Initial quickness off the ball: movement at the
snap of the ball.
One-on-one ability to handle blockers by himself:
Strength to neutralize blocks and anchor.
Style: one or two gap player. Strength at point
of attack or quickness in a one gap scheme.
Play double team: Strength to fight and
stalemate.
Playing the trap: Ability to recognize and
adjust versus the trap block. Ability to key and diagnose.
Playing the run at him: Getting off blocks and
making the tackle in front of him in a short area.
Defeat of block: Ability to beat a block with
strength and/or quickness.
Shed of block: Ability to beat and release from
the block quickly.
Tackle: The ability to finish after avoiding or
defeating and shedding blocks. Wrap up ability as opposed to drag and
hold.
Playing the run away: Instincts, reactions and
speed to make plays in pursuit.
Lateral speed and quickness: Ability to skate
and slide while playing parallel to the LOS.
Shed vs. run away: quickness, agility, balance
and body control to step over blockers at his feet while squaring his
shoulders to the line of scrimmage.
Tackle vs. run away: Speed and closing ability
to finish and make tackles in pursuit.
PASSING GAME
First step pass rush: Initial quickness and
explosion.
Pass rush technique style: Power or finesse.
Pass rush moves and techniques. The ability to penetrate.
Use of hands: quickness of hands, strength of
hands along with the ability to relocate his hands in pass rush moves.
Shed: Strength to engage and separate from a
blocker.
Change of direction: Balance and body control to
squeeze through small places and maintain balance over trash (blockers
at his feet)
Burst: Ability to close to the passer.
Pressure: Ability to rush and throw off the
timing of the passer.
Ability to finish and get to the QB: Tenacity to
fight and the speed to wrap up the passer.
