Coach ,

Before we start I want to congratulate Patrick Willis on being named to the 2024 NFL Football Hall of Fame class.  In my work with CoachesClinic and CoachTube I’ve had the privilege working with Patrick as he’s as an investor and advisor with our team. 

He has a detailed course “Build the Beast” where he shares his expertise on LB play.  He’s the highest graded PFF Linebacker ever and now a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame…

Looking back on a practice week, we always knew that Tuesday’s could look a little rough upfront for use because that was the day we threw a lot of movement at our offensive line.  It’s always easier to block a static front.  When the pieces start to move, vision, recognition and trusting technique are all things that the offensive side has to perform well with in order to be successful. Of course that always presents the opportunity for the defense, and that’s what Coach Kaufmann has put together for us today.

-Coach Grabowski

Stuntin on em: Exploring the Defensive Line Stunt Game

The defensive line stands as the bulwark against offensive advances. Within this critical unit, defensive line stunts emerge as strategic maneuvers, intricately designed to disrupt and dismantle opposing plays. 

Whether facing the relentless push of the run or the precision of the pass, adept deployment of stunts can transform a defense from reactive to dominant. 

Today we dive into a variety of stunts for various situations to stifle the effort of the offensive line as much as possible across all scenarios. Teaching the defensive line to understand the situations and the deployment of movement can really cause chaos for the offense.

The Blood Stunt

Let’s dive into the topic with Endicott DC Kevin Bracken leading into run game stunts with his Blood look.

Video: Blood

Central to this tactic is a deep understanding of individual assignments and responsibilities, where players must not only execute their own maneuvers but also read and react to the evolving dynamics of the play. 

A great fundamental teaching point given by Coach Bracken was the G.N.N progression which is knowing the designated gap, the nearest offensive player, and the nearest number. This systematic progression facilitates clear reads and streamlined decision-making, empowering defenders to effectively fulfill their roles in a simple and fast thought process.

Tex Stunt

Another option in canceling the interior gaps against the run is provided by Wake Forest Defensive Line Coach Dave Cohen.

Video: Tex

Employing a tackle-end stunt within defensive schemes serves as a potent weapon aimed at disrupting A gaps and sowing confusion in any offensive gap scheme. This becomes an animal of a solution when it is paired with the appropriate structure and situations. Coach Cohen speaks on this early in his video. 

The orchestrated movement that is discussed in this video requires teaching to read the tackles movement but ultimately can disrupt the interior of the running scheme and the fits depending on the read the end gets. 

The mass movement can additionally cause things to become cloudy for the running back to read and cause hesitation and can allow the linebackers to have more time to filter into the play should they align outside the box. With the potential to create chaos and wreak havoc in the heart of the offense, the tackle-end stunt stands as a versatile and formidable tactic in the defensive arsenal.

Pass Game Stunts

Transitioning from run scheme stunts and altering the gaps and movement on the offensive and defensive line, your money is made on pass pressures and that's what gets largely noticed. The more you can have a QB on his heels the better off the DB’s and defense are. As you build your stunts and utilize them in your pass rush situations, ensure the concept of rush lanes. Bringing Coach Bracken back he discusses these lanes.

Video: Stunts in Passing Game

Maintaining disciplined rush lanes is paramount in constructing an effective pass rush, as it ensures defenders uphold their gap integrity and responsibilities in diverse game situations. By strategically occupying these lanes, defenders can effectively disrupt the quarterback's rhythm while minimizing the risk of leaving gaps vulnerable to exploitation. Whether executing twists, loops, or other stunts, crafting a scheme to maintain cohesion and pressure from all angles is key. This coordinated approach not only applies pressure on the quarterback but also limits his escape routes, and disrupts passing lanes.

Building off of these lanes and onto your stunts, when you have reached a level of understanding you can add to teaching counters within the stunt that works the responsibility but allows the athlete to keep their integrity in terms of their responsibility. Pass rush out of stunts is still fluid, learn about these counters on the pass rush from Jordan Thomas, coach for the Cleveland Browns.

Video: Build On The Concept of Knowing When to Counter

Pass rush counters demand a heightened level of awareness, requiring defenders to keenly observe the subtleties of the offensive line's hand placement and movement, all while keeping a vigilant eye on the quarterback. Having a peripheral sense of awareness as to their field position and relativity to the QB and LOS additionally contributes to the stunt and rush effectiveness. 

Building on this an understanding the weight distribution and shoulder orientation of offensive linemen is crucial for exploiting vulnerabilities and executing effective counter moves. These understandings allow you to incorporate counters whether it's a swim move to slip past a blocker's extended reach or a rip move to power through a gap. Mastering these techniques can yield significant dividends in disrupting the pocket and pressuring the quarterback.

As Always,

Compete!

Coach Kauffman

P.S. Do you want to dive deeper into the stunt game? All presentations are bundled together here for 30% off.