BUILD 009 · DESIGN RESEARCH · 12 OCTOBER 2026
This drill models an offensive guard protecting a static QB against a defensive tackle in a pass-rush rep. These sources inform the behavior. They do not provide NFL-calibrated speeds, forces, reaction times, or probabilities.
| Primary source | Coaching evidence | Application in this prototype |
|---|---|---|
| Howard Mudd · Colts NFL offensive-line coach; discussion includes guard Quenton Nelson. | Keep feet working after contact. Arrive balanced enough to redirect, then coordinate hands and feet. | Contact does not freeze either player. The guard shuffles with a finite response and acceleration instead of snapping onto the ideal line. |
| LeCharles Bentley · USA Football Former NFL guard/center and offensive-line trainer. | A bull rush applies direct pressure. Foot position, center of mass, and sinking the hips help the blocker resist without losing balance. | Forward pressure competes with an anchor that develops after contact. The guard can give ground, stabilize, or lose the pocket while still engaged. |
| Keith Grabowski · USA Football College coaching guidance for offensive linemen. | Practice footwork, refit inside hand placement, and work anchoring against momentum. | Both players keep moving during contact and after a resolution. Hand refitting is represented abstractly, without individually simulated hands. |
| Vince DiGaetano · USA Football Coach and trainer; general pass-rush principles. | Attack a portion of the blocker, disrupt his hands, and push the interior pocket while keeping a useful rush lane. | The DT may drive or attack a shoulder. Leverage affects contact movement. Edge-rusher set-line geometry is not copied into this interior drill. |
| Sheldon Richardson & Andre Patterson · Vikings NFL defensive tackle and defensive-line coach. | Hip and shoulder position should keep the rush directed toward the QB; getting around a blocker alone is insufficient. | Shoulder attacks include forward movement toward the pocket. A loss of front angle or reach releases contact without awarding a stat-contest win. |
| Joe Thomas on Myles Garrett · Browns NFL player analysis of edge rushing. | Power can make a blocker commit, creating a counter opportunity. | A stalled bull rush gets one shoulder counter; feint tactics redirect once. The reversal costs time through reduced drive and limited acceleration. This is an adaptation of a general idea, not a claim about DT-specific timing. |