In this in-season quick hitter, Stanford offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Terry Heffernan shares a question every offensive line coach and offensive coordinator should be asking: How are you helping your protection?
Heffernan explains why offenses should have answers built before they face an elite pass rusher on game week. Rather than leaving tackles isolated in critical passing situations, he details ways coaches can use formations, tight end alignments, chips, nudges, running backs, and receivers to reduce space and give offensive linemen an advantage.
He also emphasizes the importance of developing the terminology and practicing these tools before they become an emergency. If a difficult edge rusher is on the schedule, the solution should already be part of the offense rather than something installed for the first time on Wednesday.
Topics include:
Using tight end alignment to tighten a defensive end’s alignment
Building chip and nudge terminology into the offense
The difference between tight end and running back help
Helping tackles without adding another full-time protector
Using skill players to improve five- and six-man protections
Practicing protection answers before game week
Creating a plan for elite pass rushers before you need it
Watch the video version on Spotify to see the examples Coach Heffernan uses throughout the presentation.
Coach Heffernan’s complete presentation is available in the COOL Clinic Store, along with every presentation from the 2026 C.O.O.L. Clinic and presentations from past clinics.
Access Coach Heffernan's course here
This episode is presented with support from Mushroom Society, a community built for coaches committed to learning, sharing ideas, and continuing to improve.
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