Equipment Needed
- Football
- Bags or rushers
Simulate the rush safely
A tackling dummy or bag gives pass protectors a real rusher to set against without needing a live body every rep.
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- Line up the offensive line in their stances with a quarterback behind them running a play-action fake.
- Add rushers or bags representing the defensive front.
Instructions
- On the snap, linemen fire out with run-blocking steps and pad level to sell the run fake.
- After the initial sell, linemen transition to a pass-protection set, anchoring against the rush.
- The quarterback carries out the fake and resets to throw behind the protection.
- Repeat with both run-fake directions to build the transition both ways.
Coaching Points
- The run-sell has to be believable — defenders read linemen's pads as much as they read the backfield action.
- The transition from run steps to a pass set should be quick but not rushed or panicked.
- Anchor with a wide, balanced base once in pass protection; getting caught still moving forward is a common breakdown.
- Communication between linemen about picking up stunts and blitzes still applies even with the extra wrinkle of the fake.
Variation
Add a delayed blitzer to test the protection's recognition after the fake, or run it against a stunting front for a full pass-protection challenge.