Shawne Merriman: The Double Swipe Move

The Buffalo’s sack man on how to get to the quarterback. Shawne Merriman, outside linebacker for the Buffalo Bills, spills all about the Double Swipe. This is one of the biggest keys to rushing the pass. Nike Football Pro Moves is a great resource “to be the best, learn from the best”. This football training video offers a valuable perspective from Shawne Merriman.

Explode Off the Line:
The first step to an effective pass rush is getting a good explosion off the line. You want to start in a balanced position, with most of your weight on your back foot. This way you can roll off your front foot as your take your first step. Remember to watch the ball for the snap, and don’t bite on a hard count.

Double Swipe the Elbows:
Your blocker is going to try to get his hands in on your chest. To prevent this from happening, swipe through with both hands at the blocker’s elbows. This way if he pulls his hands back, you’ll still be able to knock his hands down. Without his hands in position, it’ll be a lot harder for him to execute a good block.

Rip Through and Pin:
After you knock your blocker’s hands down you want to come through with a hard rip using your inside arm. This will open up a path for you to the quarterback. After you rip through, make sure you pin your ripping arm elbow to the blocker’s back to prevent him from turning around and resetting on you.

Square Hips to the QB:
Once you’ve got a step on your blocker, bring your hips around and square them to the quarterback. You want to take the shortest distance possible to the QB – a straight line. If you get to the QB during his throwing motion, take a hard swipe at his arm to try and force a fumble, but go for his body on the tackle.