Middle Overload Zone Pressure

Here is a really nice example of a middle overload zone pressure and great FZ coverage technique from the Jets. The defense is a 4-2-5 nickel personnel with OLB bodies at DE.

The Rush:

Both mugged up A  gap linebackers rush their gaps. Both DT's work outside to contain. The Safety walked down shows man coverage on the TE. The Safety loops inside to the midline to rush following and fitting off the two A gap rushers creating a triple inside overload.

The Coverage:

3 Under 3 Deep

The double mugged A gap look forces the OL into 1 on 1 blocks across the board and forces the RB to pick up an A gap rush threat. With both DE's dropping out into coverage the OT's eventually pick up the contain DT's. The OG has a very difficult redirect pass set from the DT to the full speed Safety on the midline. Final result is the LB and Safety creating a 2 on 1 vs. the RB and a pressure in the QB's face.

The coverage is excellent. The Corners are playing a matching tight 1/3 technique on the outside receivers. The Nickel is carrying the #2's vertical release. Matching aggressive coverage outside allows the Safety to be aggressive from the post on the #3 receiver. The top down technique of the post safety forces the route of the TE to flatten allowing the weak side seam dropper to intercept the crossing route. The 3RH dropper passes off the #3 to the opposite seam dropper. With the RB blocking strong the seam player can zone off allowing the strong DE to pass the crosser to his help on the weak side. The strong DE relates to the final 3 (RB) while the weak side DE is able to cover the final #2 in the seam (TE crosser).

Nice execution of the pressure and coverage from the Jets. Good stuff from Gregg Williams.

Cover 1 Pressure vs. Reduced Split Receivers

Here the Steelers are in a 4-2-5 nickel personnel with OLB bodies at DE.

The Rush:

Both DE's on contain with both DT's working away from the Nickel pressure to balance the pass rush. The Nickel is through the heel line of the up field DE creating a straight line run on the QB.

The Coverage:

Cover 1

The pass concept gets the back out immediately with no pass protection responsibility. The LB is able take a direct angle and handle the RB in the flat. The pressure in the QB's face forces the ball out fast to the RB in the flat and an immediate tackle by the LB.

The pressure pattern takes advantage of two things:
1. The TE staying in protection is only there to help the OT with the DE. While the protection is technically a 6 man protection scheme is plays out like a 5 man scat protection with a double on the DE.

2. The Nickel does a good job holding the pressure pattern making it appear like no pressure threat exists from the field. The 5 man protection structure forces the OL to ID and set to the 5 most dangerous threats. With no clear Nickel threat and 2 LB's in the box the protection works with vision in the box and away from the Nickel. The OG sets the DT in the A gap leaving the B gap open for the Nickel on the run through pressure. The Nickel's speed, width, & angle on the pressure pattern make a redirect pass set by the OG from the inside A gap threat back outside to the B gap pressure very difficult. 

The coverage on the LOS receiving threats in good usage of man coverage techniques. Many offenses use compressed formations and reduced splits to attack man coverage. Crossing routes, picks, and rub concepts from reduced split spacing helps receivers beat man coverage. Defenses need technique change ups to help handle reduced splits. 

To the strong side the Corner and Safety use an in & out combination technique. As the routes distribute the Safety take the 1st inside receiver while the corner takes the 1st outside receiver. The in & out also does a good job of being on a different level from the LB. As the linebacker runs down hill on the RB in the flat there is no pick with the Safety/Corner in man.

To the weak side the LB takes the TE and the Corner takes the WR. An in & out technique makes less sense here. In & out could end up with the Corner on the TE and the LB on a WR. Instead the Corner plays outside leverage to deny out breaking routes and gets help on the WR crosser from the post Safety. As the WR goes inside the Safety nails it down and takes the route over in man. The Corner immediately opens, runs, and replaces the Safety in the post. Again good usage of levels here in alignment by the Corner and the LB to avoid being picked by routes from the TE/WR.

Really nice usage of man coverage techniques to handle reduced splits from the Steelers and Keith Butler. 

Pressure Check vs. Unbalanced Jet Motion

Here is Cincinnati checking into pressure vs. an unbalanced formation with the X receiver off the ball. The Bearcats are in a 3-4 personnel.

