists and stunts. Do they have a weak link and that's the guy or guys you want to attack.

#3  The most important aspect in my opinion is to look at how their guards and centers set. Look at the center and guards. Do they have a tendency to turn and move their body on an angle. If that is the case they are very vulnerable to pass rush games and that's the guy you want to exploit. 

Look at the Jets and Alex Lewis. Sometimes teams will run some games at players because they have a tendency to turn their shoulders. The Dolphins run one and they get home. McGovern should have stayed front side on that because the 3 technique was to his right,  but Lewis turning and overextending contributes to the pressure and sack.

3rd and 8 the Rams are in a 5-1 look odd front. 

They run a nice 3 man game with the LB and Nickel Safety off the edge. The RG turns and takes the LB and the RB stays outside, thus no-one to take the looping Safety. They play man free with the concept as you can see on the film.

Odd 3 LB DL Personnel

5-1 look

3rd and 7 Giants vs the Vikings. Vikings run a game with the olb and defensive tackle. The issue is that the RG turns to help on the defensive tackle and can't flatten out to take the looper.

The OLB Loops inside as the right guard turns to help on the defensive tackle

The LB is by him and gets the sack.

4-2 defense

4 man sim pressure

Here's an example at the college level where the USC right guard turns way too much and isn't able to work back and handle the stunt.

Example #3 is the Jets vs the Seahawks.The Seahawks run a game and get the sack. The left guard turns and can't redirect back.

 

A team that excels in the game department is the Patriots. Here are a few examples vs. The Chargers. They run it from their odd look.

Below you can see it live. 

Here's 2 clips vs the Chargers where they get great pressure off inside games against the Chargers.

How does the center set. Let's say you run a mug look, does he try to get vertical and sort it out or does he turn his shoulders and try to take a man right away. If he's a turner, he's ripe for a pass rush game with the mug linebacker to the side he turns to. 

Here's an example where the center turns and the Looper gets free. The Chargers don't exchange it and the pressure gets home.

Washington Defense vs USC

Here's an example of where the screener gets the sack. The first rusher, who is essentially trying to attack that near shoulder, ends up getting the sack with a 4 man game off a simulated pressure from Coach Jimmy Lake.

#4 Games to me is like setting a pick and roll in basketball. You are trying to get some type of advantage by getting one guy home. You want the picker to be violent when he sets that screen to get the roller home.  But often when you run games, the picker is the guy that often comes free. Teach it that way. Its very similar to basketball, that when you set a screen you end up being the roller and scoring. The player that sets that violent screen can often get the sack.

Below is an example from a mug look where the LB's cross and get home as the Jets are running standard NFL protection. Back steps up to take the mug LB and the center goes the other direction. This is the most common NFL protection. 

When you run 5 man games you will see the following coverages:

Cover 1- man free with a  free safety deep. All underneath players are in man.

Cover 2- You can play cover 2 and give up a zone underneath.

cover 3- 3 under 3 deep

cover 6/8 1/4, 1/4 half to either the single side or 3x1 side.

Ravens vs Titans Playoffs.

3rd and 9 

Ravens run a nice 4 man game with the right defensive end coming clean. This one is tough at the college/hs level because it takes time.

The right guard turns so much he can't redirect to take the looper. This forces a poor throw and the Ravens get off the field on 3rd down.

Steelers 

big front  3-4 personnel with Watt and Dupree at OLB. They run an inside game with the nose guard and defensive tackle. 

Example #2 4-2 front

Michigan is in a 4-2 but moves to a bear front

They move from a 4-2 to a bear look, They run a 2 man game inside with their 2 interior lineman and the mike lb who moved down to the los. They run a 3 man game with the 2 dt and the mike lb.

3-2 

3-2 dime look 

Iowa State brings the cb and will to the boundary and plays cover 2 vs 3x2. They use the weak safety as a fat defender.

LSU Version of America's blitz vs miss state. They dont do a good job disguising it and Miss state sends the protection that way with the tackle, guard and center. They play man free with the lb on the rb.

