Get off the Cans - Stunt to 🛑 the Run
Jul 06, 2022 3:42 pm
Coach ,
Whether you have a big strong defensive line or a smaller athletic one, movement up front is something that offenses must spend time on to run the ball effectively.
Coordinating an offense, our approach was after the first practice of the week we focused the rest against movement. It’s much easier to block guys who go straight ahead than having to face all kinds of movement and adjust on the run. It takes disciplined eyes, communication and technique for the offensive line.
Using a run stunt effectively is as much about technique as much as it is the schemed movement. The movement certainly can cause some confusion and chaos for an offensive line, but once they adjust, if the defense is not playing with great technique in executing these stunts, the offense will find itself opening big lanes and gashing the defense.
The most common way to teach stunts is on trash cans. You see this done at every level. It’s certainly an effective way to teach the “where you are going” part of the assignment, but in order for these to have successful execution, you need to get off the cans and use other ways to teach.
The coaches highlighted here today provide some sound technique for being effective with line stunts as well as how they practice them. For the OL coach reading this, understanding what the defense is trying to do can help you adjust when you face these.
Why Stunt?
Kevin Bracken is the Run Game Coordinator and Linebacker Coach at Bucknell. He likes using line stunts to stop the run because of the advantages they offer. He sees it as a way to Simplify fits with gap exchanges and get hats to the point of attack. Its a way to create mayhem and negative plays, and it certainly “muddies the water” for an offensive line. He explains their philosophy on stunts here (click on image for video):
A half gap stunt he likes to use is a “blood.” He explains how the reaction to the offensive line along with proper technique make this an effective movement
Beating Bigger, Physical OL
Dave Cohen at Wake Forest has to face some very tough offensive linemen on his schedule. His years of experience have taught him how to beat those bigger, more physical offensive lines. He teaches two simple movements and techniques that allow his defensive linemen to win the line of scrimmage.
Coach Cohen has two techniques that he likes to cancel gaps and stop the run. He starts with something simple which he calls “Get Reached.” It allows the DT to absorb blocks and free the Linebacker. He explains it here (Click on Image for Video):
The other effective way he likes to cancel gaps is with a stunt which he calls Tex. It allows them to solve issues with corner force and allows for a cut-back player.
The problem is that with a normal stunt you will lose the corner force vs. a Gap Scheme. This provides an answer. He explains the concept here (Click on Image for Video):
Practicing Stunts to Stop the Run
Much of what coaches do to teach stunts are on cans. That’s an important first step in teaching to help players know where they are going. Of course, cans are static, and Heidelberg Defensive Coordinator Branden Jakubcin explains how he likes to use these stunts in different situations especially inside run. “In a game those cans are moving.” Gaps move
Here he explains his approach along with their “TAN” stunt during an inside run period which proves effective against a pin and pull type of scheme (click on image for video):
Inside Zone Stopper from Odd
Bill Reiss Lackawanna likes outside games from odd front. They disrupt a lot with the penetrator and the looper cleans up. He really likes this as an inside zone stopper. He shows it creating chaos for the inside zone and stopping it for a TFL (click on image for video):
Key to Success with Stunts
Teaching your front to move effectively can create headaches for an offensive line, especially early season while they are still trying to gel. It’s also a great way for an undersized but quick line to gain an advantage.
The key to success isn’t necessarily having a ton of these games, but rather running them with the correct technique. Run improperly can create big running lanes and allow the offense to gash you.
These coaches provide some effective coaching points as to technique as well as how to install and practice the run stunts.
Install is much more than running against cans. Spending time as much or more time on the how as you do the where will pay dividends for you this fall.
Always be growing!
Coach Grabowski