The Rush:
Sam off the edge with the weak side DE slanting outside and the Jack in the B gap

The Coverage:
Rotated man coverage with the backside corner rotating to the post on motion to unbalanced by the X receiver. The LB manned on the TE ends up being able to play aggressively as the TE is ineligible in this formation.

Initially the defense is in a 2 high under front alignment. When the formation is ID'd as having the X WR off the ball the defense checks to the 5 man rotated Cover 1 pressure concept.

The Sam should be "blocked" by the jet motion but here the back side safety rotates over to handle the motion adding numbers to the strong side. The coverage rotation allows the Sam to build a 7 vs. 6 box advantage for the defense. The Sam is the unblocked +1 defender and bends to attack the power in the backfield. 

Back side the stunt by the DE and Jack creates a tough twist action vs. power blocking. The Center needs to block back to handle the blitzing Jack. The knock back technique by the Nose helps control the Center's block while the slanting DE creates the interior pressure lane for the Jack's run through.

Really nice pressure check plan to attack the jet sweep/power series from this unbalanced formation. Great recognition and execution from the Cincy defense and well planned pressure concept by Marcus Freeman. 

Cover 2 Zone Pressure to Attack Duo

Here is a 5 man zone pressure using twists and back stopped by a cover 2 concept. San Diego State is in a 3-3-5 personnel. The spacing builds a bear front. 

The Rush:

Nose is in a knock back two gap technique vs. the Center. Both DE's are penetrating with both mugged up LB's looping outside.

The Coverage:

4 under 2 deep zone coverage

The usage of mugged up LB's on the guards creates problems for Duo. The goal of duo is double teams and creating LOS movement. Here the unbalanced side double on the DE can't stay on vs. the mugged up LB. The double team elects to stay on the DE which leaves the looper free. The result is the TE is forced to block the looping Sam LB. With the TE occupied the offense has no blocker for the Mike who is bumped out to the unbalanced formation. 

If the OL had abandoned the double team and blocked the twist, the TE would have been free for the Mike. This is where the usage of cover 2 and corner support vs. the run comes into play. The WR cracks the safety, which is a great scheme against quarters coverage where the safety will be triggering down hill against the run. Here however the crack block is wasted on a deep 1/2 safety allowing the cloud corner to trigger the run. If the OL and TE had blocked the box the ball would have bounced out to the unblocked corner. 

Nice usage of mugged up LB's, twist games, and cloud run support to attack the run. Good stuff from Zach Arnett, Rocky Long, and the Aztec defense.

Packaging Complimentary Pressure Concepts

Here are two complimentary pressure concepts from San Diego State.

The Aztecs are in a 3-3-5 personnel but are aligned in a 4-2-5 under front spacing.

The Rush:

The Sam and Will are contain with the Mike hitting the A gap. The Nose and reduced DE are working a twist.

The Coverage:

Cover Zero 

The success of the pressure is all about the speed of the blitzers. Both the Sam and Will are able to win with speed and create the strong side pressure forcing the fumble.

Later in the game the Aztecs present the same strong side cover zero pressure concept pre-snap. Post-snap the concept is zone under man corner pressure instead.

The Rush:

The DL is slanting strong with the corner pressuring off the boundary edge

The Coverage:

Zone under man concept. More on the coverage concept HERE.

The offense ID's the strong pressure threats and attempts to adjust the protection. The adjustment is to send the slide to the pressure. This forces the RB to block across the formation which is a difficult pick up. Even more difficult is this corner pressure creates 2 rushers off the edge vs. the RB in a full slide concept. The corner ends up on the free run and creates a second forced fumble. 

Great execution from San Diego State and great plan to manipulate pass protection from Defensive Coordinator Zach Arnett and Head Coach Rocky Long. Rocky Long coached teams have played great defense for the last 20 plus years. Really fun defenses to break down and study at both New Mexico and now San Diego State. Coach Long doesn't get the credit he deserves as a great football mind and defensive coach. 

Pass Rush Twist vs. Empty

Here Wisconsin is in a 4-2-5 Nickel personnel with OLB bodies at DE. The Mike LB is walked up to create a bear front spacing.

