Zone Blitzes & Coverages out of the 4-3 Defense

Jim Hilvert Head Football Coach Thomas More College

Overview • • • • • Why Zone Blitz?

Keys to Zone Blitzing Teaching Blitz Coverage Single LB’er Blitzes Two LB’er Blitzes

Why we Zone Blitz

Positives Negatives

• Disguise Blitz & Coverage • Allow to Blitz w/o Playing Man to Man • Soft Underneath • Allows to be Multiple = FUN • • Defensive Ends Drop Weak in the Seams/Flats

Keys to Zone Blitzing • • • • Communication – Safeties/DE/LB must talk to each other Collision WR’s – Be physical and re-route any vertical route Dictate where ball will be thrown – Don’t cover any route under 5 yds – Defend deep / Give up Flats Must work vs Run & Pass

4-3 Stack Defense • • • • • • • Rover – Strongside LB Stud – Strongside DE Tackle – 3 Technique Mike – Middle LB Bob – Weakside LB Whip – Strong Safety Free Safety – Aligns to Passing Strength

4-3 Stack Defense

Coverage = Buzz 3 • 3 Deep / 3 Under Coverage

Blitz Coverage = Buzz 3 • • 6 Players in coverage – 3 Deep are responsible for their 1/3 – 3 Underneath players are playing match up zone 2 SCIF Defenders (Seam/Curl/Flat) – I/S alignment on any #2 displaced WR – Responsible for collision on any vertical by #2 – Feel #2 / See #1 / Listen

Blitz Coverage = Buzz 3 • • 2 SCIF Defenders – Wall off any inside breaking route by #1 • • Curl Dig – Break on Flat Route when thrown 1 #3 Match Player – Opens up to #3 WR and react to route – If #3 goes out, “PUSH” and over take new #3

Blitz Coverage = Buzz 3 • • O/S Deep 1/3 Defenders – Corners align 1x6 inside #1 WR – Slow shuffle out and must play 3 Step – Deep and deepest in their zone Middle 1/3 Defender – One Safety is a Post/Seam Defender – Will open up and run to middle 1/3 on snap – 15 yards deep after snap of ball

Single LB’er Blitzes • • • • STACK ROCKET BUZZ 3 – Rover will blitz off strongside edge – – – – Time up blitz with QB cadence Aiming point is OT’s near hip Pitch player on option / QB on zone read Wrong arm any run block and press vertical Free Safety & Bob are SCIF players Mike is #3 Defender Whip is Middle 1/3 Defender

Single LB’er Blitzes STACK ROCKET BUZZ 3

Single LB’er Blitzes • STACK ROCKET BUZZ 3 vs TRIPLE OPTION

Single LB’er Blitzes • STACK ROCKET BUZZ 3 vs 5 STEP

Single LB’er Blitzes • • • • STACK EAGLE BOB LOOP BUZZ 3 – Eagle Call sets 3 Tech away from strength – – – – Loop tells 3 tech to blast B Gap Weakside End will loop into A Gap Bob will blitz off weakside edge Bob will wrong arm run block and press vertical Whip and Rover are SCIF Mike is #3 Defender FS is Middle 1/3 Player

Single LB’er Blitzes • STACK EAGLE BOB LOOP BUZZ 3 vs POWER

Single LB’er Blitzes • STACK EAGLE BOB LOOP BUZZ 3 vs NCAA RT

Two LB’er Blitzes • • Spy / Hunt Calls – Spy tells Stud to drop – Hunt tells End to drop In/Out Calls – – – – Remaining LB’er will tell dropping DE where to go Any 2x2 send In Any 3x1 send Out If 3x1 to dropping DL side, LB must say “Trips”

Two LB’er Blitzes • RAM – Rover and Mike Blitz Strongside Edge – Like to run to RB – Rover D Gap, Mike C Gap • Mike should blitz right off Stud’s butt – If not TE, Rover and Mike must keep space between each other.

– Good against Slide Protection • Rover outside RB, Mike inside RB

Two LB’er Blitzes • STACK RAM HUNT BUZZ 3 – “In Call”

Two LB’er Blitzes • STACK RAM HUNT BUZZ 3 – “Out Call”

Two LB’er Blitzes • MOB – Bob and Mike Blitz A &B Weakside – Like to run away from RB – Bob B Gap, Mike A Gap • Mike should blitz right off Nose’s butt – Good against Man/Slide Protection • Does Center carry Nose?

Two LB’er Blitzes • STACK MOB SPY BUZZ 3 – “In Call”

Two LB’er Blitzes • STACK MOB SPY BUZZ 3 – “Out/Trips Call”

Two LB’er Blitzes • STACK OKIE COWBOY X HUNT BUZZ 3 – “OKIE” tells Stud to play 9 technique – Rover aligns to Passing Strength – 11 Personnel Defense/Blitz – Mike and Bob Cross blitz over Center • • LB’ers must communicate who’s going first?

Patience, Patience, Patience

Two LB’er Blitzes • STACK OKIE COWBOY X HUNT BUZZ 3 – “In Call”

Two LB’er Blitzes • STACK OKIE COWBOY X HUNT BUZZ 3 – “Out Call”

Two LB’er Blitzes • STACK OKIE SOONER HUNT BUZZ 3 – “OKIE” tells Stud to play 9 technique – Rover aligns to Passing Strength – 11 Personnel Defense/Blitz – Mike and Bob Blitz over Guard • Bob should blitz right off 3 Tech butt

Two LB’er Blitzes • STACK OKIE SOONER HUNT BUZZ 3 – “In Call”

Two LB’er Blitzes • STACK HOT DOG 2/COLD – “HOT” tells Stud and End to drop – Both are Curl players vs 2x2 – Vs 3x1 Check “Cold” • • Corner to single WR plays man-to-man Dropping Stud/End has RB – Rover and Bob edge blitz

Two LB’er Blitzes • STACK HOT DOG 2 vs 2x2

Two LB’er Blitzes • STACK HOT DOG COLD – AUTO CHECK vs 3x1

Questions?

Jim Hilvert [email protected]

859-344-3516