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
• Defensive Ends Drop
• Allow to Blitz w/o Playing
Man to Man
• Soft Underneath
• Allows to be Multiple =
FUN
• 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
James.hilvert@thomasmore.edu
859-344-3516