One of the best ways to create confusion for your opponent while on defense is creating an illusion. Rather it be putting pressure on the quarterback or disguising pass coverages. For this breakdown, we want to take look at a play from a 4-3 Stack defense that we use to give the illusion that we are looking to get pressure from the left side of the offensive line, when really we are looking to get pressure from the right side of the offensive line.
4-3 Stack – Wk Slant 3 Press
The 4-3 Stack – Wk Slant 3 Press is designed to bring pressure from the right of the offensive line by having the middle linebacker and left outside linebackers loop around the strong defensive tackle and left end.
To create an illusion that we are bringing pressure from the left side of the offensive line, we shift the defensive line to the left.
We also want to shift the linebackers to the left.
Finally we take control of the free safety and bring him down into the box.
Our opponent will see that there are five potential pass rushers coming from the left side of the offensive line.
For this reason, he may slide protect the offensive line towards the left to help counter all those potential pass rushers.
By him doing this, it works to our advantage as we are looking to get pressure from the right side of offensive line.
Once the ball is snapped the offensive line slides towards the left. The middle linebacker and left outside linebacker loop around the strong defensive tackle and left end towards the right side of the offensive line.
The left outside linebacker is not blocked.The only potential pass blocker that could get him is the left guard.
However, for this example the left guard never looks to block him and the left outside linebacker gets to the quarterback quickly.
Final Thoughts
This is just one of example of creating an illusion that we use to create pressure in this year’s game. In the filmroom, we will cover more examples of how we like to set up an illusion to confuse our opponent when looking to put pressure on the quarterback.
Good stuff as always man. Just got to reading over your Tampa 2 and Seattle Cover 3 stuff as well. Trying to apply to this year’s game recently