pass rush
What is the definition of pass rush in football?
1. A pass rush in football is when a defensive player or players attempts to rush past the line of scrimmage and towards the quarterback (QB) in order to prevent a pass from being completed. Their goal is to disrupt the pass in any way possible, such as by applying pressure, hurrying or getting a sack on the quarterback. The term is also applied when the defense attempts to put pressure on a kicker or punter in order to hurry or block the kick.
A player who is known for applying pressure to the quarterback and getting a lot of sacks is known as a pass rusher.
What is the most important part of a pass rush?
The most important part of a pass rush is getting to the quarterback as quickly as possible. The faster the QB is reached, the more likely the player or players involved in the pass rush will be able to disrupt the pass attempt and take away the opportunity for the offense to potentially progress down the field.
Speed is also a top priority when a pass rush applies pressure to the kicker or punter. This gives the defense a better chance of hurrying or blocking the kick in order to disrupt the offense’s strategy.
What is the goal of a pass rush?
The ultimate goal of a pass rush is to get a sack. Tackling the quarterback offers the best outcome of a pass rush for the defense since it causes a loss of yards while counting as a down for the offense.
When a sack isn’t possible, the next goal for a pass rush is to disrupt the pass by applying pressure to the quarterback. The players involved in a pass rush aim to prevent the QB from successfully completing a pass. There are a number of possible outcomes when this happens:
- The pass rushers cause an incomplete pass which hits the ground before an eligible offensive receiver or any player on the opposing team catches it.
- The defense knocks the ball loose from the quarterback’s hands, resulting in a fumble.
- A defender intercepts the pass and runs it in the other direction.
- The pressure from the defense forces the quarterback to try run the ball themselves, which often results in very few yards gained.
What does it mean to “get a sack”?
If a player “gets a sack,” it means that they tackled the quarterback or another member of the offense who is acting as the passer behind the line of scrimmage. In order for a sack to count, the quarterback or other passer must show intent to throw a forward pass or be in the pocket. It is not counted as a sack if the offensive player gets tackled when showing intent to rush the ball rather than making a passing play. Instead, this it’s counted as a tackle for loss.
A sack can be attributed to one or more players. If multiple players are involved in a pass rush or blitz resulting in a sack, each one is credited with a half sack (0.5 sacks).
The term “sack” was popularized by Hall of Fame linebacker Deacon Jones. His use of the word stems from the definition of sack which means to plunder a city or town after its capture.
What is the difference between a pass rush and a blitz?
A pass rush is used by the defensive team on almost every single passing play. In most cases, at least three of the defensive linemen attempt a pass rush on these plays.
A blitz is a type of pass rush in which additional players, such as more linebackers, defensive backs or even safeties, are sent to rush the quarterback. Although a blitz can more effective in disrupting the pass or getting a sack because more players are involved in the attack, it also carries more risk than a typical pass rush. When more defenders are focused on reaching the quarterback, it also leaves more receivers open on the pass play.
What is the difference between a sack and a quarterback hit?
A sack occurs when a defensive player tackles the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage before the QB is able to attempt a forward pass. A quarterback hit happens when a defensive player knocks the quarterback to the ground after the pass attempt. In short, a sack happens before the pass attempt, while a QB hit happens after the pass attempt.
What is the most common pass rush?
One of the most common strategies for pass rushing is known as a bull rush. A bull rush in football is a pass rushing technique in which the defensive linemen try to drive the offensive linemen back before slipping past them to attempt a quarterback sack.
A bull rush is most effective when a defensive tackle or defensive end has a physical advantage over the offensive lineman they’re facing off with. By using their speed as well as strength in their lower body, a member of the defensive line can overpower their opponent and hold them at a distance, which makes it easier to get past them and attempt to sack the quarterback or disrupt the pass.
The bull rush is widely used at the high school level where discrepancies in player size are more common. However, in college and professional football, the matchups between defensive and offensive linemen are more equal, with large, powerful players on both sides. Therefore, it takes more skill to successfully execute a bull rush at these levels.
Types of pass rush techniques
The bull rush is among the most common strategies for pass rushing, but there are other techniques which can be employed depending on the circumstances of the game. While a bull rush relies more on brute force, some other pass rushes prioritize agility and speed. Ultimately, there are two main types of pass rush techniques: edge and interior pass rushing.
Edge pass rushing
This strategy involves rushing the passer from the outside of the defensive line. An outside linebacker (a defensive player positioned on either end of the defensive line) goes around the offensive line to reach the passer and attempt to disrupt the pass. This requires superior speed in order to move around the offense quickly enough to get to quarterback before they make a pass.
One of the most effective ways to run an edge pass rush is to have the outside linebacker attack the quarterback from their blind side. This gives the edge rusher a better chance at disrupting the play since it’s harder for the QB to see them coming.
