4-2-5 Quarters Fire Zone Coverage Pressure

Here is a non-traditional four man pressure call. The coverage concept uses quarters versus 2x2 formations and cover 3 concept versus trips.

 The Coverage:

To the call side the FS, SS, & Corner play read cover 2 coverage. (TCU's Blue concept)

To the away side the Mike, WS, & Corner play read cover 2 coverage (TCU's Blue concept)

The DE drops to the Hole. The hole is 10 yards deep directly over the center.

The Rush:

Will - Contain Blitz. Aiming point on the QB's up field shoulder.

End - Long stick to inside rush lane. Two way go on the OG. Aiming point near hip of the QB.

Nose - Cross center's face to opposite inside rush lane.  Aiming point near hip of the QB.

Tackle - Get width through B Gap to contain. Aiming point on the QB's up field shoulder.

If the offense aligns in a 3x1 formation the coverage checks to a four under 3 deep zone coverage.

Against a 3x1 into the boundary the coverage again rotates to a cover 3 concept to the trips.

For the rush if the center sets to the blitz the Nose and End both have 1 on 1 pass rushes with space to operate.

The result is the OG gets width with the DT, which creates space for the Nose. The center is forced to redirect as the Nose crosses his face. The End has a 2 way go on the guard. With the OG setting to DE the most likely rush for the DE is the inside move on the OG. The Nose should create space for the DE's pass rush by crossing the center's face.

If the center sets away from the blitz the End should have a good inside rush versus the OT. The OG is focused on the Nose initially which should create space for the End. The End has to beat the OT 1 on 1 on the inside move. The blitzing Will typically has a 1 on 1 with the RB.

This pressure also naturally allows the defense to bluff pressure with the Mike.



Against both 2x2 and 3x1 formations the Mike can walk up an show outside blitz while still being able to get to his pass drop responsibilities.

Against the run the Will spills all run blocks to the outside. The DT plays the B gap against the run. The DE does not drop versus the run and plays the C Gap. The SS and Mike handle force in the quarters coverage concept versus 2x2.

Against 3x1 formations the Curl Flat defending players handle Force. In this case the FS and the Mike are the force players.

4-2-5 Cover 3 Zone Blitz vs. Empty

Here is a simple effective zone blitz that can be checked to from a 4-2-5 personnel versus empty formations.

The Coverage:

Corners - Fire Zone 1/3

FS - FZ Middle 1/3

SS & WS - Seams

LB to pass strength - 3RH

The SS can play outside leverage on #2 strong to help defend bubble to #3. Having the LB to the #3 receiver strong allows for sound defense against the stick route by #3.



If the offense puts the strength of the formation to the boundary the LB to the pass strength is still the 3RH dropper.

The rush:

Call Side DE  - Loop to the middle rush lane. Keep getting up the field while looping. Aiming point is the middle of the QB.

DT - Get width to contain. Aiming point QB's up field shoulder.

LB away from the pass strength - Align in call side A gap, Blitz A gap. Aiming point QB near hip.

Nose - Cross face to the B gap. Aiming point QB's near hip.

Away Side DE  - Contain Rush. Aiming Point QB's up field shoulder.

If the offense is setting the center to the walked up LB in the A gap the looping DE has a great pressure opportunity. The center will be forced to get depth quickly vs. the blitzing LB. Often the center is occupied with the LB and does not see the looping end. Offensive linemen are also less likely to look for a twist when there is an immediate A gap blitzer. Twists are most likely to be from two defensive linemen not from two DL and a blitzing LB. The OG opposite the looper will be occupied with the nose. As the guard sets to the Nose, it opens up the midline for the looping DE.

If the offense attempts to react to the looper, the OT and OG will be forced into very difficult blocks.



If the OT to the loop attempts to redirect to the inside and set to the DT, he is forced to make a very difficult block on the DT. The DT has inside leverage on the OT and a direct path to the QB. The OG has the same difficulty when redirecting to the blitzing LB. The other obstacle for the offense is making sure the OT, OG, and Center are all on the same page in exchanging the 3 pass rushers. Pass protection exchanges with a high degree of difficulty for the offense are more prone to a major mistake.

If the OG doesn't redirect but the OT and Center attempt to exchange, the blitzing LB can end up unblocked.

If the offense uses a full slide protection, either the call or away side DE is unblocked.

