Communication & Recognition Help Pick Up This NFL Twist

By Will Cinelli, The Scouting Academy

Most Thursdays here on the FirstDown PlayBook Coaches Community website we will feature a breakdown of personnel and technique. This is provided by our friends over at The Scouting Academy who are our go to experts in this field

Know what will stress out an OL coach? DL pass rush games. Why are they hard to pick up? For starters, your OL all have to see the stunt the same way, process what’s happening, and end up on the same page mentally.

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The timing has to be there to pass off pass rushers. Plus, all of the offensive linemen must possess the physical tools (quickness, play strength, etc.) to be able to stop a rusher and keep them on the same level so that they can pass him off to their linemates.

Here, the Broncos’ interior offensive linemen do a very nice job passing off a complex twist from the Raiders. Specifically, we’ll highlight Dalton Risner, the Broncos’ LG. His initial responsibility is the 3-technique, who slants across Risner’s face.

He shows nice play strength with his inside hand to stop the movement, along with foot quickness as he adjusts his feet to sustain the block. He secures the DT and keeps him at the line of scrimmage.

Now here is where the most impressive piece comes in. Risner, while blocking the DT, is able to identify the looper. Watch the synergy and timing as the RG picks up the center’s man, the center takes over Risner’s, and Risner moves on to take the looper.

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No one leaves too early, which would free up the penetrator, nor does anyone take too long to move on, which would free up the looper. This is a fantastic individual effort by Risner that’s made possible through communication, feel, and processing by all three Denver interior OL.