3rd and 9 and 3rd and 10 The Dolphins run a 5 man pressure with an inside game vs The Rams Empty.

Dolphins vs Rams

The. 2nd time they run a game out of 3-2  dime.

Here are back to back games in which the Bears get great pressure. The DE plays it with such violence that they are able to get the looper home on both occasions. The first is a sack. The 2nd is an interception.

Later in the game, they run a tackle and end stunt on the defensive right and then and end and tackle stunt on the defensive left. Nice design as the defensive end forces the qb to scramble into the Defensive tackle.

The Bengals run a nice 5 man game with a 3 man game on one side with a game with the mike lb and de on the other.  They run it from a load front.

From an odd 3 man look, Pttt Panthers run an effective stunt with the mike and the nose guard.

The Mike picks for the nose but ends up coming free as a result.

Mike engages the center

After disrupting the center, the mike comes free and gets the sack.

Baylor

Baylor runs a 4 man game from their shade front. They shade with the nose on the right side and run a tackle and end stunt on the other.  The center is unable to help as they don't slide and he takes the nose with the left guard helping on the defensive end. Simple but effective.

Rams vs Bucs

Bucs run a 3 man game out of their 4-2 front

3 tech DT opp A gap 1st #93 

2 I RT DT.  OPP B GAP. #60 

ILB Left A gap.  #45

Nice Job .

WIsconson vs Ohio State

wisconson gets empty runs a show pressure with a 4 man game, dropping the DE in their man free concept. The LDE drops and plays a rat concept with the 4 man pressure/

pressure 4 man free with rat defender as the de with the middle safety free.

LSU 2018 Under Dave Aranda who is now the Baylor coach. Run a nice 3 man game on the left side out of their load front.

Jets run a simple game vs the Packers that gets home. Sheldon Rankins gets the sack on a nice 3rd down pressure

These are. just some of the 4 and 5 man pressures you will see from team at the NFL and college Level. 

Miami Dolphins RPO and Play Action Passing Attack

The Dolphins are having an excellent season and they are because of the improved performance of their qb Tua.  Miami currently has two co-offensive coordinators with George Godsey and Eric Studesville and together they are doing an outstanding job. They are really playing to Tua's strength. 

You can read more about the two of them here.

Their offensive rankings are:

16th in passing yards per game

8th in completion percentage

7th in completions per game

11th in red zone scoring touchdowns

31st in yards per completion but this is because the offense is designed this way for efficiency

They are successful because they are excellent in 2 aspects, the rpo game and their play action components. They are very successful on early downs, which as led them to more favorable 3rd and short situations. Thus, their 13th ranking in 3rd down is very good because of their ability to manage success on early downs.

The Dolphins are one of the best rpo teams in the NFL. They do an excellent job with their concepts and run them very often on 1st and 2nd down. They do a great job scheming and running their rpo's vs different defenses (both man and zone concepts) but also running them out of different formations.

 Here's one of their rpo concepts. The Dolphins will get a ton of cover 2 which makes this rpo very effective. It's a good cover 2 beater.

Route Concept:

#1 runs a slant to occupy the safety

#2 runs a wheel 

#3 tight end runs the chute to the flat

Concept: High-low the cb 

The dolphins run some nice variations and this is one of their best. It is very effective vs cover 2 because the #1 route has to be taken by the safety and they in essence or trying to high low the safety. Now they also run a snag version which makes defending them quite difficult.

They ran it in both meetings with the Jets, here they hit it for a nice 25 yard gain. Again, you know you are getting cover 2 but because they also have the snag option, they put some different concepts into use which causes confusion defensively.

The route combo: #1 on the slant. #2 on the wheel/swing and #3 coming across to the flat. The cb hangs on the slant which opens the swing for a 25 yard gain . The #1 wr occupies the safety and the wheel route beats the cb. The concept has a few variations by #1, glance/post corner/sit down component. 

