Sapp’s Ghost Is Revealed
March 18th, 2010
For those who missed former Bucs defensive end Steve White’s Bull Rush column yesterday, shame on you.
It was an unbelievable in depth look at pass rushing moves.
One of the all-time greats examined was Warren Sapp. And White described Sapp’s little known “ghost move,” which helped bring him unprecedented success.
In the bowels of YouTube, White found the ghost move on display. Check it out. It starts at about 1:25 of the clip.
Joe recommends you cue up the video and re-read the ghost move description. And repeat often.
4. The Ghost Move – Warren Sapp: Sapp had a move that we decided to get together and call the ghost move. The reason we called it the ghost move is because it happened so quickly most of the time that if you didn’t have it on film to watch it in slow motion, you would probably miss what he did.
I can promise you that there are plenty of guards that he faced that probably still wake up in cold sweats having flashbacks of trying to block it. It’s not a move that I have actually seen many other guys even attempt, but it was a move I kept trying at and had just a little bit of success with when I went on to play for the Jets.
Now this particular move is more for interior defensive lineman but in the right circumstance a defensive end could use it, too. The important thing in either instance is that the offensive lineman is a “puncher.” Some offensive linemen like to get depth and make you come to them before there is contact. That’s what we call a “soft setter”. Other guys like to try to get you right now on the line and punch you to stop your momentum and we call those guys “quick setters.”
The idea is to get a quick setter to punch his hands at you. Instead of reaching for them you keep your hands close together in front of you and try to chop down on their outside wrist with your inside hand as you take a step with your inside foot almost directly at them. So that they don’t get any width or depth in their set.
Once you get their hand down (or even if you miss) the next part of the move is to use your outside hand to swat their outside forearm/elbow area while you turn your shoulders taking away a surface for them to hit, and you slide-step with your outside foot past the offensive lineman. The finish to the move can be either an arm over or a rip move, but the idea is to release off the move and step over with your inside foot so that your body is now decisively past the offensive lineman and you can sprint to the quarterback (provided no double team is coming).
If you think that description was confusing, you should try to watch Sapp in action doing this move.
March 18th, 2010 at 7:09 pm
those guy could all play !
March 18th, 2010 at 8:27 pm
Sapppppppp!!! Never be another quite like that guy! I am very thankful to have watched him play.
March 18th, 2010 at 9:58 pm
I’ve never seen such a fat ass ghost !!
March 18th, 2010 at 10:14 pm
Mr. Steve, you said the O-lineman had to be a puncher, but from the video it seems like the right offensive guard I believe backed down a lot and expected Sapp to reach him. I thought a puncher was a lineman that would not go too backwards, but hold his position and try to push the D-lineman away from QB. Please let me know if I am missing something there.
God I really hope we get one of the DTs and they turn out as good as this guy was.
Being a fan of great offensive team is a good feeling.
But being a fan of a great defensive team with a loudmouth like Sapp is a GREAT feeling.
March 18th, 2010 at 10:23 pm
I had forgotten just how fast and strong he was.. combine fast and strong with a work ethic and passion…you get Sapp.
March 18th, 2010 at 10:24 pm
@Jonny
If you are looking at the right play the guy punches his hands at Sapp off the snap and then after Sapp knocks his outside hand down and swats him he tries to give ground to run after him to no avail and then the center tries to pick him up but he spins off him for the sack.
No offensive lineman can get away with not giving ANY ground on the snap, especially against Sapp, so they kick step back and out and try to widen him rather than allowing him to run up their numbers and push them back but then that opens them up to the ghost move when they punch which obviously is very effective.
And in closing there isn’t a defensive tackle in the draft that is going to be as good as Sapp at pass rushing. That’s just the truth and its been the truth for the last 10 years or so when every draft they dub someone “the next Sapp”.
March 18th, 2010 at 11:37 pm
I’ll agree whole heartedly with that last paragraph Steve. He was and probably always will be in a class of his own. The guy was just an absolute animal. As a former college C/G there is nothing quite as frustrating as having your quick set beaten like that.
March 19th, 2010 at 12:08 am
Steve,
Did Mr. Selmon have any particular move?
Did Sapp end up breaking his sack record, or fall just a bit short? I can’t recall.
March 19th, 2010 at 12:39 am
My bad Steve, I was looking at the same game, but a different video of 1st qtr (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3MPBWukiSw). In that video there is a play at 1:25 where Sapp almost sacks the QB. That one was lightning fast and all I could see was the RG stepped back and allowed Sapp to reach him where as Sapp just made a “cut” like a RB, avoiding him and getting to QB. I guess that would not qualify as the “ghost” move.
March 19th, 2010 at 8:03 am
“Steve,
Did Mr. Selmon have any particular move?”
Yes , it was called the Kick-Your-Ass move.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVLKyVRz_c0&feature=related
March 19th, 2010 at 8:48 am
Good stuff fellas. I was at that game and enjoy watching highlights from old games. What a difference that team was. We will get back to that point. Unfortunately its going to take some time. Anyone else take a look at the other videos on the link? I especially enjoy the Ronde Barber owns Donovan McNabb reel.
March 19th, 2010 at 10:00 am
@Radio Mushmouth
Thanks for the link man, wow was that dude awesome or what. Looks like he was rather routinely double teamed eh.
Quick Leroy story. I was in UCH hospital in 79, and leroy was there visiting a relative. One of the nurses told him what a big fan of the bucs I was. The dude went to his car and got an autographed football for me, and even called back the next day to see how i was doing.
What a total clas act.
March 19th, 2010 at 5:27 pm
No doubt Eric .
Leeroy is a genuine good person . As genuine as it comes.
March 20th, 2010 at 12:26 am
I miss that squad…. gettin’ after the QB, flying to the ball and making splash plays….man were they awesome or what???? Sapp had it all- bull, spin, ghost. Once he got that step, no one closed on the QB faster. I’m gonna crack a cool one and watch my Superbowl CD
Like many tape and review games. I would love to be able to break down tape and study players / positions / schemes, especially with today’s camera coverage and editing. It amazes me when I read that players don’t like to study film or take advantage of technology they have at their disposal. Rooks would do well to listen to Mr. Smith. He should be our D line coach.
I’ve had the pleasure to meet Mr. Selmon and his family on a couple of occasions. Great Family and a Class Act for sure!
August 8th, 2010 at 1:27 pm
This is another example of the ghost. Plus this video is why i don’t think Favre will ever quit, he has too much fight in him even if it’s bad for his health.
http://www.bucstop.com/videos/1997sappfavre18.mov