Field & Boundary Blitz Variations &

Coverages out of the 3-4 Defense

Jim Hilvert
Head Football Coach
Thomas More College

Overview

Why Field and Boundary

Teaching Blitz Coverages
Field and Boundary Blitzes
Surface Blitzes

Why Field and Boundary?

Allows us to be Versatile
Different blitzes based on formation
Different coverages based on blitz

Attack Offenses Weakness

Game plan blitzes for
Personnel
Formations

Makes Players Learn System

Players buy into playbook if they are making
decisions

3-4 Field/Boundary Defense

Stud Field DE
End Boundary DE
Nose 0 Technique
Rover Field OLB
Mike Field ILB
Panther Boundary ILB
Bob Boundary OLB
Whip Boundary Safety
Free Safety Field Safety

3-4 Rambo Defense

Field/Boundary Coverages
Formation and Blitz Dictate Coverage
Communication is key
1 Safety and 1 LBer make calls

Buzz 3/Box 3
3 Under/3 Deep

Gold
Cs man-to-man/3 Under/1 Deep

Cover 8
4 Under/2 Deep

Blitz Coverage = Buzz/Box 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/Box 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/Box 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

Blitz Coverage = Buzz 3/Box

3
3 Deep / 3 Under Coverage

Blitz Coverage = GOLD vs

2x2
6 Players in coverage
Corners play man-to-man
3 Underneath players are playing match up
zone

2 SF Defenders (Seam/Flat)
O/S alignment on any #2 displaced WR
#2 Out - Jump route
#2 In Squeeze and look for crosser
#2 Vert Collision and funnel to FS

If 3x1 check Buzz 3

Blitz Coverage = Gold vs

2x2
Cs Man-to-Man/ 1 Deep / 3 Under
Coverage

Blitz Coverage = Eight vs 3x1

2 Deep/ 4 Underneath Defenders
Auto Check to 3x1 in Certain Blitzes
Must Have a Curl Player to 3x1
Corner = Flat Player
OLB = Curl Player
Safety = Player

#3 Match player
Single WR side
Flat Player
Post/Fade Player

Blitz Coverage = Eight vs

3x1
2 Deep / 4 Under

Field/Boundary Blitzes
Ball Must be on Hash
Set Front to Field
Blitzes Based on Offensive Personnel
# RB and #TE in game
Example: 21 = Expect Pro or Twins Formation

Indicator Blitzes
Running Back
Tight End

Snow Blitz
Personnel = 21
Field = Freeze
Boundary = Blizzard

Safety and OLB Blitz to TE side

Good vs Pro / Twins sets
Teams that run ball strong
OLB is Low-Track Player - Dive
Safety is High-Track Player QB

Snow Blitz
OLB Rules
Press TE & LOS
TE blocks down
Run to Spill any block and work vertical
Run away Squeeze down line, Cutback/Boot/Reverse

TE blocks out
OLB will slap/rip into C gap and work vertical

Safety Rules
Outside blitzer
Should not be crossing line at same time as OLB
Should expect ball to be bounced out
If run away, safety can read out of blitz

Snow Blitz (Freeze)

Freeze Buzz 3

Snow Blitz (Freeze)

Freeze vs Power

Snow Blitz (Blizzard)

Blizzard vs Outside Zone

Steam Blitz
Personnel = 10/11
Field = Fire
Boundary = Water

OLB and ILB Blitz to RB side

Pinch & Scrape Blitz
Good vs Teams that Run Zone Read
OLB is Low-Track Player - Dive
ILB is High-Track Player QB

Steam Blitz (Fire)

Fire Buzz 3 vs Zone Read

Steam Blitz (Water)

Water Cover 8 vs Slide Pro

Buster Blitz
Personnel = 10/11
This Blitz can be an auto-check
Passing down blitz

Both ILBs Cross Blitz Over Center

Nose loops to B Gap away from RB
ILB away from RB blitzes 1st
ILB to RB read blitzes

Buster Blitz
Buster Box 3 vs 2x2 Formation

Buster Blitz
Buster Cover 8 vs 3x1 Formation

Tsunami Blitz
Personnel = 10/11
Field = Flood
Boundary = Wave

ILB and Opposite OLB

Called to RB
Passing down blitz
Panther will run Pick Stunt to RB
Panther attacks OTs hip and works for contain
DE stunts off Panthers movement

OLB away from RB edge blitz

Tsunami Blitz (Wave)

Wave Buzz 3 vs 3x1 Formation

Tsunami Blitz (Flood)

Flood Buzz 3 vs Ace Gun Near

Surface Blitzes
Blitz based on #of Linemen/TE
Field = Falcon
Boundary = Bench

Rules
3 Man surface = Snow Blitz
2 Man surface = Steam Blitz
3x 1 set = Buster Blitz

Surface Blitzes
Falcon
Good for teams that have versatile
personnel
Example = TE and RB that can line up at WR

Blitz will always come from field

If 3x1 set, Buster is run towards RB

Coverages
Built into separate blitzes
Communication is key!

Falcon
Falcon (Fire) Buzz 3 vs Twins
FIELD

Falcon
Falcon (Freeze) Buzz 3 vs Ace

Falcon
Buster Cover 8 vs 3x1 Formation

Questions?

Jim Hilvert
James.hilvert@thomasmore.edu
859-344-3516