Creeper and Sim Pressure Clinic - Fire, Axe, Switch Smoke

I am speaking today for the Minority Football Coaches Network (@MFCNetwork_) Football Clinic.  Here are the .pdf notes and the video below that you can download.

Defense 4

Smoke Creeper/Simulated Pressure

I recently did a post on the Fire 3 Creeper/Simulated Pressure which is an edge pressure coming from the Field or wide-side.  Smoke is the same pressure from the Boundary, or short-side of the field.  I want to show Smoke being run from different Fronts, pre-snap looks, bluffs, and coverages to help coaches who are looking to install Creepers and Sim Pressures into their defensive package.

Creepers vs. Simulated Pressures

I have been studying Creepers and Simulated Pressures all summer, but I have to admit that I have not really known the difference between the two. These two similar concepts are not new to football but they are very new to the majority of us coaches who are looking to install them for the first time. There is little universal terminology in football but if we are to adopt some terminology, it might as well be from those who are the best in the business at using these concepts. LSU DC Dave Aranda and Alabama DC Pete Golding are two of the best at running these replacement pressures and they were both mentored by the same person, ULL DC Ron Roberts. I need to give a big thank you to the great @CoachRonRoberts for taking the time to helping me to learn the difference between the two. 

Both Creepers and Simulated Pressures are pressures that bring a 2nd or 3rd level defender, a LB or DB, in exchange for dropping a 1st level defender on the DL. These “extra safe” pressures only require 4 rushers and do not sacrifice coverage in pressuring Offenses. Also, Creepers can be either Man or Zone and Simulated Pressures can be either Man or Zone. 

Fire 3 Creeper/Simulated Pressure

I want to go in-depth and talk about some of the specific Creepers and Simulated Pressures.    A Creeper or Simulated Pressure is a pressure that brings a non-traditional rusher (a LB or DB) in exchange for dropping a traditional rusher (DL).  The great thing about them is that they are “extra safe” pressures that do not require any additional rushers.  This means they do not sacrifice coverage in pressuring Offenses by getting to the QB and disrupting the run game. 

Most coaches are now becoming familiar with the idea of Creepers and Simulated Pressures, although they are not a new concept, as I have discovered in my research from my last article, Origin of Simulated Pressures.  I will talk about how to run these pressures from multiple fronts and from different pre-snap looks and bluffs to help coaches who are beginning to install Creepers and Sim Pressures into their defensive package.