 

If the offense full slides to the looper, the DE opposite is a free rusher. Also the Nose has a excellent opportunity to ricochet off the pass set of the OT. The block for the OT is difficult and creates a good inside pass rush opportunity for the Nose.

As the looping DE gets off the ball vertically, he will abort the loop if the OT down blocks. Against full slide the OT will block down and the call side DE will be unblocked.

The blitz is also good versus QB draw.

The looping DE is very difficult for the QB draw blocking. Often the looper is going where the QB is trying to run.



Against a pull scheme QB draw, the blitz is still good. The puller has a very difficult block vs. the walked up blitzer. The looping DE is again going to be looping to where the QB is trying to run.

Improve Defensive Game Plans with a Challenge Meeting

Challenge meetings helped improve our defensive preparation this season. We continued our weekly schedule of self-scout, opponent scout, and game plan brainstorm. Following the development of our initial game plan, we added a challenge meeting. The concept is to present each element of the game plan, followed by the coaching staff challenging the idea. Every possible stress or negative outcome of the call should be discussed.

Bottom Line – WHY IS THIS CALL A BAD IDEA?

Internal staff debate is nothing new. However, debate does not happen naturally in all staff situations. Some individuals shy away from arguing for fear of being labeled as negative. Anxiety also exists about appearing as “not a team player” or being interested only in getting their way. Others worry voicing opinions will be viewed as a personal attack. These reservations about challenging ideas often lead to silence and groupthink.

“If everybody is thinking alike, then somebody isn’t thinking” – General George S. Patton

By having a meeting dedicated to challenging ideas, everyone on the staff is required to be a contrarian. Members of the staff are expected to discuss concerns about a call, resulting in a healthy environment for debate.

The challenge meeting had a positive impact on every type of coach on our staff. Older coaches could speak from their experiences without feeling like they were lecturing. Younger coaches now had a forum to question more experienced guys. Each position coach gained insight from hearing the concerns of other position groups. Traditionalist coaches on staff who say “this is what we have done successfully” were forced to consider changes and adjustments to the scheme. They even argued for changes at times. Coaches who might have otherwise become “Yes” men instead began thinking more critically and joined the conversation. Innovative coaches had a platform to pitch their ideas. Those coaches who supported an idea were forced to consider the possible negative outcomes. Conversely, those who didn’t like a call had to consider the positives. As no call is perfect, I believe the challenge meeting process greatly improved our staff’s assessment of the risk and reward of each call. The process also helped remind us that just because we can call something does not mean that we should. Overall these meetings helped us fortify our defensive identity while helping build our toolbox.

When we are done with the challenge meeting everyone has had a say. We have weighed the positives and negatives allowing our staff to more thoroughly understand the rationale for every call. Increased coach’s input and understanding resulted in greater buy in and improved delivery to the team. These challenge meetings also helped inform our staff of trouble areas in the game plan that had to be addressed in practice. We became more proactive coaches and players built confidence knowing we had anticipated problems instead of reacted to them.

The challenge meetings also helped us develop our 2nd plan. By better understanding the stress areas of our game plan we were better able to plan for the adjustments we might have to make during the game.

Challenge meetings might not be right for every staff. If you are looking for a way to spur debate, discussion, and the flow of ideas a challenge meeting can help.

I can't believe I have to write this....

To the person who posted the racial slur in the comment section of the Green Bay Packer's Nickel package post. Football player is a label that transcends all other labels: race, ethnicity, religion, political affiliation, etc. If there was ever a place that most embodies Dr. Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech it is on the football field. You are judged by your play. I have said many times to my players "Whoever you are, put it on film.". That is how football players are defined. I have erased your comment. I have changed the settings on comments to insure that every comment is now approved before going up on the site.

Torch: Lighting Up the Offense with a Read Twist

Twists can be used to great effect in disrupting an offense. Unfortunately, twists can also create gap control/pass rush lane issues for the defense. When a twist is called to the right place at the right time the result is defensive success. The challenge is getting the twist to the right place the highest percentage of the time. One solution is to have the defensive linemen read the twist to determine who will penetrate and who will loop. Torch is a read twist by the interior defensive linemen. TORCH stands for Tackles Read the Center. The DT's can be aligned in a heavy 3 and 2i, 2 head up 2's or in 2 inside shade 2i's to run the twist. Both DT's step initially inside and read the block of the center.

