Drop Back Pass Protection is one of the most difficult skills to teach offensive linemen. Learning the traditional Kick-Slide to form a safe pocket for the Quarterback takes a great deal of time and practice. For many of us, running football is the priority. So how can we still have effective recoil protection? The answer is vertical set pass protection.

Vertical Set Pass Protection involves leaving your offensive linemen in an even line. In the instant, they pedal back with shoulders squared and positioned about 3 yards deep from the line of scrimmage. The fast reverse pedal creates the same separation that the kick slide does.

The quick separation allows linemen to see what the defensive scheme is going to do. Are they going to turn, bomb, drop into cover? His vertical set pass protection allows the scheme to play out in front of the line. Our players don’t even touch a defender for the first second after the cross.

The technique for achieving separation is simple to teach. We work from a 2-point stance at the Varsity level, although our JV players have done the same technique from a 3-point stance (to help them block the run). Don’t mix 2 and 3 point stances as it will tilt Defense towards your intentions.

At the snap of the ball, we step inside foot back first. Make sure your players don’t take any false steps and step back with the inside foot. We’re not as concerned with depth as we start with our linemen as far away from the ball as possible. So your drop should only be another 1 1/2 yards. We use a 4-step vertical set for all of our 5-step passes.

The first step is inside, followed by the outside foot, then the inside again, and then the outside foot is placed. On the last step, we sink our hips in, tuck our elbows in, and prepare to hit the runner.

You can use any protection scheme with your Vertical Joint Pass Protection. Since we’re just backing up and establishing a new line of scrimmage, protection works with BOB Protection, Slide Protection or regular Half-Man, Half-Slide protection. Most one running back teams will use Half-Man protection, Half-Slide and leave the running back responsible for a Linebacker on the man protection side.

Work on your Vertical Set Pass Protection every day in practice. It is important that the Offensive Line take their steps in sync, finish in an even line 2 1/2 to 3 yards from the original Line of Scrimmage, and keep their shoulders straight. Protect the interior first! If someone has to run around the linemen, they can stay between him and the quarterback.

His biggest danger is the bull rush, but if his offensive line can stay between the defender and the quarterback, he’ll minimize big hits on him.