I would like to thank the AFCA for the
opportunity to speak at the 2001 con-
vention and for the work they do to make
our great profession even better.
I will be speaking today about creating
more pressure on the quarterback through
pass rush games and techniques.
The most essential elements for great
defensive line play are 1. Take-off, 2. Pad
level and 3. Effort. The first technique we
work on at Southwest Texas is the take-off.
We want our weight on our front hand,
enough weight that if I kicked it out from
under one of the defensive linemen they
would fall. I want feet shoulder-width apart
with a good heel to toe stagger. If a player is
in a right-handed stance, the right hand will
be down and right foot back, then when the
ball moves, react. What I’m looking for is the
back foot passing the down hand by at least
eight inches. If the foot does not pass the
front hand mark by at least eight inches, we
did not gain ground on the offensive lineman.
Second, we want to make sure on contact
with the offensive lineman that the back is flat,
thumb pointed inside and elbow staying with-
in the cylinder of the body. Explode inside
arm in the middle of the offensive lineman’s
chest, hands and feet working together. If the
defensive lineman is attacking with his left
hand he should be stepping with his left foot
(or right hand/right foot). Work the edge of the
offensive lineman, or half man technique. The
worst place to be in football is in the middle of
an offensive lineman. Once on edge, plant
the outside foot and pull down on the offen-
sive lineman’s outside pad with the outside
arm. It is important to get the outside foot
planted when pulling to create the power
needed to displace the offensive lineman’s
outside shoulder. Keep tight to the offensive
lineman, and the crotch should be aimed at
the offensive lineman’s hip. Pull through with
a rip or swim move to the quarterback.
When we reach a consistent level with
our take-off and half man technique we
move on to the line twist. We teach two,
three and four man twists. When I start
teaching twist techniques the first tech-
nique we work versus man protection is to
make sure the get-off is at least two steps.
We want to create gap expansion in the
offensive line through alignment and get-
off. The defensive line must sell the get-off.
Do not let the defensive lineman short step.
Work on the take-off appearing the same
as the half man technique.
If we are running a “Tex twist,” the twist is
to the three technique side, it is a two man
• Proceedings • 78th AFCA Convention • 2001 •
twist between the three and five or seven
technique. The aiming point for the three
technique is the offensive tackle’s inside hip,
Defensive Line
Pressure Games
with pads low. Pad level is important as high
pads will allow the offensive lineman to cram
you back to the guard. The defensive end
must widen his alignment to insure the offen-
sive tackle widens to him. The defensive end,
after executing his two step get-off, will loop
behind the defensive tackle through the A gap
with any pass set. The offensive tackle now
should be picked by the three technique’s
body. If the offensive guard reacts to the
defensive end, the three technique should be
free to the quarterback. If the guard stays on
the three technique, the defensive end
should be free to the quarterback.
A two man twist between the nose and
the five is called an “Ex” twist. The “Ex” is
opposite of a “Tex” twist. The defensive end
will get off two steps and penetrate through
the B gap. The nose will attempt to go two
steps up the field to insure the offensive
guard’s attention towards his movement
and that the guard does not slide to pick up
the penetrating end. After two steps the
nose will loop behind the end. We want the
nose’s initial vision to go to the outside
receiver, so if the receiver’s numbers are David Bailiff
coming at him, will close to the receiver. If
the looping nose does not see any receiv- Defensive Coordinator
er’s numbers, continue tight to the quarter-
back. The nose is responsible for contain- Southwest Texas State
ment, his aiming point is the deep shoulder University
of the quarterback. On this twist the defen-
sive end should pick the guard, if the tack- San Marcos, Texas
le pulls to help on the nose, the end should
be free to the quarterback if the tackle
stays on the end, the end’s body will pre-
vent the guard from continuing with the
nose. The two step get-off is also important
if the offense has called a running play. Any
aggressive or zone block the defensive
linemen are involved in the twist goes back
to base, they are now responsible for the
gap that they are aligned in.
Diagram 1
The inside game we execute with the
most success is called “twist.” On a twist
the three technique is the penetrator. He is
 Diagram 2 Diagram 3 Diagram 4

the three technique where the nose is the

Diagram 5
to attack through the A gap. The nose will
be slower to react, since during his initial
get off he will read the center. If the center
zone steps away the nose will continue on
through the Agap. If the center zone steps
Diagram 6
toward the nose, he will go back to base
technique. The nose technique on a pass
set will loop through the B gap where the
penetrating tackle was initially aligned.
“Twist I” is the twist between the nose and
penetrator, he will attack his A gap. The
three technique will use his half man tech-
nique and become the looper. When exe-
cuted properly the penetrator should hold
the offensive lineman’s attention and
vision long enough to allow the looper to
clear, if the guard reacts to the looper the
penetrator will be free to the quarterback.
This is a basic overview of the different
pass rush and twist techniques we use at
Southwest Texas. If you would like more
information please feel free to contact me
at TCU or Bob DeBesse at Southwest
Texas.

Caution Your Team

About Player Agents

A problem for all coaches is the proliferation of agents and would-be

agents who seek to make agreements with players prior to the completion
of their eligibility. The activity of these people has increased, and it is
imperative that all of the consequences of making an agreement with an
agent are known by your players.

Contact with players by agents almost always is done without the knowl-
edge of the coach. Some agents openly admit they will continue to make
contacts and agreements with players before their final season has been
completed.

This could lead to forfeiture of games. Some agents are advising players
not to risk injury by playing. Your players must be warned about this prob-
lem. Do it more than once.

• Proceedings • 78th AFCA Convention • 2001 •