The Rush:

3 man twist game with the Mike and DT penetrating and the boundary rush looping inside

The Coverage:

Cover 1 man free with the field side Rush LB dropping to play the rat in the hole

The initial alignment vs. empty of all 5 OL covered creates man blocking across the board. The guard opposite the twist is forced to widen initially with the DT in the B gap. 

The width the OG gets in his set does two things:
1. Creates space for the looping Rush
2. Makes the Guard late to provide help to the Center

The Center has a difficult set here also. The Center sets to the mugged up Mike. The Mike's speed and width force the Center to set hard and commit. The aggressiveness of the Center's set makes it difficult to redirect on the twist.

Nice usage of a pre-snap bear front presentation to get the the OL manned up. Covering all the OL gets more mileage out of a traditional four down front pass rush game. Four down pass rush twists can be picked up most effectively when the free OL is able to provide help to adjacent OL allowing the twisting rushers to be passed off. Covering all 5 OL and forcing help from a free OL to be late makes this twist effective. The usage of OLB's at DE also helps this call succeed. Hybrid players on the edge are both capable as pass rushers and in coverage drops. The uncertainty of their role for the OL helps create difficult pass set situations. Good execution from the Badgers and scheme from Jim Leonard. 

Cover 3 Sim Pressure vs. Empty

Here is a effective sim pressure vs. empty. The Titans are in a 4-2-5 nickel personnel with OLB bodies as the DE's and the field DT in a 2pt stance.

The Rush:

DT's are working strong to balance the pass rush. The pressure side pattern has the Rush up the field and the Nickel through the the heel line of the Rush. The Nickel's path creates a straight line run on the QB.

The Coverage:

4 under 3 deep zone coverage

The slide of the protection goes to the field/strong leading to a triple team on the DT crossing face. The turn of the protection allows for the Nickel to get a clean B gap run through. 

Interesting spacing here from the Titans. Many Nickel packages set the Nickel to the pass strength. Here Tennessee sets the Nickel to the boundary/weak side and bumps a LB body out of the box to the strong side. One huge upside of sim pressure like this concept is the coverage is cover 3 which lets basically any defensive player play the low drops. A linebacker can walk out and play the field side flat. An OLB can drop off the LOS to play the field hook drop. Those players may have difficulty in a matching firezone concept or a man coverage against a WR but they are very capable of execution in a 4 underneath cover 3 zone drop.

Good stuff from the Titans and Dean Pees.

Bear Front Twist to Attack Counter

Here Alabama is defending a 3rd and 13. Auburn motions in from a double stack formation to a 2x2 hip player formation. Alabama is using a Dime personnel with 2 Rush backers aligned together into the boundary. With the Mike walked up the front is a bear spacing.

The Rush:

5 Man rush with an interior 3 man twist

The Coverage:

Cover 1 man free with a high safety manned on the RB. The DB's are using a TopHat technique on the stacked WR's. The press aligned DB bluffing press on the LOS WR while actually playing man on the off WR. The deep DB is manned on the LOS WR. Good execution of a combo coverage concept.

The defense does a good job fitting the counter. The DE, looping Rush backer, and man coverage safety create 3 vs. 2 on the pullers. With man coverage the defense is boxing blocks to force the run back inside. 

The DE boxes the first puller back, the looping LB boxers back the OT rolling the hole, and the man coverage safety runs inside out staying on the back hip of the ball carrier. 

This call has good play as a pass rush stunt but the Tide defense does a good job fitting counter and getting the sticks to 4th and long.

Good stuff from Alabama and Pete Golding.

Non-traditional Overload Cover 1 Pressure

Here the Jaguars use a 3-3-5 nickel personnel blitzing two safeties. The front spacing is non-traditional using the nose as 3 tech to help build the overload.

The Rush:

Four from a side overload. The End is contain, the LB is up and under the Nose attacks the Guard. Weak side the Safety is contain with the DE on an inside rush. The overload side safety looks like he is reading the turn of the protection and looking inside to midline.

The Coverage:

Cover 1 man free with an ILB running out to play the post and the 6 man pressure peeling the RB on any release into a route.

The pressure soaks up the RB and interior OL to create space on the midline for the safety to loop inside. Interesting pressure concept from the Jags and Todd Wash.

America's Blitz vs. Action Pass

Here is America's blitz variation from UCLA in a 3-4 spacing with 4i DE's.

