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.