Very nice design by the Dolphins vs the Jets

2nd and 9

Here they run the glance rpo. The Glance route is an RPO attachment that reads outside linebackers in one-safety looks or third level defenders in two-safety looks. The Glance itself is a five-step skinny post that replaces defenders filling in the run. Here they get cover 2 and the tight end is wide open.

Now,what happens is teams will send the de right for the qb, but with that comes a huge risk because it opens up the running game. Here the Jets try to attack the mesh point and force the give and it's a nice gain in the run game.

Huge hole that is created by the success of the passing gains early. Jets try to adjust and take away the passing piece and Tua makes the read for a nice 11 yard gain.

It's tough to defend because the Dolphins do a really nice job with their scheme and take what you give them.

Vs The NY Giants:

Here's a few examples vs the Giants, again the wr #1 looks like he just reads the defense and can run some type of option route. The giants Cover 2 safety bails so the #1 wr sits it down at 7 yards. Easy completion

In the 2nd example, they run the glance route with #1. Again the qb reads cover 2 and sees the safety drop which opens up the glance window.

Vs the Giants

Here is an example of a similar rpo vs the Giants. Nice read and route for a 12 yard gain.

Play action component:

The Dolphins mix in some really effective play action concepts as well.

It's not just the rpo game which makes their offense so hard to defend. They excel in the boot concepts off their run game and will take their deep shots.

The nice thing they do is they take advantage of coverage as they know many times they are going to get cover 2 with the condensed coverages. Here they run a nice play action scheme. They motion from 3x1 to 2x2 and presnap tell Tua it's zone. Post snap, it's an easy cover 2 read so he know's he will have Parker against the cover 2 safety on the post corner concept.

On the very next series vs the Jets, they run a sequence off the previous one. Instead of having Parker run a post corner, they have him run a sit route where he just reads the defense and sits it down in the zone. 

Here's a nice 16 yard gain to Parker. Again, they get the presnap zone coverage read with the motion. 

Play action vs the Giants

Giants decode go cover 1 and the Dolphins hit the post with the post dig option. This is a nice design and Tua recognizes the coverage right away with the pre snap motion. Nice route combo as the safety overplays the outside and doesn't help inside on the vertical post route. This puts the cb in limbo as he expects help to the inside based on his outside leverage. Tua sees it and throws a good ball for 25 yards.

Here are just some of the Miami Dolphins Run pass options and play action passing attack. Please check back as I plan on adding more to this post with other pertinent clips.

Jets 2022 Offensive Line and Tight End Targets in Free Agency

 The Jets went out and got their franchise QB in 2021. They also got some key pieces in the draft with Elijah Moore and Michael Carter. There is plenty of excitement moving forward due to this young talented group and 4 draft picks in the top 2 rounds in the 2022 draft. They also have WR Corey Davis and a decent TE in Ryan Griffin. 

On offense, the Jets are rank 15th in passing yards and 28th in completion percentage. The offensive line stats are deceiving because of the situation of having a rookie qb. Also, the Jets are  last in rushing attempts on the year, which is shocking with a rookie QB.  But they are tied  for 11th in rushing yards per carry at 4.4. It's no secret that their lack of attempts hurt their statistical numbers and the team is a much better when they run the football on a consistent basis.. Even though they are last in attempts, they are 26th in yards. So, if they rushed 8-10 more times a game, they would probably be around the middle of the pack in rushing. 

They were also sacked 2.9 times per game which is  26th in the league. But, again that stat is deceiving because of several factors:

1. Having a rookie qb and making poor decisions

2. Some of those are on naked boots which is no one's faults up front.

3. Some were a result of the rb.

4. The Jets get a ton of 5 man pressures because they have a rookie qb.

5. They lead the league in passing attempts. More passing attempts=more sacks

6. They don't run the ball nearly enough, last in rushing attempts

My point is that you shouldn't get caught up in the numbers. They were better than what people thought. 

Moving Forward

Now they have to address some pieces to really take the next step as a program. One of the positions they have to address is the offensive line and tight end. 