The rules are:

• If the center blocks away from you - Penetrate
• If the center blocks toward you - Loop

Here the center is blocking toward the Tackle and away from the Nose. The Nose reads the center blocking away and continues to penetrate to the opposite A gap. The Tackle has the center blocking toward him and will use his hands on the center then loop over the top of the penetrating Nose.

Here the Tackle reads the center away and penetrates. The Nose reads the center blocking toward and loops.

Torch is an effective pass rush stunt. 

When the center pass sets toward the Nose the Tackle becomes the penetrator. This is a 1 on 1 inside pass rush against the guard for the Tackle. The initial inside step by the Nose holds the center's attention and prevents help by the center on the penetrator. Our Tackles beat the guard's block in this situation a percentage of the time. The rest of the time the Tackle's penetration disrupts the QB's footwork. The QB has difficulty stepping up into the throw when the penetrator is on the midline. If the QB does not attempt to step up, the contain rushing DE's have a great opportunity to collapse the pocket. Often the QB's most viable option is to slide in the pocket away from the penetration.

 The QB feels open space to step into a throw or to use as an escape lane. As the QB slides into the open space the Nose loops into the same space and pressures the passer.

When the center pass sets to the Tackle typically the offense is in some form of slide protection. The Nose now has the 1 on 1 inside pass rush. The Tackle will loop and apply late pressure on the QB as he slides in the pocket away from the penetration.

Torch is also good against the run.

Against power the center will always block back away from the play. Therefore, the looping DT will always be looping into the play. The play side offensive tackle is combo-ing to the backside ILB and is not looking for a looping DT. We have also had success against power with the penetrator disrupting the path of the pulling guard. Torch is similarly effective against any other gap scheme play with down blocks and a puller (Counter, Trap, Pin&Pull Stretch or Toss, the Wing-T, etc.) 

Against zone blocking the center will block play side. The penetration forces the running back to cut back directly into the looper. 

Torch is effective vs. the run and the pass. The negative is the investment time to get good at running it. One simple drill we use to teach Torch requires two DT's, a coach/player , two garbage cans, and a hand shield.

The coach lines up as the center holding the hand shield. The garbage cans stand in as guards. The Tackle and Nose react to the movement of the hand shield as the ball. The DT's take their initial step then either penetrate or loop. In the first reps of the drill, I tell the DL where I am going to step. They know pre-snap if they are a looper or a penetrator. The focus on the reps where the DL know what is going to happen is the technique of the twist. Both DL must focus on get-off. When DL are first taught the Torch concept in install meeting they often equate reading the block with slow off the ball. We work hard to make sure they react to the ball and re-establish the L.O.S. on their first step when Torch is called. The other coaching point for the penetrator is to get to an aiming point in the opposite A gap. For the looper the key is to shock the hand shield and use great block shed technique before looping. The center is stepping toward you to block you. You must shock & shed before your loop. 

Once we get everyone reps where they know pre-snap what they are going to do, we transition into the DT's  not knowing where the center will block. The DT's must now react to the center while maintaining great technique as in the early reps. I like to put a player at center on these reps. The drill is simple and very rapid fire. Every DT can get a bunch of reps in a 5 minute period of practice. 

Our defensive tackles have taken a great deal of ownership in Torch. I think they feel it is "THEIR" call in the same way a linebacker feels about a blitz. Torch is a nice addition to your arsenal if you are looking for a way to twist to the right place more often.

  

A Simple Adjustable 4-2-5 Zone Blitz vs. Spread Offenses

The 4-2-5 has evolved from two places the 4-4 and the 4-3 nickel sub package. The 4-4 background of the 4-2-5 provides great solutions for loading the box to stop the run as well as dealing with two back formations. When dealing with spread formations however, it is often helpful to draw on the 4-3 nickel roots of the 4-2-5. The following zone blitz comes directly from traditional 4-3 thinking.

Blitz terms defined:
Boss - Backer or SS blitz
Boss Back - Backer or SS to the back blitzes
Boss Bob - Backer or SS opposite the back blitzes

Coverage Terms defined:
Back Spin - Safety to the back Spins down to the Seam
Bob Spin - Safety opposite the back Spins down to the Seam

This naming system is built similarly to the TCU concept of building sentences.

