Blocking Twists in Man and Gap Protection

By Justin Iske - @justiniske

Offensive Line Coach

Fort Hays State University

Editor's Notes: Justin Iske begins his fourth season on the coaching staff at Fort Hays State in 2014. Iske coaches the FHSU offensive line and serves as the team’s strength coach. In Iske’s first three seasons at FHSU, he has coached seven All-MIAA selections on the offensive line, led by two-time second team selection Hawk Rouse in 2011 and 2012 and second-team selection Mario Abundez in 2013. The Tiger offensive line helped produce an average of over 2,000 rushing and 2,000 passing yards per year in Iske's three seasons. Iske came to FHSU after two seasons at Northwestern Oklahoma State University where he was the offensive coordinator, special teams coordinator and offensive line coach. His 2010 team won the conference championship and led the conference in rushing offense, sacks allowed and kickoff returns.

Introduction

The ability to keep your quarterback upright in the pocket and healthy is one of, if not the, most important jobs of your offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. Teaching proper pass sets, hand placement, aiming points, etc. is vital to getting this done. Being able to pick up defensive movement (slants/twists/blitzes/etc.) is just as important.

MAN PROTECTION SETS

We teach four types of pass sets with our man protection:

One Set (vs. Inside Shade):

Post set. First step is six-inch step for width with inside foot. Second step is a drag with the outside foot that mirrors the first step. It is important that we maintain our stagger as we post set (inside foot up / outside foot back). Our aiming point is the midline of the defender (cover him up).

Two Set (vs. Head-Up Shade)

Square set. First step is a pop-it step in place with the inside foot. Second step mirrors the first step. Since our aiming point is the midline, we are already there by alignment. We simply pop our feet, snap our head back and react to the defender’s movement.

Three Set (vs. Outside Shade):

Kick set. First step is a six-inch step for width and depth with the outside foot. Second step is a drag with the inside foot that mirrors the first step. It is important that these two steps mirror each other to keep our shoulders square to the line of scrimmage. Aiming point is midline of the defender.

Four Set (vs. Wide Outside Shade):