The biggest question marks on the offensive line are the following:

1. Who plays right guard?

2. Do they bring Moses back or kick Fant back to right tackle?

3. Who plays center? Do they restructure McGovern  or go to a different option either through the draft or free agency?

What will the plan be. I happen to like Moses and think he should be brought back? If not, do you go after a veteran back up. Would you bring him back and move Becton to guard. Would it be more cost effective?

Imagine an offensive line  of:

Fant-Becton- Mcgovern-Tucker-Moses. I 'm in the minority about moving Becton to guard but that would be a really impressive offensive line. 

But let's dive a little deeper into the options:

Last year's starters.

LT/RT- George Fant-George moved from the right side to the left side after Mekai Becton went down and played really well over there. Arguably, he played better than Becton and graded out quite weil in both the run and pass game. 

LT-Mekai Becton is going to play somewhere next year. Tremendous run blocker with some issues handling speed rushers. He will be back but do you consider moving him to guard? Probably not, but it wouldn't be the worst move in the world. 

LG Aligah Vera-Tucker- Vera Tucker did a real nice job in the run game as a rookie and will be a solid player for years to come. He is excellent in the zone scheme and playside in the gap counter schemes. The areas he can improve upon is pass protection and his trap, counter blocking technique. Thought he struggled at times in those 2 areas. The nice thing about him is he can kick over to right guard if they sign a left guard.

C-Connor Mcgovern- Connor is a good football player that fans seem to underestimate his ability. I don't think he is nearly the problem they make him out to be. To me, he is a top 10 center and a player I would want on my football team. That being said, he does have a huge contract but that can be converted into a 2 year deal with a nice signing bonus, thus giving the Jets more cap flexilbilty.

RG- Laurent Devarney-Tardiff - Tardiff was a nice pickup and great story as he has done a tremendous amount for the community. But in reality there are better answers to play guard. They could really benefit from him coming back in a reserve role but I think they need to go in another direction at starting right guard.

RT- Morgan Moses- Morgan Moses was a good addition and is a very solid right tackle. He has only let up 3 sacks and is a very solid pro. 

Backups

Dan Feeney, Greg Van Roten, Connor McDermott and Isaiah Wilson were some of the key backups on 2021.  I would expect Feeney back, especially for the excitement of Islander games.

Tight End

The Jets 2 tight ends were more run blockers and neither was a top tight end in receptions in 2021. Griffin was #30 in receptions. This an area in which the Jets would like to get a quality receiving te in 2022. 

TE- Tyler Kroft- Had a good year and is a very solid run blocker. Was adequate in the passing game but really not a dynamic wr. 

TE- Ryan Griffin- Not the run blocker that Kroft is but a little more versatile in the pass game.

TE-Trevon Wesco- A one dimensional tight end/full back who givves them some versatility. 

2022 definite returners

Fant, Becton and Tucker will be back and it gives the Jets some flexibility.  Fant could be restructured but I wouldn't mess around with him too much. It may cost you more money. 

Possible Returners

C- Mcgovern is a 9 million dollar savings if cut. The Jets could restructure him give him a 2 year deal and bring him back. Throw him a signing bonus and  maybe a 2 year 12 million dollar deal. I think he's a solid player and worth the investment.

RT Morgan Moses-Here's where it gets interesting. I like Moses and think he would be worth bringing back. But you aren't going to get him for the bargain basement price you got him at last year. Now do you resign him and give yourself some more flexibility with 3 tackles. 

TE-Tyler Kroft and Ryan Griffith are both free agents. What direction do you want to go there. I coould see them bringing one back and then searching for the more dynamic option in free agency.

Free Agency Options

Let's look at some of the free agent options for the Jets at both tight end ,center and guard, the  positions you can see the Jets possibly bringing in thru free agency.

#1 Guard

I don't think the Jets need to focus on a left or right guard because of Vera-Tucker's versatility.He played right guard at USC in his earlier years. People may disagree with me on that but I want the best available guard there.

Below are 9 guys who would be great additions to the Jets offensive line. All are clearly better than what the jets have now. I would be surprised if they don't go after a guard in free agency only because of the depth in free agency at the position.

