Michigan Pressure

Really interesting and effective pressure concept from Michigan defensive coordinator Don Brown. The Wolverines are in a 3-3 nickel personnel package.

The Rush:
The front slides the 3 down linemen to the strong side and has all 3 LB's walked up to the weak side. The Mike is initially in a 3 point stance. 

The effect is a 4 man version of America's Blitz. The Will wraps around to the fill the role of the inside rusher in the America's blitz concept. Because the defense bluffs the weak side overload the protection doesn't identify the concept as America's blitz and pass it off. The RB is forced into a really difficult block, scanning all the way back across the formation to pick up the Will as he wraps around. 

The Coverage:
Strong side is a soft cover 2 and weak side is a hard cover 2. 

Good stuff from the Michigan defense!

Vikings Green Dog

Here is a good example of a green dog concept for Head Coach Mike Zimmer and the Vikings. Minnesota is in a nickel personnel group.

Rush:
The concept is a 5 man pressure concept with the 4 defensive lineman and 1 ILB rushing. There seems to be some miscommunication between the 3 tech DT and the Mike LB on where to rush.

The Coverage: 
Man Free with a green dog concept. The idea is if your man responsibility in coverage blocks you add to the pressure and rush the QB.

The offense has the 5 OL to block the 5 rushers. When the offense adds the TE into the protection the safety who had the the TE in man adds to the pressure. The challenge this creates is the OL identified the safety as part of the coverage not part of the pass rush. The OL is working to the 5 most immediate threats (2 DT's, DE, 2 ILB's) and the TE is on the DE. When the Safety adds the offense does not have an efficient way to communicate and pick up the pressure. 

Good Stuff. 

Man Under 2 Deep Corner Pressure

Here is a a creative pressure dialed up by Pittsburgh defensive coordinator Keith Butler.

The Steelers are in a Nickel personnel with two stand up Rush OLB's playing the roll of  DE's. The initial alignment is press corners and a 1 high safety concept.

Rush:
DT - Loop to field side contain
Will- Walked up in the C gap, working B gap to A gap to the opposite inside pass rush lane
Rush - Contain
Corner - Inside rush lane

Coverage:
Man under 2 deep with a safety replacing for the blitzing corner. The Nose is playing man coverage on the RB. 

The coverage is man under 2 deep which allows the man coverage players to play aggressive technique knowing they have help over the top. The disguise prevents the offense and the QB from identifying the coverage is man under 2 deep. The difficulty of coverage recognition forces the QB to hold on to the ball. 

The Nose, Rush, and walked up Will occupy the Center, Guard, and OT to the weak side. The Center doesn't realize until it is too late that the Nose is actually in coverage and not a pass rush threat. With the Center occupied the Guard is forced to block the Will and the OT is locked on the Rush. The Corner has a clean pass rush and is able to attack the RB deep in the backfield. If the RB didn't scan across the formation, the Corner has a clean run to the QB. As it plays out, the weakest link in protection (RB) is forced to make the most difficult block and loses the 1 on 1 to the Corner. 

Creative combination of disguising 2 man coverage with a non-traditional 4 man pass rush from the Steelers.  

Another simple adjustable 4-2-5 Fire Zone Blitz

This post is a follow up to the previous post about an adjustable 4-2-5 fire zone blitz. This blitz can be easily adjusted to get the blitz where ever the defense wants to apply pressure. The concept could easily be used in a 4-3 defense as well.

SHOCK - SS or Corner Blitz

The SS or Corner will blitz based on where the tag sets the blitz. This blitz is only run on a hash.

Shock Strong
The blitz is going to the pass strength (higher number of receivers)

The Rush
FS sets the direction of the blitz with a Right/Left call. In the above example a "Left" call. 

SS - To the call = edge blitz. This blitz can be either a contain or a spill by game plan.
Call DE - Long stick to A gap. Read the OG
Call DT - 2i Alignment, Long stick to opposite A gap. Read the Center.
Away DT - 2i Alignment, Slant to B gap.
Away DE - Contain

The Coverage
FS - Spin down to Seam is to the strength
WS - Rotate to Middle 1/3
Field Corner - Tight 1/3
Boundary Corner - Away from call = Tight 1/3
Mike - Always 3RH
Will - Always Seam

If the offense puts the formation into the boundary:

The Rush
FS sets the direction of the blitz with a right/left call. In the above example a "Right" call. 

Boundary corner - To the call  = edge blitz. This blitz can be either a contain or a spill by game plan.
Call DE - Long stick to A gap. Read the OG
Call DT - 2i Alignment, Long stick to opposite A gap. Read the Center.
Away DT - 2i Alignment, Slant to B gap.
Away DE - Contain

The Coverage
FS - Spin down to Seam is to the strength
WS - Tight 1/3
Field Corner- Tight 1/3
SS- Away from call = Seam
Mike - Always 3RH
Will - Always Seam

The blitz easily adjusts to 3x1 or 2x2 formations.

