Zone Blitzes & Coverages out of the 3-4 Defense

Jim HilvertHead Football Coach Thomas More College

Overview

• Why Zone Blitz?• Keys to Zone Blitzing• Teaching Blitz Coverage• Two LB’er Blitzes• Corner Blitz

Why We Like 3-4 Zone Blitzing

• Variations

• Defensive Ends Don’t Have to Drop

• Best Personnel on the Field

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

3-4 Rambo Defense

• Rover – Strongside OLB• Stud – Strongside DE• End – Weakside DE• Nose – 0 Technique• Mike – Strongside ILB• Panther – Weakside ILB• Bob – Weakside OLB• Whip – Safety away from Passing Strength• Free Safety – Aligns to Passing Strength

3-4 Rambo Defense

Blitz Coverage = Buzz/Box 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/Box 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/Box 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

Coverage = Buzz 3/Box 3

• 3 Deep / 3 Under Coverage

Two LB’er Blitzes

• RAMBO SLAM IN BOX 3– Mike will blitz strongside “B” gap– Panther will blitz strongside “A” gap– Nose will work away from Blitz – 2 way go– Stud and End are contain rushers

• Rover and Bob are SCIF players• Whip is #3 Match Player• FS is Deep Middle 1/3 Player

Two LB’er Blitzes

RAMBO SLAM IN BOX 3

Two LB’er Blitzes

• RAMBO SLAM OUT BOX 3– Mike will blitz strongside “C” gap– Stud will “Longstick” to “A” gap– Panther will blitz strongside “B” gap

• Should scrape right off Stud’s butt

– Nose will work away from Blitz – 2 way go

• Rover and Bob are SCIF players• Whip is #3 Match Player• FS is Deep Middle 1/3 Player

Two LB’er Blitzes

RAMBO SLAM OUT BOX 3

Two LB’er Blitzes

• RAMBO BANDIT IN BUZZ 3– Bob will blitz weakside “B” gap– Panther will blitz weakside “A” gap– Nose will work away from blitz – 2 way go– Stud and End are contain rush

• Rover and Whip are SCIF players• Mike is #3 Match Player• FS is Deep Middle 1/3 Player

Two LB’er Blitzes

RAMBO BANDIT IN BUZZ 3

Two LB’er Blitzes

• RAMBO BANDIT OUT BUZZ 3– Bob will blitz weakside “C” gap– End will stunt to weakside “A” gap– Panther will blitz weakside “B” gap

• Should scrape off End’ butt

– Nose will work away from blitz – 2 way go

• Rover and Whip are SCIF players• Mike is #3 Match Player• FS is Deep Middle 1/3 Player

Two LB’er Blitzes

RAMBO BANDIT OUT BUZZ 3

Tags for Two LB’er Blitzes

• Cross Tag–Tells LB’er to exchange gaps –LB’ers must communicate

• Split Tag – Tells LB’er to run “In/Out” Combo– Must communicate w/ DL• Nose – Rome/London• DE - Tracks

Tags for Two LB’er Blitzes

RAMBO SLAM IN CROSS BOX 3

Tags for Two LB’er Blitzes

RAMBO BANDIT SPLIT BUZZ 3

Corner Blitzes

• RAMBO WHISKEY 2 – Boundary blitz– Boundary Corner will blitz on snap– Panther will blitz strongside “C” gap

• We use Panther as a distraction

– Nose will bull rush Center

• Bob will play Flat• Mike must react to formation– Vs 2x2 work to weakside curl– Vs 3x1 work to #3 WR

Two LB’er Blitzes

• RAMBO WHISKEY 2 vs 2x2

Two LB’er Blitzes

• RAMBO WHISKEY 2 vs 3x1

Blitz Coverage = GOLD vs 2x2

• 6 Players in coverage– Corners play Man to Man– 3 Underneath players are playing match up zone

• 2 SCF Defenders (Seam/Flat)– O/S alignment on any #2 displaced WR

• #2 Out - Jump route• #2 In – Squeeze and look for crosser• #2 Vert – Collision and funnel to FS

• If 3x1 check Buzz 3

Overload Blitz

• RAMBO ROMO GOLD– 3 Defenders off an edge to RB– Ball must be on a hash

• Flutie – Field• Boomer - Boundary

– Nose aligns as 3 Tech away from blitz– Mike presses LOS and bails out

• Panther will rush outside to RB• OLB to RB will delay blitz off edge• DE will attack up field and then dip underneath

Blitz Coverage = Gold vs 2x2

Two LB’er Blitzes

• RAMBO ROMO GOLD vs 2x2 – “Boomer”

Two LB’er Blitzes

• RAMBO ROMO BUZZ 3 vs 3x1 - Flutie

Questions?

Jim HilvertJames.hilvert@thomasmore.edu

859-344-3516