5. Protection for the Passer

A NUMBERING SYSTEM

In order to understand fully how we protect the passer, the reader must first know our basic reason for using given numbers. I do not intend to take up the running game in this book, but I believe the following para­graphs are necessary to help the reader understand our basis for determin­ing the direction of attack.

The lineup in Diagram 19 shows a normal tight T-formation with odd numbers to the right of center ranging outwards from 3 to 9. The even numbers are located to the left of center and range from 2 to 8. The cen­ter's number is a zero. Our running game utilizes the teen numbers to indicate that the quarterback is the ball carrier, the 2O's and 4O's for the halfbacks, and the 3O's for the fullback.

Diagram  19.    Numbering the  normal tight T-formation.

If the quarterback called 29 in the huddle, this would indicate that the No. 2 back is to carry the ball in the 9 hole, or around end. The call for an end run to the opposite side would be 48.

The 27, or 46, call is an off-tackle play.

If the quarterback called 25 or 44, one of the halfbacks would carry inside tackle.

The calls 23, 42, 33, or 32 would indicate that either the halfbacks or the fullback would carry the ball up the middle.

We also use a similar numbering system to indicate the protection to be provided for the passer. The passing game numbers are 50-51, 70-71, 72-73, 74-75, 76-77, 78, and 79. When one of these numbers is called, the team as a unit gets directions on how to protect the passer.

NORMAL PASS PROTECTION. Diagram 20 illustrates a normal pass pro­tection to combat a 4-3 man-to-man or zone defense. The guards locate the No. 1 men and block them wherever they charge. The tackles zero in on the No. 2 men down on the line and take them on as they charge. The center, knowing that the two remaining backs are staying to block optionally, looks for the middle linebacker (0) and blocks him if he charges. If the middle linebacker does not charge, the center backs up and uses his own discretion in helping out his guards and tackles.

If the outside linebackers (3) charge, the halfback and fullback take them on to their respective sides. This is the maximum protection a passer should expect to receive.   It is called 50 protection.

In the call 51 the assignments remain the same as in 50 for everyone. This number simply tells the halfback and fullback to cross at the snap of the ball. The fullback crosses first and in front of the halfback. We use this number in cases where the defense men are taking keys off our backs. Their protection responsibility, however, remains the same as in 50.

PROTECTION IN FOUR-MEN PATTERNS. When the quarterback wishes four men to go out for a pass, he indicates this by calling 70 or 71. If he calls 70, the back lined up on the even side of center will swing wide. In this formation, the halfback would swing wide, as shown in Diagram 21. If the quarterback called 71, the fullback in this case would swing wide to the odd side, or to his right, which is shown in Diagram 22.

When 70 and 71 are called, the assignments of the guards and tackles remain the same.   They block the No. 1 and No. 2 men who are down on the line of scrimmage. The center blocks to the side of the call. In 70 block­ing, he blocks to the even side, his left. When 71 is called, he blocks to the odd side, or to his right.

In 70 blocking, the left halfback is gone, since he is the fourth poten­tial receiver. The fullback's rule is to block away from the side of the call. This rule is qualified, however, by the fullback first looking for the shoot­ing linebacker and closing the middle up. When 71 is called, the left half­back and fullback swap roles. The fullback swings and the left halfback blocks away from the side of the call, but only after first looking for the shooting linebacker.

Diagram 22.

Pass protection in Nos. 72 and 73 are the same as in 70 and 71 for every­one. The 72 and 73 calls mean that the back to the side of the call swings quickly instead of swinging wide as he does in 70 and 71. (See Diagrams 23 and 24 on p. 48.)

PROTECTION FOR FIVE-MAN PATTERNS. The 74 and 75 calls are for five men patterns. (See Diagrams 25 and 26.) The quarterback uses this pro­tection against the zone defense, the blitz defense, or to isolate one de­fender for "picking-on" purposes.

The rules for the guards and tackles remain constant: block the No. 1 and No. 2 men down on the line of scrimmage. The center blocks away from the call on 74 and 75. This is an exception to his rule. It is done to offer greater protection to the passer's "blind" or back side. This is the weakest protection offered the quarterback, but the number of receivers it releases gives the defense its toughest task of coverage.

No. 76 protection is again for five-man patterns. (See Diagram 27.) Each man's assignment is the same as in 74 and 75 except in the case of the center. He moves straight back and uses his discretionary powers as to whom he will block. Inasmuch as he is free, he could be coached to block the foe's best pass rusher.

The quarterback will call No. 77 protection against a zone defense, or again to isolate one defender so as to work on him. It can also be used in anticipation of blitzing linebackers. The blocking rules for protecting the passer are the same as in 76.

Diagram 28.

When 78 and 79 blocking is called, the same rules apply as in 76 and 77, with guards and tackles on the No. 1 and No. 2 men. The center option-blocks with freedom to take a shot at the defense's "tough guy." The full­back blocks to the side of the call. The quarterback can key off of 78 or 79 to call a screen to the fullback or send him through on a delayed check flare. If he doesn't, the tight end may continue downfield into a chosen pattern.

The quarterback generally calls 78 and 79 protection to throw individ­ual routes to the spread end and screen check flares to the fullback. He can keep the tight end in to block by finishing his call with the added term slow.

Diagram 29.

THE PASS RUSHERS

Despite these elaborate precautions to protect the passer from all pos­sible harm, football is still pretty much of a man-to-man contest in which superior strength, guile, and agility can upset the best-laid plans, and also inferior protectors. Reference is to some of the tremendous pass rushers in the N.F.L., who cannot be stopped short of arming the passer's protec­tion with sledgehammers.

There are many fine rushers in the league, but the best to my knowl­edge are Andy Robustelli of the Giants; Gino Marchetti of the Colts; and Gene Brito, first with the Redskins and subsequently with the Rams. Let's see what makes these stout fellows tick and forces other teams to put two and three men on them to check their uninhibited rushes.

Robustelli's forte is his tremendous strength. He rushes in low, using the inside shoulder as leverage, and even when buffeted by two or three opponents, always manages to keep his feet. Generally Andy rushes from the outside in. He will beat the average defender on pass protection a half dozen times a game. If the average tackle doesn't have help from a remaining back, he's usually in a bad way when Robustelli roars in on him.

Marchetti's play in the second half of the Giants-Colts championship game in Baltimore in 1959 was responsible more than anything else for the collapse of the Eastern Conference titlists. Big Gino had Charley Con-erly so bedeviled that he either was getting knocked flat or had to hurry the throws to his receivers. The result was several vital interceptions by the Colts that put the game quickly beyond the Giants' reach.

Marchetti weighs about 250, but is exceedingly fast and agile. He tries to get rid of the defense tackle as quickly as possible by grabbing the man's shoulders, throwing him, stepping to his outside and going hell-bent-for-election for the passer. He'll beat almost any tackle consistently if the one protector doesn't become two.

Brito is the speed-merchant type of defensive end. He combines tre­mendous speed with great shoulder strength in rushing. He uses the same inside shoulder technique as Robustelli, but has more speed than the Giants' star.

An explanation may be necessary of the shoulder technique, which is believed to have been used first by Bill McPeak of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Simply put, the rusher drops his shoulder, knocks the protector off balance, then spins around him and goes for the passer.

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