 Against 3x1 the Mike can bump to an alignment to drop off of the #3 receiver.

Against a 2x2 the Will can bump to handle the Seam drop on #2.

Shock Back
The blitz is going to an offset back. No offset back (pistol or under center = Strong)

FS makes a Left call to the back. SS is the blitzer and the Corner is in coverage.

FS makes a Right call to the back. Corner is the blitzer and the SS is in coverage.

Shock Tite
The blitz is going to the TE.  No TE  = Strong

FS makes a Left call to the TE. SS is the blitzer and the Corner is in coverage.

FS makes a Right call to the TE. Corner is the blitzer and the SS is in coverage.

Shock Motion
The blitz is going to the Motion.  No Motion  = Strong. This blitz is good vs. jet sweep and orbit motion teams.

 FS makes a Left call to the Motion. SS is the blitzer and the Corner is in coverage.

FS makes a Right call to the motion. Corner is the blitzer and the SS is in coverage.

This type of blitz is simple for the defense but very multiple. By adding a new tag word the defense can change where the FS will make the right/left call and get the blitz anywhere the defense want to pressure.

4-3 Under Front Crossfire Blitz

The Rush

End - Contain

Mike - First, Blitz B gap

Sam - Second, Blitz A gap

Nose - Opposite A

Tackle - B Gap vs. run, Contain vs. pass

The Coverage

Corners – Tight 1/3

FS – Middle 1/3

SS- Seam

Will – 3RH

End – Seam

The same blitz can easily be run with man coverage.

The crossfire action of the Mike and Sam can create confusion for the offense’s blocking schemes. The issue for this blitz is what to do when the offense has a three man surface. 

The defense runs the risk of being badly out leveraged on outside zone, pin & pull, or other perimeter run schemes.

If the offense aligns with a TE or H back to create a three man surface the Sam adjusts.

The Sam aligns in the normal under front 9 technique. Against the run the Sam blitzes outside and contains. 

The Will can easily play to the A gap on any flow to the TE.

Against the pass the blitz returns to the normal crossfire pattern. The Sam blitzes under the End and Mike to the A gap.

With a simple adjustment by the Sam the blitz can remain sound vs. the run and create the crossfire action vs. the pass.

Under Front Weak Side Blitzes

Here is a package of complementary blitz patterns from the same under front alignment. These blitzes are from the 1999 Texas A&M Defensive Playbook. The Aggies used a 3-4 personnel but these blitzes are easily applicable to a 4-3 or 4-2 defense.

The blitz concept is from the Aggie's 53 front. 

Call DE  - 5
Away DE - 3
Nose - Call side 1

Sam & Rush Linebackers walked up

53 Dip

The Coverage - Cover Zero

Corners - #1's
SS & FS - #2's or #3
Mike - Running Back

The Rush 

Sam - Contain 
End - C gap vs. the run, Psycho B gap vs. Pass
Nose - A gap
End - B gap
Will - Tuff alignment on OT, Contain Rush
Rush - Loose alignment, Rush A gap

Psycho Technique

Against the run to the strong side the defense plays gap control. Against the pass the End executes a psycho technique to the B gap.

The DE rushes from the C gap to the B gap. This technique helps keep the End from being in the way of the contain rush of the Sam linebacker.

53 Blade

The Rush

Away End - A gap
Will - Tuff alignment on OT, X-It* to contain
Rush - Loose alignment, Rush A gap

*X-It technique is the Will attacking the tackle before looping to contain

53 Ox

The Rush

Away End - A gap
Will - Tuff alignment on OT, Contain Rush
Rush - Loose alignment, Rush B Gap

This package of blitzes gives the defense flexibility to attack the offense in 3 different ways from the same alignment. The defense could also choose to switch the alignment and responsibility of the Rush and Will.

Blitz the Formation Concept from the 4-3 Defense

Coach Jerry Gordon is the author of Coaching the Under Front Defense.

If you are interested in learning about the under front/defensive football, I highly recommend reading it. Coach Gordon has just launched a new website CoachJerryGordon.com. The book and ibook are available to order on the site. 

In the spirit of Coach Gordon’s new website, I thought I would feature a blitz the formation concept from the 4-3 defense. This blitz is from the 1996 Miami Hurricanes defensive playbook. 1996 was during the Butch Davis era at The U. 

Canes Check Blitz

The blitz is a 6 man pressure that adjusts based on the backfield set. The coverage is cover zero man. The blitz was designed for personnel groups using a TE.

Sam: run Shoot or Under

Mike: man on running back

Will: run Hard, Gap Crash, or Shoot

Will must communicate “Hard”, “Gap”, or “Shoot” to the DE

I backs:

Sam – Shoot

Shoot coaching points:

Sam - blitz primary run gap (C gap), come under block of RB

Will – Call “Gap” to DE, run Gap Crash

Gap Crash coaching points:

DE – Rip across face of OT, work up field in B Gap

Will – Cross over and attack flat off the OT’s hip

Against the pass the Sam turns the shoot blitz into an under blitz.

