Pass rush: get-off and hands

Setup

1. Contact level: air for the get-off, then bags. Helmets and shoulder pads on, and a coach watches every rep.
2. Mark the line of scrimmage and put a cone 7 yards behind it for the quarterback's spot.
3. A shield holder plays tackle in a two-point stance, holding a hand shield in each hand.
4. The rusher lines up wide in a three-point stance. The coach kneels at the line with a ball and moves it to start the rep.

How it runs

1. Air: five get-offs on ball movement, two hard steps upfield, then jog back. No one moves on a voice.
2. Bags: the rusher gets off, closes on the holder, chops the holder's near hand down and rips the inside arm through.
3. The rusher dips the shoulder, flattens around the corner and finishes at the quarterback cone.
4. The holder kick-slides and punches the shields at half pace. Three reps, then swap roles.

Coaching points

• Eyes on the ball, not the coach's face; move on ball movement only.
• First step upfield, short and fast, with the pads low.
• Chop with the outside hand on the holder's near wrist or shield, then rip the inside arm up like an uppercut.
• Hands first, never the head. Keep the head up and to the outside.
• Lean in and bend the corner, then run the shortest path to the quarterback cone.

Common mistakes

• Jumping offside on a hard count or on the coach's voice.
• Popping up tall out of the stance.
• Rushing wide around the cone, which takes the rusher out of the play.
• Leading with the helmet into the shield.