Yesterday we looked at M-N Stunt, a few days ago we looked at a double safety blitz, today we’re looking at switching from a run fit to pass rush on defense. A run fit is simply when a defensive lineman (or linebacker) fills a gap to ensure the RB cannot come through. Pass rush is the choice of a defensive player to rush the QB. Moving from run fit to pass rush simply means the defensive player switched from defending to run to rushing the quarterback.
Play Concept
When the defense is facing a short yardage play, their first inclination is to stop the run. Shortest distance between two points is a straight line. You don’t want the offense to run in a straight line to the first down or end zone, so you need to hit your run fits. Second option on short yardage is going to be play-action, because the offense knows you’re looking for the run so they’ll show run action and then beat you with the pass. This switch from run fit to pass rush is most likely to happen on play-action plays.
Here the defense is in a 4-2-5 alignment. The offense is in 11 personnel with two receivers and a TE to the field and the RB aligned to the QB’s left. At the snap, the three receivers push vertical and go into their routes. The RB meshes in front of the QB for play-action and then turns for a short pass. Both defensive end and defensive tackles fill their run gaps to force any run play wide outside. The LBs play inside out and then drop into coverage when they see it is a pass play. The DEs see the play is play-action and move from inside where they filled the run gaps to outside where they begin their pass rush.
Executing Run Gap To Pass Rush
A&M has DeMarvin Leal at WDE, McKinnley Jackson at 3-tech, Jayden Peevy at 1-tech, and Michael Clemons at SDE. At the snap, Peevy goes to the strong B gap where he is picked up by the center and left tackle. LG pulls weakside to sell play-action and help block Leal. Jackson is picked up by the RG and RT while Leal comes off the edge and is picked up the pulling LG. Clemons’ initial move is inside to fill the C gap (his run fit) before coming outside for the pass rush. Michael Clemons is one-on-one with the TE. Clemons comes outside, bullrushes through the tight end, tosses him aside, and tackles Max Johnson.
The result of the play is a 7 yard loss, moving LSU from a 2nd and 1 to 3rd and 8.
End Zone View
From the end zone you can see Clemons switch from his inside move in the run fit to his pass rush move outside.
