Found at the bottom of this post is our Pass Rush Rules.
There has been a lot of discussion on chat about this, so just wanted to bring onto the forum to get some feedback.
My feeling is this....If you take away the ability to manually adjust EDGE GUYS (4-3 DE or 3-4 OLB) and allow guys to user control them in pass coverage, then you MUST cover ALL AREAS.
Let me explain....if you only make the rule "not allowed to adjust or user coverage DT or DE's" then the teams that run the 3-4 get an unfair advantage.
Their packages: 3-4, 1-3-7, 2-4-5, 1-4-6 will have their OLB lined up in the DE position. So you then can manually adjust and user with those guys, but not the DE's that have their fist in the ground while the 4-3 teams are running 3-1-7, 4-2-5, 4-1-6?
The only way to do the rule is to say "not allowed to manually adjust or user cover with anybody lined up on the line of scrimmage, regardless of standing up or 3-pt stance."
BUT, when we do this, we then take away the ability for guys to user cover with their 3-4 OLBs when on the line of scrimmage. Also, the fine line of whether a guy is lined up on the line of scrimmage or not comes into play.
Having it set up this way...as "not allowed to adjust "interior DL" in any way, and "allowed to adjust or user cover with edge guys," takes away a lot of the gray area, and keeps those talented players available to be usered in coverage.
My feeling is this: If a guy wants to take a talented Edge guy, and NOT pass rush him and instead user him in coverage, then that's his choice. I believe it's hurting him more to not user pass rush with his best pass rusher.
****LIKE ANYTHING ELSE THOUGH, IF YOU ARE FOUND TO BE ABUSING THIS (DROPPING EDGE GUYS TOO MUCH MANUALLY OR USERING EDGE GUYS TOO MUCH), THEN YOU ARE LIABLE TO BE SUSPENDED. It shouldn't happen all the time. We all know exotic looks like that should be seldom as most of the time, the edge guy zones in the flat or hook to curl zone.
The rule can change for Season 3, but because we've been rolling with this the entire season, we shouldn't change till after season 2. Earlier today, I added on the more detailed explanation to make sure guys aren't rushing 3 guys in a "half-assed" fashion.
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Defensive Pass Rush
1. At all times there should be at least 3 pass rushers coming from THE BOX (DL/LB) excluding Safeties in the box, and a QB Spy or QB Contain does NOT count towards that 3 man rush count aside from the STOCK plays that have QB Contain Built-In.
*Note, we specify THE BOX because if a guy rushes 2 Safeties and 1 DT, that technically constitutes a 3 man rush....but it's not. So it must be 3 from the box (DL/LB). Any secondary players rushed needs to be the 4th or more man coming.
*Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES can you rush less than 3. Yes the play "Velco 9" CAN be used, BUT you MUST still make sure there are 3 men rushing the QB by manually blitzing him.
*NOTE: M15 defense is different as it pertains to QB Contain. No longer can you manually put a guy in QB Contain, they are "Built" in to the plays. Because of this, many playcalls have QB Contain "Built" in. You obviously are allowed to call these plays where in fact 2 or 1 guys are truly rushing the QB while the Edge guys are in contain.
BUT....when you call ANY QB CONTAIN play, you are NOT allowed to adjust any of the "Pass Rushing Players." You cannot change their responsibility. The Edge guys (or contain guys) can be adjusted.
2. Not allowed to manually put an "INTERIOR DL" into a spy/contain/zone
The reason for this is to not have guys trying to create "Nano Blitzes" or anything that will create un-fair pressure.
There are PLENTY of playcalls out there that has "INTERIOR DL" dropping back in a zone, or even in a spy. So USE THOSE PLAYCALLS, do NOT manually do it.
*Remember, what "Interior DL" are...NOT edge guys. Edge guys are the two outer-most players on the DLine, whether standing up OR in a 3-pt stance, it doesn't matter.
3. If you are using the Contain or Spy for something OTHER THAN TO DEFEND THE MOBILE QB, then use in Moderation. Yes to defend the Screen it is needed, but don't abuse it.
4. Any 3 or 4 man rush that comes in with a "Free Runner" at the QB is liable to be complained about, and then checked out by the Commish for suspension. We all understand that the OLine is pretty bad this year. Yes there will be many blitzes that get through untouched where the offense needs to make some adjustments, but if a 3 or 4 man rush is getting there, it needs to be called out for examination.
No Comment.