G tells the Nose to align in a 2i

Tag - Tackle move to A gap

Boss - The Backer or SS aligned to the back blitzes. In this case the SS is the blitzer. The SS must make a "Fire" call to tell the End to his side to go inside. The Backer who is aligned away from the back has the Seam.

Back Spin - The high safety to the Back spins down to the Seam. The high safety away from the back has the middle 1/3

Spin - tells the Corners to play Tight 1/3 technique and the Mike to play the 3 Receiver Hook drop

Here is the same blitz vs. a 3x1 formation.
The only adjustments are the alignments of the inside linebackers. The Mike must widen his alignment to handle the 3RH drop. The Will can tighten his alignment to the core with no split #2 pass threat. The Will can now defend the open B gap opposite the blitz.

If the back is aligned to the Backer (Will) the backer is the blitzer and the SS is a Seam dropper. The Will backer must make a "Fire" call to the end to his side telling him to go inside. The high safeties know the spin is going to the back. The Weak Safety spins down to the Seam while the Free Safety rotates to the Middle 1/3.

In this example the blitz is now being run opposite the back (Bob = Blitz Opposite the Back). The Backer is opposite the back so the Will blitzes. The SS is aligned to the back making him a Seam dropper. The high safeties spin opposite the back.

Other situations that must be addressed with this type of variable blitz are:
1. Where is the blitz coming from if the offense does not have an offset back (pistol or under center)?
2. What to do if the offense moves the back? Can we reset the blitz or do we lock it on?

The Boss concept can also be used vs. TE sets.

In this example the blitz is being run to the Y or TE. All of the rules remain the same.

The naming structure of building sentences is designed for a wristband driven defense. This system allows the defensive coordinator the flexibility to have multiple variable blitzes on any given wristband. The Boss blitz can be used to bring pressure where ever the defense wants to bring it with a simple tag word.

Superbowl Preview Part II: New York Giants Blitz Package

Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell is not known as a blitzing coach. New York tends to utilize a four man pass rush but the Giant playbook does contain some nice blitzes.

Here the Giants are in a 4-2-5 Nickel personnel group running a weak side overload blitz.

• LDE-Contain Rush
• RDE-Loop to opposite A gap
• LDT - Jab to A gap, Rush B Gap
• RDT - Work to Contain Rush
• Mike - Align in A gap, pop out an Man cover TE
• Will - Align in A gap, rush A gap (Key blitz the RB)
• S - Rotate pre-snap, Edge Blitz (Key blitz the RB)
• S - Free
• Corners & Nickel - Press Man

The key blitz concept by the Will and S is used to allow for both a 6 man pass rush and Man Free Coverage. Traditional 6 man blitzes require man to man coverage with no safety help because the defense must cover the 5 eligible receiving threats with the 5 non-rushing defenders. Most man free blitzes are 5 man rushes with 5 defenders in man coverage on the 5 eligible receivers and 1 free defender (commonly a safety) helping the man coverage players. The key rush allows the Will and Safety to share the responsibility for the RB. Whichever defender the RB steps to block has him in man coverage while the other continues to pass rush. Here is video of this blitz from New York's week 5 game against the Seahawks:

 http://www.nfl.com/videos/new-york-giants/09000d5d822fc02f/Giants-defense-sack-10-yd-loss

 The Seattle pass protection has 6 blockers for 6 pass rushers but the Giants still have a free rusher. How?

The Giants attack the protection first using a deep safety in the pressure. The offense does not readily identify Safety Dion Grant as a blitz threat allowing the Giants to create a 4 on 3 pass rush to the right side.

The Center becomes the most important player in the protection. If the Center helps to the defensive right the offense can pick up the pressure. The Giants maintain their 4 vs. 3 advantage by manipulating the blocking of the Center. By walking the Mike up toward the A gap, New York presents an immediate gap threat to the Center. To prevent the Center from helping to the blitz side once the Mike drops out the left DT jabs to the A gap. Now the Center feels an A gap threat and looks to help the Guard with the Left DT. Once the DT feels the help from the Center, he works back to the B gap. Because the Center is occupied the looping DE is left unblocked.
The pressure has added effectiveness because the blitzing Will linebacker engages with the right guard. The running back and guard end up blocking the Will leaving the Safety off the edge unblocked.
 Look for Perry Fewell to dial up a limited number of well designed and well executed blitzes vs. the Patriots in the Superbowl.

Be sure to check out the Patriots Superbowl blitz preview here.