Pursuit angle
By: Dum CoachPursuit angles are as follows against a sweep:
To teach your pursuit angles, place cones along the sideline at 2, 5, and 10 yards past the LOS. Now set a running back at TB depth behind a line of blockers with the ball. Let him sweep that sideline. The defenders then fight off their blockers and run for their cones and tag the runner as he goes by. Everyone should make their tag. If the playside DT misses, change his cone from 2 yards to 3. If the NG misses, change his cone to 7. If the backside DT misses, change his cone to 15. After 10 minutes to each side of the field (20 minutes total), no one will be able to sweep on you.
Playside DT: Pursue playside at an angle to intercept ball carrier 2 yards downfield.
NG: Pursue playside at an angle to intercept ball carrier 5 yards downfield.
Backside DT: Pursue playside at an angle to intercept the runner 10 yards downfield.
Pursuit angles for safeties depend up whether they are in Cover 1 or Cover 2. A Cover 1 safety also heads for the 2 yards cone but a Cover 2 plays for no gain. Linebackers do not use pursuit angles due to "cut back" responsibility.