How to Pass Rush the Quarterback
One of the best ways to defeat an offense in football is to get to the quarterback and sack him. And rushing the quarterback before he can pass the ball will do much in helping your team win the game. There are several tried-and-true techniques that will help improve your pass rush.
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Instructions
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You can bull-rush the quarterback. This is a technique that involves pure strength and aggressiveness. You keep your eye on the ball and as soon as it moves you drive forward into the offensive lineman in front of you and try to drive him straight back into the quarterback. In order for this to be effective you must combine quickness off the ball and strength to defeat the block of the offensive lineman. There is no finesse involved.
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Another technique you can use is the swim. This is a timing move. On the snap of the ball you push up the lineman's shoulders then yank down one of his shoulders while at the same time sweeping your arm in a wide arc over his head while stepping with the opposite foot by him as if you are swimming by an obstacle. Push up, yank down, step and swim. if done right you should swoop by him and be face to face with your helpless victim.
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Use your hands to good effect. Holding is a penalty for the offensive lineman. As a defensive lineman you can grab ahold of the man trying to block you and move him around. This works great for a technique called the forearm-handshiver. With the snap of the ball you explode upwards striking your opponent with a forearm in the chest or neck area and then immediately hit him with your other hand to push him to the side. The forearm strike gets him offbalance and the hand shiver knocks him away from you. You cannot strike him in the head so aim for his shoulder. When you strike, make it a shove rather than just a hit.
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Do not give up if the lineman has a good block on you. If he has stopped your momentum and other moves don't work, try the spin move. This is where you struggle with your opponent until you realize he has the better of you then you quickly drop into a lower stance and spin to the right or the left. Rush past him and you might be able to get to the quarterback in time.
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You can use a good stunt move to fool your opponent. On the snap of the ball you drive in the gap between the opponent in front of you and the man next to him. You are trying to avoid the block and use speed to rush through the line. This surprises the lineman who is expecting to make contact with you. He does not know which side of the gap you are going to exploit.
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Tips & Warnings
Forearm pads will protect you from bruises and worse. Use them.
