Please enlighten me on some footaball lingo

[denguegopher]

This is on Peppers' Gophersports page: as a pass rusher he can get to half-a-man and get under the shoulder and power his way up-field.
What's the "get to half-a-man" mean? Thanks.

 

[Coolew01]

This is on Peppers' Gophersports page: as a pass rusher he can get to half-a-man and get under the shoulder and power his way up-field.
What's the "get to hal-a-man" mean? Thanks.

I don't know if it is similar to a yard deep of penetration.

 

[positively4thstreet]

I don't know if it is similar to a yard deep of penetration.

That's what she said.

 

[The 12th Man]

This is on Peppers' Gophersports page: as a pass rusher he can get to half-a-man and get under the shoulder and power his way up-field.
What's the "get to hal-a-man" mean? Thanks.

A slow pass rusher will allow the OL time to square up and block the entire pass rusher. A good pass rusher will be quick enough off the ball that the OL will only have time to get half of himself in front to block. By doing so, the pass rusher will be able to dip his own shoulder, rip under the arm of the OL, and press the pocket where the QB is, thus taking a shorter path to the QB. By getting to half a man, the pass rusher forces the OL to turn his shoulders, an action like opening a door, allowing the pass rusher to get to the QB quicker. In addition, an OL is not nearly as strong when only blocking with one of his arms, so the pass rusher can play with better leverage and dictate the play if he forces the OL into a weaker position.

 

[littlebigboy]

12th man, good expo.

 

[Halsey Hall]

That's what she said.

beauty!!!

 

[Killjoy]

12th man, good expo.

Thanks - It is always great when you can learn something from a well written comment here. That truly makes The Twelfth Man the twelfth man here on this board. Well done!

 

[denguegopher]

Thanks 12th man!

 

[GopherinPhilly]

A slow pass rusher will allow the OL time to square up and block the entire pass rusher. A good pass rusher will be quick enough off the ball that the OL will only have time to get half of himself in front to block. By doing so, the pass rusher will be able to dip his own shoulder, rip under the arm of the OL, and press the pocket where the QB is, thus taking a shorter path to the QB. By getting to half a man, the pass rusher forces the OL to turn his shoulders, an action like opening a door, allowing the pass rusher to get to the QB quicker. In addition, an OL is not nearly as strong when only blocking with one of his arms, so the pass rusher can play with better leverage and dictate the play if he forces the OL into a weaker position.

Hit the nail on the head 12th man. I played left tackle throughout my playing days and when a defender gets leverage on you, you are done. You have two choices, hold the defender or turn and scream "look out" to your QB...especially at left tackle where the QB has his back to you and can't see it coming.

Great DE's like Reggie White explode through the o-lineman when they get this leverage. What makes it worse is when guys beat you outside a couple of times and so you try and set deeper and then they come inside (White's specialty) and make you look back and hurt your QB.

When talking about interior d-linemen, getting to half a man is more important when defeating a double team. Even if two guys are blocking you, if you can get leverage on both by twisting/turning your shoulders, dipping your hips and driving your legs you can defeat a double team. Essentially, you get into both (half a man) and they can't stop your momentum. This is what Shede has been working on for 3 years and hopefully he has it perfected. John Randle was brilliant at this and is why he is HOF. Undersized dtackle that was unblockable because of his hands, leverage and ability to twist through a double team.

 

[nc2mn]

Nice contribution. Thanks, Philly guy.