The Rush:

DE to the A gap with the OLB crashing on a low track and the ILB scraping over the top to contain. Opposite the blitz the 4i and Nose are running a twist game.

The Coverage:

3 Under 3 Deep

This pressure is a nice 1st and 10 play call. The scrape pattern opposite the hip aligned blocker gives the defense good play vs. split zone and counter concepts. Also moving the DL to the hip player gives the defense play vs. strong side runs. The DL movement cuts off strong side runs forcing the ball carrier back into the blitzers. Here the offense tries to go play action with a split zone action using a full zone blocking. The two backs on the edge struggle with the pick up vs. the edge blitzer. This examples shows the pressure has good play against play action concepts too. Good coverage technique by the field side seam dropping safety to turn and find the crosser. Nice regular down and distance pressure concept from UCLA and Jerry Azzinaro.

Blitz the Formation

This site exists to have an in-depth thoughtful dialog about blitzing. I've heard the criticisms of blitzing for a long time.

Blitzing is guessing
Blitzing is too risky
Blitzes are great when they hit but too many times they are bad calls into the wrong look
Blitz is just something young coaches like to do before they know how to coach defense
Base defense is the safe/smart/correct way to play defense because it lets players Play Fast

I've seen coaches call a blitz into an unfavorable look then use that decision as confirmation bias. "See blitzing is reckless..." or "caught us in blitz..." Is it? Did they? Or was that a poor usage of that blitz? Is it the tool or operator error? 

Don’t tell me why we can’t blitz show me how we can blitz when & where we want it.

Enter Blitz the Formation concepts:

The term blitz the formation (BTF) has become a popular term. Like all concepts in football there is NO universal terminology. Generically BTF is a blitz that adjusts based on the formation. This broad definition places a great many concepts under the umbrella term BTF. 

One common place the BTF terms show up is in pressures that adjust to a specific indicator.

Here is a simple example of blitzing based on the RB location. The pressure is an America's blitz variation set to the RB with a twist opposite and back stopped with 3 under 3 deep firezone coverage.

vs. 2x2

vs. 3x1

The call is going to be a blitz regardless of the formation. The pressure is adjusted based on the alignment of the RB. This can be a great strategy in the appropriate game plan situation. But what if the scouting report doesn't lead to a plan that wants to blitz every formation? What is the solution if you only want to blitz one formation structure and not others?

One solution is a BTF concept we call Blitz Automatic.

Blitz Automatic - We are making a call but are going to auto check into a pressure vs. a specific formation structure. 

General Rules:
The calls we are blending together need to exist in the same spacing. It can become confusing to go through an extreme change and move 10 of 11 players to make a check. We want to be game planned up but not unreasonable. Ideally the pre-snap defensive alignment and presentation won't change too much from call A to call B. 

We need to use one word calls. To get everyone on the same page we need simple ways to communicate pre-snap on the field. Which call are we in: A or B? Can you communicate it quickly on the field with a mouthpiece in? Also players have to comfortable with the calls. . Players have to get reps of both A and B to have the confidence to run either based on a quick pre-snap call. We must master the parts before we can use them together.

We need a practice plan to get it learned. These are game plan specific calls. The majority of our practice work on a Blitz Auto concept will be in-week and in-season. That isn't a lot of time or reps. What is our weekly teaching progression to get it executed on game day?

Example:
Game planning Regular D&D (1-10 and 2nd Down on schedule) 
Open field (No red zone or backed up or other special situation)
10 personnel

In 2x2 RB Strong/Weak and 3x1 with the RB strong the offense has balance and variety lacking any stand out strong tendency. However, in 3x1 with the RB aligned weak the offense has a strong tendency to make the RB flat and run power read. 

Basketball = Blitz Auto

Spurs - 4 Down Over front with 3 Match Coverage auto checked to a strong edge pressure vs. 3x1 with RB weak

Call structure
The call will come in from the sideline Spurs. The Mike LB will communicate the "Over" call to set the front and either Trio (3 match) or Scrape (strong pressure). The secondary will communicate the coverage adjustments.

vs. 2x2 and allows for a 6 man box and 3 match coverage

vs. 3x1 with the RB strong the coverage is a flooded cover 3 with weak rotation. This allows for the Mike to be out of RPO conflict and to build a 6 man box.

vs. 3x1 with the RB weak the pressure is the check. This allow for 2 off the edge vs. the power read play. By starting in 2 high and holding the pressure the goal is to show a look the offense wants to run their top play into. The DE on a low track off the edge shows the QB a clear give read. The goal is to force a give directly into the blitzing Mike. Multiple studies show drives with a TFL result in no points 80% the time. This is a great opportunity to create a TFL.

