RB Pass Pro — BOB and Cup Protection

The RB in pass protection has the hardest read on the field. He's looking at a 5-rusher front and trying to find the unblocked man — fast.

BOB (Big-On-Big) means the OL takes the four biggest interior rushers and the RB takes whoever's left. Usually that's a blitzing linebacker. The RB's read is the LBs from inside out: if the Mike comes, take the Mike; if not, scan to the Will; then to the Sam.

The technique is what saves it. The RB has to stay square (not turn his shoulders), break down 2 yards in front of the rusher, and strike with two hands to the rusher's chest plate. Lower man wins — a bigger LB will run over a high RB every time.

Cup protection is when the RB doesn't have a specific man — he scans for the unblocked rusher. It's the most common pro and also the most disastrous when the RB picks the wrong guy. The fix is rules: 'inside out, near to far' — always check the closest interior threat first.

The drill that builds it is half-line pass pro: the RB and a coach simulating the rusher, with the coach calling out which gap he's coming from. Repetition is the only teacher.