By Rich Alercio

Offensive Line Researcher

X&O Labs
[email protected]
It's my thought that one pass protection scheme can be used for both 3 and 5 step drop back and play action schemes.
In fact, it can also be implemented into a 6, 7, 8 or 9-man protection scheme.
Sound too good to be true?
It's not. It is called Slide Protection but not a full slide. We want Linemen blocking Linemen.
Slide protection will combine the two schemes discussed in previous run blocking articles:
• Man
• Gap
One side of the Line of Scrimmage will block Man protection. The Guard will block #1 on the LOS (Defensive
Tackle/Noseguard). The Tackle will block #2 on the LOS (Defensive End). The Center, other Guard and other Tackle will
block a Gap protection scheme (Diagram 1). The Center has the A gap on the Gap side while the Guard has the B gap,
and the Tackle has the C gap.

The Running Back(s) block any Blitzing Linebackers on the Man side. This allows the protection to account for 6-man (1-
back) or 7-man (2-back) pressure. A Tight End on the Man side can either go out into a pass route or block #3 on LOS
(Linebacker) just like he did in man blocking schemes. A Tight End on the Gap side can stay in and account for D gap or
run a pass route. Having a tight end in the protection allows for an 8 or 9-man protection scheme (Diagram 2).
Pass Pro Fundamentals
Before going any further with the protection scheme, let's discuss the steps and demeanor the linemen will utilize in
pass protection. Any offensive lineman blocking or setting to a defensive lineman to his inside will use a Power step
(Diagram 3). The Power step is a lateral step with the inside foot. The step works inside parallel to the LOS. No ground is
gained or given on the step. The width of the step is determined by the alignment of defender.

If the offensive lineman is setting to or blocking a defender to the outside (Diagram 4), he will take a Kick step. The Kick
step is executed with the outside foot out backwards at a 45 degree angle.

Now let's discuss the body demeanor of the offensive linemen upon taking their first step. All offensive linemen will get
feet outside knees and knees outside hips. Their outside foot will be staggered back with a big butt and big chest square
to the LOS with weight on the inside foot, regardless of the first step. Their hands should be at chin height creating a
triangle with the forearms. The offensive lineman should see the target through his hands.
The Pass Set is the combination of the first Pass Step (Power or Kick), the demeanor and the subsequent steps that lead
up to the Punch.
The second step is a Slide step with the opposite foot of the first step. The slide step does not gain nor give ground. It
just slides in the same direction as the first step. The third step is a repeat of the first step and is called the Brace step.
The Offensive Lineman braces on the third step to deliver his pass punch to his target.
On the Pass Punch, the offensive lineman must make sure that only his hands and arms go forward. There must be NO
forward movement of the chest and shoulders.
The target for the Pass Punch will be determined by the alignment and pass step. The target for a pass rusher aligned on
the outside (Kick Step) will be the inside number. Versus an inside rusher (Power Step) aligned on the Offensive
Lineman's inside shoulder the Pass Punch Target is between the numbers. When the inside pass rusher is aligned on the
adjacent offensive lineman to the inside, the Pass Punch Target is the outside number.
Pass sets versus a defender aligned on an offensive lineman's outside shoulder, inside shoulder or on the adjacent
offensive lineman to the inside are made on the Line of Scrimmage. No ground is given on the first three steps (Kick-
Slide-Brace). The only time the offensive lineman will give ground on a pass set is versus a Man-off outside. When the
defender is aligned outside and off of the offensive lineman the pass set is off of the Line of Scrimmage at a 45 degree
angle (Diagram 5).
After the initial Pass Punch, the offensive lineman will make every effort to maintain his pass demeanor with his feet
outside his knees, his knees outside his hips. His outside foot is staggered back with a big butt, big chest, arms
triangulated, and square to the LOS with weight on his inside. Keeping weight on the inside with shoulders square to the
LOS discourages an inside pass rush, which is the cardinal sin in pass protection.
Man Side Protection
The Man side, or the side the running back will go, can be determined by three criteria:
• It will be the side of an offset RB
• The run action direction of a play action pass
• The predetermined side of the drop back with a Running Back set behind QB.
The Man side Tackle is the only offensive lineman who is always in a solo block on #2 on the LOS. The Man side Tackle's
man is almost always either aligned on him as in odd fronts or outside of him as in even fronts. If #2 is on his inside
shoulder or head up, the Tackle will take a Power Step. If #2 is outside of him, he will take a Kick Step. The Guard will
take a Power Step to #1 on the LOS when he is aligned head up or shaded on his side of the Center (Diagram 6), and
when he is on the Guard's inside shoulder or head up on the Guard(Diagram 7).