This type of concept allows us to have a blitz plan for the situation we want it. Are we going to only call Spurs? Of course not but we do want to have a plan to attack a tendency that exists. If we don't like a specific pressure concept or plan vs. other formations, why call it? Lets play a base defensive call when the scouting report doesn't show strong tendencies. Lets keep ourselves out of blitzing a look we don't want to blitz/lack certainty and heat up the looks we want to pressure.

Example Practice & Install Plan for a Blitz Auto

This is a plan for the overall practice. We will also of course work the blitz technique and pressure pattern within individual and group periods.

Sunday - Players off

Monday - Install on the white board followed by a cutup to show then when and how we will use the call. Walk thru reps. We walk and talk the concept and give the players the chance to move and execute the call. We will use garbage cans and live bodies at receiver.

Tuesday - Pre-practice run thru will be much more uptempo version of Monday. When going against scout team the call will be hard called. We will call and run Scrape vs. 3x1 gun weak and call and run Trio vs. the other formations. We won't make any Spurs calls. Why? We want the focus to be on executing the call so we can get good at the call vs. the formation and plays.

Wednesday - Pre-practice run thru. This time the defensive signal coach will be behind the defense. The defense is forced to turn their back to the formation (No Peeking). Once the formation is set by the coach running the scout look the defense gets the signal and turns. This forces the defense to get the call, turn and see the formation, make the ID, communicate, and run through the call. In scout period we will make some hard calls and some Spurs calls.

Thursday - Pre-practice walk thru will slow down and show motion adjustments. What do we do if they move us into or out of our blitz automatic. Against scout we will show both motion and no motion.

Friday - In the film room we will do choir practice. Players will get a signal from coach and turn to the film. Everyone must go through their pre-snap communication and then we play the play on film. This allows players to interact with the film and take mental practice reps. Each week we have a cutup and script for this choir practice meeting. On the practice field we will have a run thru what will be uptempo with reactions and execution.

Saturday - Execute the plan

The Spurs plan is a simple example of a blitz auto. There are countless blitz auto concepts that can be built to apply pressure when and where we want it. As players learn and get comfortable with weekly blitz auto concepts the ability to go into the lab to build more complex automatics is very possible. Blitzing is a defensive tool. Our goal is to be masters of using the tool effectively. There are many systems to build blitz the formation concepts into a defense and get the most out of pressure.

Attacking Counter with DL slants in the 3-4

Oklahoma is running a GT pull counter from a 2 back formation.

Even with the strong DE slanting outside the offense has good angles and numbers on the defense. The Will backer is going to have to deal with the play side OT. The offense has 3 (RB, Guard, Tackle) for the defense's 3 (Down Safety, Mike, DE). The defense does have an unblocked defender. Unfortunately the plus one defender is the Jack OLB on the backside of the play. Pre-snap the picture looks good for the offense. Post-snap the Will linebacker is able to get a run through and make the tackle due to the slant of the Nose and backside DE.

Play side the safety and DE set an edge and get help from the Mike playing over the top of the inside releasing OT. With an edge play side the backside of the defense can chase the play down from behind. The Nose is slanting strong. The slant attacks the guard who is blocking back, limiting any movement on the Nose. The Center is blocking back on the 4i DE aligned in the B gap. When the DE moves outside the Center ends up in no man's land unable to block the slanting DE and unable to redirect to the Will. The Will attacks the LOS and gets a run through in the seam created by the Nose and the Center chasing the DE. This could be a snap blitz from the Will. Regardless of it being called or a reaction the Will can be fast because the defense has the DE and folding Jack LB for any QB keep or cutback runs. 

Good stuff from UCLA and Jerry Azzinaro.

Handling Four Strong Route Concepts in Fire Zone Coverage

Here is a fire zone pressure clip from Alabama. The Tide are in a Dime personnel with OLB bodies as the DE's.

