1-on-1 Pass Rush

Purpose
To work on pass rush moves in a game-like situation.

Equipment
The offense will need a football, and all players should be in at least half pads.

Setup
The offensive line and quarterback will line up at the line of scrimmage. One player from the defense will step up and get into stance in their position.

Instructions

1. The center will snap the ball back to the quarterback.
2. The defensive lineman will explode off the line and engage with the offensive lineman using a bull-rush technique.
3. The player should focus on getting a good punch and driving through the offensive lineman, pushing them back into the quarterback and using their own weight against them.
4. The player will end the rep before coming into contact with the quarterback.
5. The offense resets, the next defender steps up, and the drill continues.

Coaching Tips

• This setup is ideal for working on other pass rush moves in a game-like situation—not just the bull rush. Feel free to assign a pre-determined pass rush move and have the players drill that.
• Players should not be tackling the quarterback—the goal is to beat the offensive lineman, not the passer.
• Make sure players are running this drill from an alignment they would use in a game. However, if you want to evaluate a defensive end’s ability to play inside or a defensive tackle’s ability to rush from the outside, this is a great drill to see how they move in that space.

Tips for Younger Athletes:

• Focus on maintaining a low pad level throughout the rush to generate maximum leverage against the offensive lineman.
• Encourage quick hands—young players should work on striking first and using their hands actively to disengage from blockers.
• Teach players to keep their feet moving even when engaged with the offensive lineman to maintain forward momentum.

Tips for Older Athletes:

• Work on setting up pass rush moves by using fakes or hesitations to manipulate the offensive lineman’s reaction.
• Emphasize counter moves—if the initial rush is stalled, players should be ready to rip, swim, or spin to escape the block.
• Teach players to identify weaknesses in their opponent’s stance or footwork to exploit during the rush.