In classic NFL fashion, a new and unique way of getting early pressure on quarterbacks is starting to take hold across the NFL. The game of football is constantly changing, and defensive coordinators are always looking for new ways to disrupt an opposing offense’s flow. Now, over the last several seasons, a new “inside out” style of rushing the passer has proven to be incredibly effective.
The new “style” or formation teams are running involves a lot of shuffling along the defensive line, initially giving the quarterback a different look at the line of scrimmage. First, you line up two defensive tackles and three linebackers at the LOS, with your best pass rusher essentially playing 0-tech and your biggest defensive tackles playing 3-tech. Then, on the outside, you have two speed rushing outside linebackers to rush out of a 7-tech or even sometimes as a wide-9.
Now, because you are rushing five guys, each offensive lineman has an individual assignment that they have to pick up. The two defensive tackles look to get to the inside shoulder of the guards and force them to separate from the center. The outside edge rushers take a wide angle to contain the QB from scrambling out of the pocket, in essence, setting your best pass rusher up in a one-on-one with the center right up the middle of the offensive line.
I have an example included below from the Texans, using Will Anderson Jr.
If successful, this defensive play allows quick pressure on the quarterback, forcing them to make a quick decision before most downfield routes have developed. If you line up in this formation enough, the simple threat of the blitz means that you can often drop one man back in coverage, or even as a QB spy to make life that much harder on the quarterback. If one of the outside rushers pops back into coverage, they can take away a quick in route, and the corner can step up to play the flat, really limiting a quarterback’s options. Unless the offensive line can quickly recognize that just four are rushing, and can shift to provide help for the center, it is one of the toughest plays to counter as an offense.
Yet another reason this blitz can be so effective is that the center is often the smallest player on the offensive line. In the modern NFL, more and more teams are looking for strong, but smaller, centers with the agility to make blocks at the second level. But because of this, they are set up to be bullied by stronger pass rushers unless they can get double-team help. This play makes it very difficult for an offensive line to provide that help, putting the center in a difficult position.
This play is easily countered with 12 personnel, where a team can allow their tight ends to force OLBs to extend their pass rush. But the problem is that defensive teams are allowed to sub and adjust after the offense subs, meaning DCs often avoid running this formation against 12 personnel because they go with a heavier defensive package.
There are two ways to counter the inside-out defense when coming out in 11 personnel. First, chip a block on an outside linebacker and shift the offensive line so a guard can help on the interior. When a tight end or running back chips the OLBs back inside, it effectively takes them out of the play by extending the time it takes them to reach the quarterback. This gives QB time as routes develop downfield to go through his reads and find an open reciever.
The other counter to this is simple: Run the ball. When a more undersized edge rusher is lined up in the box like that, running the ball right at them can be the best way to gain positive yards. Because the wide edge rushers have minimal impact on the run game, a guard can clear out the pass rusher lined up over the center, and your smaller center can do what they do best, get upfield and make an impact block at the second level. Because this formation struggles against the run, it is only really used in obvious passing downs, such as 3rd-and-7 or more, or 4th-and-3 or more.
This play originated with Dann Quinn and the Cowboys, where he would like up Micah Parsons over the center, allowing him to get to the QB quickly. But it has spread across the league and has proven to be one of the toughest plays for an offense to counter in football.
As I continue to watch film, I see this play and formation run more and more, and I love seeing how it has impacted the game. It has forced teams to block their running backs/tight ends, in turn forcing them to find more receivers who can create early separation before the quarterback gets pummelled. Keep an eye out for this weird defensive formation on Sundays and watch how it impacts your favorite team’s offense… Or defense!