The Rush:

The Mike covers the center creating a bear spaced front with all 5 OL covered. The Rush backers on the edges are contain. The strong DT is moving inside to the midline. The Dime  takes a path through the DE's heels creating a full speed straight line run to the QB.

The Coverage:

3 under 3 deep fire zone 

The initial path of the Dime fools the RB into taking a wide path. When the Dime goes through the heels of the up field DE, the RB struggles to redirect and make the pick up.

The coverage does a great job handling the 4 verticals from a 4 strong formation.

The formation presents 4 receiving threats to the strong side of the formation. The Mike is the seam dropper relating to the #2 receiver. In this formation the #4 strong is also #2 receiver weak. Weak side the corner is playing an aggressive man style technique with limited coverage help. To the strong side there is a choice to make about the strong corner's technique. The corner could play a divider zone technique deep 1/3. Instead the corner bails to man style technique leaning on the #1 receiver. The Nickle in the seam is playing match-carry-deliver seam technique. With the #2 receiver vertical the Nickel carries the route. With the RB #4/#2 blocking strong the drop down safety has inside help from the weak seam dropping Mike LB. The safety and LB do an excellent job of passing the route. The Mike gets is eyes outside to see the threat and makes a man turn and rolls back with the vertical from the #3 (once the route distributes it is the new/final #2). The drop down safety is able to pass the inside vertical and zone off over the top of the RB who becomes the new/final #3.

This is a good understanding of a four strong formation and how to pass and match the route distribution from Alabama. Good stuff from Pete Golding and Nick Saban.

A Gapped Mugged Zone Under Man Pressure

Here is a clip of the 2016 Patriots running a zone under man pressure coverage. The coverage shares many similarities to quarters coverage.

The Patriots are in a 4-2-5 nickel personnel with OLB bodies as the DE's.

The Rush:

Nickel off the edge with the DT and Mike pressuring their gaps. The field side rush is working a long loop over the top of the penetrating DT and LB.

The Coverage:

The Corners and Safeties are playing man coverage while the two drop LB's are working inside the #2 receivers to deny hot throws.

The protection ends up taking on a man to man principle with all the OL covered. The RB works inside to help with the A gap rush threat. The Rush looping pulls the OT's eyes and feet inside leaving the Nickel free off the edge. With no safety rotation it is very difficult to ID the Nickel as a pass rush threat pre-snap.

This coverage concepts shows up in the 2006 Eric Mangini Jets Defense

It also shows up in the 2010 playbook from Romeo Crennel in Kansas City

In this concept the Palms coverage is only played vs. 2x2 and the coverage converts to a 3 under 3 deep vs. any 3x1

This coverage concept can help mitigate some of the 2x2 formation risk associated with being in a 3 deep fire zone coverage. The risk of verticals often requires a firezone coverage to carry the #2's vertical with the seam dropper. If the defense doesn't want to match the #2 receivers in the seam with underneath droppers this coverage allows the defense to use DB's on all four vertical pass threats while maintaining a strong coverage presence in the seams for hot throws.

Good stuff from former Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia. No doubt Bill Belichick had a hand in this concept showing up all over in his coaching tree. 

2 Under 3 Deep Overload Blitz

Here is an overload pressure from the Colts in a Dime personnel.

The Rush:

The Colts cover the center and go 5 at the LOS with two wide DT's and the mugged up Mike creating a bear front look. The strong DE is up the field for contain. The DT's are looping weak. The Nickle is up and under, the Dime is down the middle of the strong guard. The Mike bluffs dropping out including turning his shoulders to sell a drop out off the LOS. The Mike then adds back into the rush in the A gap. 

The Coverage:

2 Under 3 Deep 

The up and under by the Nickel creates a straight line path to the QB through the heels of the contain DE. The RB scanning across the formation has a tough pick up on a full speed blitzer. Having a DT and DE weak holds the guard and tackle away from the pressure and forces the Center to travel back with the strong DT. The Center has no way to know the weak side guard is going to be freed up. The Mike bluffing a drop out gets lost by the pass protection and when he re-inserts himself in the rush he is free in the A gap. Good execution from the Colts and nice pressure concept from Matt Eberflus