Coach -

Kyle Caksey’s NFL experience as both an assistant offensive line coach and a running backs coach (Bengals, Lions Jaguars), has allowed him to have a unique perspective on protection because he’s worked with the six players who protect the quarterback.

In today’s pass rush world of deceiving alignments that allow players to come from everywhere aka “sims and creepers,” having a sound system of handling pressure or simulated pressure is critical in allowing the QB to remain upright and deliver the ball to move the chains and put points on the board.

At the 2022 C.O.O.L. Clinic, Coach Caskey shared the system he uses, and his clinic presentation is a tremendous resource on how to handle “exotic” pressure.  To begin, he started with a definition of exotic pressures.  He emphasized how important it is for the OL Coach and RB Coach to be on the same page so the info is consistent from room to room (click on image for video):

Video: Types of Exotic Pressures

Before you can scheme the exotic blitzes up, you need to understand and plan against what the opponent is doing.  He illustrates this by sharing past game plans and drawings in the next video, and explains how taking the approach of compartmentalizing allows you to have a concise plan for each type of pressure you see (click on image for video):

Video: Compartmentalizing

The understanding begins to help you formulate the plan.  Coach Caskey shares an example of a man pressure with a “peel” defensive end, and shows how one answer is to put the tackle into a full slide (click on image for video):

Video: Peel

Another example is from KC vs. Indianapolis. Coach Caskey notes for any defensive coaches that Matt Eberflus and the Colts are the best at some of these types of pressures and should be studied.  This example is of “Double Trouble” with a vacated Fire Zone (click on image for video):

Video: Double Trouble

The season makes the coach a problem solver.  Having the right resource is a big part of being able to find the right answers, and what Coach Caskey and other top coaches have presented at the C.O.O.L. Clinic is valuable in that process.

Always be growing!

Coach Grabowski

P.S. The 2024 C.O.O.L. is coming soon!

Don’t forget to register for the the C.O.O.L. Clinic which will be held virtually May 16th-18th.  

You can get the $99 ticket which gives you 30-day ticket or one of the Premium Memberships which includes the ticket and gives you access for 365 days.

$99 Ticket (Live + 30 Days)

2024 C.O.O.L. Clinic Premium (2024 Clinic for 365 days)

Mushroom Society Membership (All C.O.O.L. Clinic Content which includes 2021-2023 virtual clinics and decades of video previously available on DVD only)