Zone Blitzes & Coverages out of the 4-3 Defense

1. Zone Blitzes & Coverages out of the 4-3 Defense Jim Hilvert Head Football Coach Thomas More College

2. Overview • Why Zone Blitz? • Keys to Zone Blitzing • Teaching Blitz Coverage • Single LB’er Blitzes • Two LB’er Blitzes

3. Why we Zone Blitz Positives Negatives Defensive Ends Drop Soft Underneath Weak in the Seams/Flats • Disguise Blitz & Coverage • Allow to Blitz w/o Playing Man to Man • Allows to be Multiple = FUN

4. 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

5. 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

6. 4-3 Stack Defense

7. Coverage = Buzz 3 • 3 Deep / 3 Under Coverage

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. Single LB’er Blitzes STACK ROCKET BUZZ 3

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

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

15. 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 weaksideedge • Bob will wrong arm run block and press vertical • Whip and Rover are SCIF • Mike is #3 Defender • FS is Middle 1/3 Player

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

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

18. 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”

19. 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

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

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

22. 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?

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

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

25. 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’ersmust communicate who’s going first? • Patience, Patience, Patience

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

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

28. 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

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

30. 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

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

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

33. Questions? Jim Hilvert James.hilvert@thomasmore.edu 859-344-3516