The Dynamic Duo (Freeney and Mathis) - Pass Rushing 101

In the NFL most teams pride themselves on the play of the defense, for many teams of old like the 49ers, Steelers, and Vikings they would over power offenses. In the ever changing world of the NFL the defenses have evolved and become quicker to keep up with the speed of the offensive players. There have been many famous duos on the offensive from Montana to Rice, Aikman to Irving; Bradshaw to Swann, etc… the list goes on and on. How often do you hear that about the defensive side of the ball, where two players can change the face of a game? In the NFL offense wins many games but it is defense that wins championships and that is a fact. It is evident as more and more teams are drafting for the defensive side of the ball, nowadays in the NFL defenses are not only stronger but they are faster. Gone are the days of the huge defensive lineman, now they are quick and fast which has become the norm for most lineman. There have been many big name superstars on defense and many who could single handedly change the course of a game but a duo? I think we have possibly found the dynamic duo on defense.

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In Indianapolis, quite possibly two of the most feared pass rushers cause havoc to opposing offenses on a weekly basis. These two men have changed the game for the defensive side of the ball; one man who redefined the position of defensive end was Dwight Freeney out of the University of Syracuse. Freeney, undersized and underweight for most teams, changed how teams viewed the defensive end position. Freeney is an amazing pass rusher whose technique changed how offenses protected the quarterback. His spin move revolutionized the pass rushing game, and now many have copied his form and even his style of play. As we all know for many teams you can’t just have one dominant pass rusher because teams will double the one if there is no one effective on the opposite side. Enter Robert Mathis, a long, fast and strong pass rusher who complements Freeney perfectly. Mathis is a bull rusher who uses his speed to fool you then his strength to overwhelm you. This is a perfect duo that combines speed with strength to change the flow of the game and to disrupt the rhythm of the offense.

By Sam Adams
ProFootball-fans.com Staff Writer