Interior pass rushing
An interior pass rushing strategy requires defensive lineman to rush the passer by going through the offensive line rather than around it. Defensive players using this technique try to rush in between the offensive tackles. They need to be strong enough to withstand pushback from the offense in order to get to the quarterback before the pass is made.
A stunt is an example of an interior pass rushing play. A stunt in football happens when two defensive players suddenly switch positions at the snap and take on a different blocker on the offensive line than the one they were expected to match up with. This confuses the offense and gives the defense a better chance at evading the blocks to get to the passer.
How can the offense stop a pass rush?
A pass rush puts pressure on the offense and makes it more difficult to complete pass plays as intended. Some of the strategies that the offense can use to stop or avoid a pass rush include:
Short pass
A pass rush can make longer passes more difficult since the quarterback needs to allow time for the receivers to run down the field. When pass rush pressure is headed toward the QB, they may decide to make a fast, short pass instead.
Screen pass
A screen pass is a type of play designed to confuse the defense. The quarterback moves as those they’re going to throw downfield, but they throw a shorter pass to the running back behind the line of scrimmage.
Draw play
In a draw play, the offense runs what appears to be a passing play, but the ball is actually handed off to the running back for a rushing play instead. This draws in the pass rush to give the running back space to run into a gap.
What makes a good pass rusher?
In order to be effective as pass rushers, defensive linemen must possess a number of key qualities and skills, including speed, strength, reach, agility, and persistence.
- Speed: Defensive players must use explosive speed to reach the quarterback as quickly as possible and attempt to disrupt the pass. Their speed helps them to outrun offense lineman trying to block their path.
- Strength: Pushing through the offensive line requires superior strength. Defensive linemen often have to drive the offensive linemen back before they can slip past to reach the passer. Defensive players have to make a concerted effort to maintain their strength during the offseason.
- Agility: Getting to the passer requires quick, fluid movements through small gaps. Players need to be able to react quickly and gracefully to get past the offensive line when space opens up.
- Reach: Having long arms with a greater reach can help defensive players keep the offensive lineman at length when trying to reach the passer.
- Persistence: Pass rushers go head-to-head with tough offensive linemen play after play. It requires a high level of persistence to keep going even after several failed pass rush attempts.
Who are the best pass rushers in NFL history?
There are a number of exceptional pass rushers who have played in the National Football League (NFL). A few of the standouts include Deacon Jones, Reggie White and Lawrence Taylor.
Deacon Jones
Deacon Jones was a defensive end that helped shape the way football was played in the NFL. Jones made pass rushing an integral part of the sport and even coined the term “sack.” Over the course of his professional career from 1961 through 1974, he played for the Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers and Washington Redskins. He was an eight-time Pro Bowl participant, the NFL sacks leader in five seasons and was crowned NFL Defensive Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons (1967 and 1968).
Reggie White
With a nickname like “The Minister of Defense,” it’s no surprise that Reggie White always falls near the top when listing the best pass rushers of all time. His career from 1985 through 2000 was undeniably exceptional, earning him the second place spot for the most sacks with a total of 198. White was a standout defensive end for the Philadelphia Eagles, then turned to free agency before being signed by the Green Bay Packers. He even came out of a one-season retirement to play his last year with the Carolina Panthers in which he started in all 16 regular season games. In addition to advancing to the playoffs to become a Super Bowl champion, White was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year twice and was the league’s sacks leader two years in a row in 1987 and 1988.
Lawrence Taylor
Many argue that Lawrence Taylor was the greatest defensive player in NFL history. His performance as an outside linebacker for the New York Giants from 1981 through 1993 is filled with impressive accolades. He was a two-time Super Bowl champion and three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He was also voted the NFL Most Valuable Player in 1986, becoming one of only two defensive players to ever win the award.
Other exceptional pass rushers
Other NFL players noted for their exceptional pass rushing performance include:
- Michael Strahan (New York Giants)
- Aaron Donald (St. Louis / Los Angeles Rams)
- Julius Peppers (Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers)
- Derrick Thomas (Kansas City Chiefs)
- J.J. Watt (Houston Texans, Arizona Cardinals)
- John Randle (Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks)
- Kevin Greene (Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers)
- Bruce Smith (Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins)
- Richard Dent (Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles)
- Chris Doleman (Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers)
- Leslie O’Neal (San Diego Chargers, St. Louis Rams, Kansas City Chiefs)
- Von Miller (Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Rams, Buffalo Bills)
- DeMarcus Ware (Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos)
- John Abraham (New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals)
- Jason Taylor (Miami Dolphins, Washington Redskins, New York Jets)
- Andre Tippet (New England Patriots)
Example of how pass rush is used in commentary
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady has had a rough afternoon in the pocket, completing only 50% of his passes due to this intense pass rush from the Las Vegas Raiders.
Sport the term is used
1. Football