The Guard will take a Power Step when #1 on the LOS is aligned on his outside shoulder or on the Tackle's inside
shoulder (Diagram 8). The Guard will be in a solo block versus an outside alignment.
Zone Side Protection
The other Guard and Tackle along with the Center are on the Slide side. The protection slides away from the Man side. If
the Right Guard and Tackle are in Man protection than the Center, Left Guard and Left Tackle slide their protection
responsibility to the Gap to their left. It is important to note that although the protection slides to the left the offensive
lineman does not necessarily physically move to the left. He may actually set to the right. With a defender aligned in his
slide side gap (Center A, Guard B, Tackle C), the offensive lineman Kick steps to his inside target. If there is no defender
aligned in his slide side gap, the offensive lineman will Power Step with his inside foot, but will keep his eyes to his Gap.
He can punch the defender aligned to his inside with his inside hand only but his eyes must go to his gap. He is looking
for a blitzer in his gap. If no one blitzes his gap, he looks for anyone blitzing outside the box. If no one blitzes inside or
out, he is free to help block the rusher to his inside or outside.
In a one-back formation, the RB has any blitz to the Man side checking inside out (Diagram 9) which means inside first
then outside.

If no one blitzes, he is free to help on a pass rusher or release into a route. If there are two backs (Diagram 10), one can
check inside blitz while the other checks outside blitz.

Coaching Points/Adjustments
Q: What will you do against teams that key the back in protection schemes? Some teams will bring their pressure to the
side of the back because they know you're in man protection.
A: On drop back, we always have the RB check inside then outside to the side of his alignment then release to his route.
This way it's easier for the O-line, in a huddle, fast-paced offense, to know that the side of the OL with the RB is the Man
side and the other side is the Slide side. When we want to bring the back to the other side, we call a play action scheme
where the RB simulates a Zone Read handoff on the way to check for Inside then Outside Blitz on the side opposite of his
alignment. He then releases to his route if no one blitzes. On the Play action in Spread, the OL knows the side opposite
of the RB is now the Man side and the side the RB is aligned is the Slide side. It switches.
Q: How do you handle zone pressures where defenses are racking the nose across the center's face into the man
protection side?
A: A zero technique Nose and a shaded Nose to the Man side are both #1 on the Man side thus the man side Guard has
him. If he racks to the man side, he is going right to the man who has him (Diagram 11). If he racks to the slide side, the
Center has him as he rushes into his A gap.

A Shade on the Slide side is already in the Center's Slide side gap. That rack is the problem! The Center CANNOT let him
cross face to the Man side (Diagram 12).

Q: How do you handle first level twists to the man side?

A: When End goes inside first and Tackle loops around, there is no switch (Diagram 13). The Tackle stays on the inside
rush of the DE and the Guard just sets around the Tackle and positions himself for the looper to threaten.

However, we do switch when DT goes out to pick Tackle and DE loops inside (Diagram 14). If the Guard stays with DT
and DT picks Tackle, there is no one to block the DE on the Loop. As a last resort, the RB could pick him up as a man side
blitzer.
Q: You mention that to the slide side if a lineman doesn't have anyone rushing he can check outside. Is that a Molly
technique? How do you teach it?
A: An offensive lineman with a defensive lineman in his slide side gap will power step into his pass set and punch the
defender in his inside gap with his inside hand only while his head and eyes are to his gap. Against an inside blitz, get off
the punch on the inside rusher with eyes on an inside target (Inside number) of the blitzer while maintaining pass
demeanor. Against an outside blitzer, the OL will have to get out of his demeanor. Most offensive linemen will not be
quick enough to stay in demeanor and Kick-Slide to pick up the outside blitz. The OL can get out of demeanor to run and
kick out the rusher behind the QB.
Q: What about teams that bring four to the man protection side?
A: In a two-back play action, one back can take inside blitzer and the other takes outside blitzer (Diagram 15).

In a one-back set, the RB takes the inside blitzer and the QB is hot off the outside blitzer who is number four(Diagram
16).