Vertical set

A vertical set is the old-school pass set where the tackle drops straight back off the ball before engaging the rusher. Coach Jay (and the Paul Alexander school his method comes from) does not teach it: dropping straight back gives a speed rusher a clear, unobstructed arc and a runway of time and space to beat you around the edge. Instead he teaches the 45° set — kick on an angle to a spot between the rusher and the QB so you close his path and stay square. The line he uses is blunt: the teams that coach vertical sets get kicked every year.

Defined by Coach Jay Freeman — 34 years coaching the offensive and defensive line.

Related trench terms

45° setO-Line

Coach Jay's default pass set — kick on a 45° angle to close the rusher's path and meet him square at your spot, instead of dropping straight back (the vertical set).

Kick-slideO-Line

A pass-set technique where the outside foot kicks back and the inside foot slides to keep a square base.

Pass proO-Line

Pass protection — the O-line’s job of keeping rushers off the quarterback.

A gap (gap lettering)Both sides

The gap between center and guard — first letter in the gap-lettering system that names every hole up front.

DuoO-Line

A downhill run built on double teams with no puller — 'power without the pull.'

Go deeper

• Coach Jay’s lineman training library — the technique behind the term →
• Back to the full Trench Dictionary →
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