The best thing to do in this situation is to position your blocking so that they are in position to protect WIDE before the snap... In other words, change your formation.
I Form seems like it's ideal to run, but it's not... Here's why:
A fast DE can take 1 step into the backfield then flatten down the line and attack the ballcarrier as he gets to the hole from the rear. The TE and FB will be occupied with blocking at the point of attack and will ignore the DE, who seems as if he's out of the play. Basically, you have to treat a DE lined up wide as a CB rushing from the outside...
Instead, try formations that are strong on the flanks like: Splitbacks, Far, Near, Shotgun. They are generally better at picking up the outside pressure allowing your QB to step up into a well formed pocket.
Next, adjust your protections to account for where the rush is coming. If the TE isn't enough to block the rusher, set another player to provide 2 levels. Even if the first guy can't block long, the 2nd man will get a decent shot at slowing him down. Be aware of the matchup though, if you have Kearse against a HB, you can't expect him to block well. You must speed up your QB clock to get the ball away within the time your protection gives you.
Lastly, watch your drops. If the rush comes hard off the edge, give your protection some help and roll slightly to the other side. Even if you only slide a little towards the G or T on the opposite edge, it will give your protection a better angle to give you some time. Whatever you do, don't take a deep drop straight back, because the rush is designed to reach the QB at about the 7-9 yard area directly behind the center.
If you manage to create the time you need for deep routes, shorter routes should be a peice of cake.
Later
Founder
MaddenUniversity.com
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