Blitz and redirect
Why it works
A flag blitzer starts seven yards away, so the quarterback has time to move and a straight line rush misses him. Making the quarterback slide on a call teaches the blitzer to bend his path and arrive under control, which is the difference between a sack and a blitzer running past the play.
Run it
8 MINEight reps each, four each way, then swap partners. Eight minutes. Rest between reps; a tired blitzer stops bending and just runs.
Say this
“Bend it, do not run past him.”
The quarterback moves, so the rush has to curve toward where he is going.
“Chop your feet when you get close.”
Short steps near the quarterback let the blitzer change direction with him.
“Arms up if he throws.”
A blitzer who cannot get the flag can still bother the throw.
Good looks like
- The blitzer's path curves toward the side the quarterback moved to.
- Steps shorten inside the last two yards.
- The pull is one handed and the blitzer stays on his feet.
- On a throw, the blitzer's arms go up.
The mistakes
Running straight at where the quarterback started and missing him by three yards. Have the quarterback move early in the first few reps so the bend is obvious.
Say: “Bend it, do not run past him.”
Arriving at full speed and getting juked. Mark a cone two yards from the quarterback where the chopping has to start.
Say: “Chop your feet when you get close.”
Dropping his head and reaching for the flag while the ball goes over him. Make the quarterback throw on some reps and score a point for a tipped ball.
Say: “Arms up if he throws.”
Shrink the square to five yards and walk the first few reps, so the youngest players learn to curve before they learn to sprint.
The quarterback chooses the direction himself and may roll out or step up. Add a receiver the quarterback can throw to on a four second count.