1. Brandon Scherf  wft     A great player who will be one of the best guards on the market.    He won't be franchised again.

2. Connor Williams cowboys A player who may be franchised but I can see hitting the market because of the cowboys cap issues.

3. James Daniels  Bears    Really came into his own this year after moving around over the years. Is he good enought to be tagged or will he hit the open market.

4.  Austin Corbett Rams    Corbett is really good. Has some good years ahead of him.Can play center or guard which is great for versatility purposes. Do the Rams franchise him or Darious Williams-CB?

5. Andy Norwell Jaguars    A great vet who doesn't seem to have lost a step.   

6. Laken Tomlinson 49ers I think Saleh knows how good he is.

7. Mark Glowinski Colts Mark is a heck of a guard. Could get the franchise tag.

8. Quinton Spain  Bengals Quinton is a very good guard and excellent run blocker. Definitely a great run blocker

9. Patrick Mekari Ravens   A restricted free agent so I don't see the Ravens letting him go but you never know.

#2 Center

The only players in the same class as McGovern are:

Ryan jensen    Bucs       

Brian Allen      Rams

Brad Bozeman  Ravens

These are the only 3 who would be worth replacing McGovern with. Are you going to get them for under $9 milllion per year. These guys are going to command $10 million plus per year so maybe trying to lure Mcgovern back may be a better option.

Other options who aren't the players Mcgovern are and I put in the avearge range include: Ethan Pocic Seahawks

Matt Paradis   Panthers

Patrick lucas packers 

Max  garcia Cardinals    Garcia intrigues me because he can play center/guard, which in today's NFL is a commodity

 

The options are McGovern, one of the players above or drafting a center in the 2nd round. That's how it will play out.

#3 TE

The Jets have 2 free agent tight ends. Both are good blockers and I can see 1 being brought back. Both Griffin and Kroft are solid pros.  Whether they attack the position in free agency or the draft remains to be seen but I can see them signing 1 tight end  and drafting another in round 2 or 3. They also have Kenny Yeboah so will see their thoughts on him. Either way they need two tight ends. 

Here's where it gets interesting in free agency. The tight end class is not very deep. The best tight end is Mike Gesicki. I will be shocked if Gisecki hits the open market. I anticipate him being franchised. But if he gets his wish and he's classified as a wr, he may hit the market because that would cost the Dolphins some $$$. Keep an eye on that. 

That leaves the following:

1. Dalton Shultz cowboys       69 receptions, 733 yards,10.6 ypc Will be available because the Cowboys will mostly franchise Gregory, Williams or Kearse. 

2. Zach Ertz- Cardinals 60 receptions , 638 yards 10.6 ypc Great veteran who has a few years in the tank,

3.Tyler Conklin   min             54 receptions 540 yards 10 ypc He may be the best one of the group,has great upside and is a good route runner. Keep an eye on him but I don't see the Vikings franchising anyone else. HE would be the franchise tag recipient as I see it.

4. CJ Uzomah   bengals       45 receptions ,461 yards 10. 2 ypc Good veteran who may be a nice security blanket for a young qb.

5. David njoku     Browns 30 receptions , 436 yards 14.5 ypc . Njoku is a wr who plays tight end and that's an intriguing player because you can split him out and force some 1x1 matchups on the perimeter. Not an inline tight end but would be a great off the ball option.

         

6. Ricky Seals-Jones   wft A converted wr who has even more room to grow. He adds to his body, he may be an even better tight end in 2022. He's a guy to keep your eyes on.He had 29 catches for 263 yards in 2021.  

7 Robert Tonyan packers     Tonyan was coming into his own before getting injured in 2021. May be a 1 year prove it candidate as Joe Douglas loves.

8 Mo Cox Colts. Mo Cox could be a very solid addition, especially in the run game. He's just a good football player.

Again, this isn't a tremendous free agent class so expect the Jets to draft a tight end.

All in all, the offensive line and tight end positions need to be addressed. 'm curious to see how it plays out.

I hope you enjoyed this article and my thoughts on the offensive line and tight end position.