Under coaching points:

DT – Rip up field in gap

Sam – Blitz under DT in A gap

This concept provides a shoot blitz against the run to attack TE side run game. Against the pass the blitz converts to a pass rush blitz. The weak side crash blitz by the Will is good vs. split end side runs.

Far backs:

Sam – Run Under

Will – Call “Hard” to DE, run Hard

Hard coaching points:

DE – Jab step to OT, Loop behind Will, Alley & Contain rush

Will – Cross over and attack flat off the OT’s hip

Split Backs:

Sam – Under

Will – Call “Shoot” to DE, run Shoot

Shoot coaching points:

DE – Rip up field (C gap)

Will – Blitz primary run gap (B gap)

One Back:

Sam – Under

Will – Call “Shoot” to DE, run Shoot

Will widen alignment to the formation.

The complement to the Canes Check Blitz is the Eagle Check Blitz.

Eagle Check Blitz

DT away from call – Pinch vs. all looks

Sam: run Under or Contain Blitz

Sam must communicate “Contain” or “Razor” to the DE

Mike: man on running back

Will: run Hard, Gap Crash, or Shoot

Will must communicate “Hard”, “Gap”, or “Shoot” to the DE

I backs:

Sam – Call “Contain” to the DE, run Under

Will – Call “Gap” to DE, run Gap Crash

Far backs:

Sam – Call “Razor” to the DE, run Contain Blitz

Razor sends the DE to the B gap

Will – Call “Hard” to DE, run Hard

Split back:

Sam – Call “Contain” to DE, run Under

Will – Call “Shoot” to DE, run Shoot

One Back:

Sam – Call “Contain” to DE, run Under

Will – Call “Shoot” to DE, run Shoot

Will widen alignment to the formation.

4-2-5 Overload Zone Blitz

This post is a follow up to the Simple Adjustable 4-2-5 Zone Blitz post. This blitz is designed to overload the pass protection to the field. The coverage is the same fire zone concept used in the Boss blitz from the previous post.

The Coverage:

Corners – Tight 1/3 Technique

FS – Spin down to the Seam

Mike – 3RH

Will – Seam

WS – Middle 1/3

The coverage does not need to be checked vs. a 3x1 formation. The Mike does need to widen his alignment. The Will can cheat his alignment closer to the box.

The Rush:

Call DE – Wide Ghost Alignment, Daylight rusher

DT – 4i, Daylight rusher

Nose – Zero, Wiper technique

Away DE – 5 Technique, Contain

SS – Show Alignment with blitz demeanor, Contain

Daylight Rush Technique:

Get off the ball on straight line track to the QB. If there is daylight, stay on your track. If the daylight is gone work a move to the inside to find new daylight.

If the OL inside (here the OG) blocks down there is daylight. Stay on your track.

If the guard sets wide there is daylight. Stay on your track.

If the guard sets on your track, work an inside pass rush move to find new daylight

Wiper Technique:

First step at 45 degrees. Attack edge of OL then work to opposite side of OL. Side to side action like a windshield wiper.

Attacking Protection:

When the offense is using a slide protection to the field.

This is the protection we are hoping to see. The width of the SS, DE, and DT force the offensive linemen to set deep and to block in open space. 

Here the OT sets to the SS and the OG sets to the DE. The wiper technique by the Nose is designed to create hesitation by the Center. The DT has daylight and stays on his track. The Center has a very difficult task to set late to a DT on a straight line run to the QB.

Here the OT sets to the SS and the OG sets the DT. The End has daylight and will stay on this track. The DT does not have daylight and will work a move to the inside. The End should get a straight line run to the QB.

Here the OT sets to the DE and the OG sets to the DT. The SS should have the straight line run to the QB. Both the DE and DT have a blocker on their track. Both will work an inside move to find new daylight.

Here the Center is aggressively sliding and ignoring the Nose on the wiper. The Nose will stay on his initial path. This will take him as far from the OG as possible. This block is very difficult for the guard.

When the RB is aligned to the field the Nose will change his technique from wiper to a normal slant to the away A gap. We are expecting the slide of the OL is going to the boundary in this situation. The OT has the DE man to man, the OG has the DT, and the Center has the Nose. The OG and OT to the right are sliding. We want the Nose to slant instead of wiper to create space for the DT and DE to the blitz. Both the daylight rushers have a blocker on their track. Both will work a move to the inside to find new daylight. We expect our DL to win these 1 on 1 matchups in open space. 

Change Up:

Our changeup is to switch the job of the DE to contain and allow the SS to be a daylight rusher. The SS will align with inside foot back. His 1st step is with his inside foot up the field. His 2nd step is with is outside foot up the field. The SS should plant on the 2nd step and get on his track. 

When we call this blitz we allow the SS to call the rush at the LOS. The SS will tell the DE who has contain with a "You" or "Me" call.