Zone Blitzes & Coverages

out of the 3-4 Defense

Jim Hilvert
Head Football Coach
Thomas More College

Overview

Why Zone Blitz?

Keys to Zone Blitzing
Teaching Blitz Coverage
Two LBer Blitzes
Corner Blitz

Why We Like 3-4 Zone

Blitzing
Variations
Defensive Ends Dont Have to Drop
Best Personnel on the Field

Keys to Zone Blitzing

Communication
Safeties/DE/LB must talk to each other

Collision WRs
Be physical and re-route any vertical
route

Dictate where ball will be thrown

Dont cover any route under 5 yds
Defend deep / Give up Flats

Must work vs Run & Pass

3-4 Rambo Defense

Rover Strongside OLB

Stud Strongside DE
End Weakside DE
Nose 0 Technique
Mike Strongside ILB
Panther Weakside ILB
Bob Weakside OLB
Whip Safety away from Passing Strength
Free Safety Aligns to Passing Strength

3-4 Rambo Defense

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

Coverage = Buzz 3/Box 3

3 Deep / 3 Under Coverage

Two LBer Blitzes

RAMBO SLAM IN BOX 3
Mike will blitz strongside B gap
Panther will blitz strongside A gap
Nose will work away from Blitz 2 way go
Stud and End are contain rushers

Rover and Bob are SCIF players

Whip is #3 Match Player
FS is Deep Middle 1/3 Player

Two LBer Blitzes

RAMBO SLAM IN BOX 3

Two LBer Blitzes

RAMBO SLAM OUT BOX 3
Mike will blitz strongside C gap
Stud will Longstick to A gap
Panther will blitz strongside B gap
Should scrape right off Studs butt

Nose will work away from Blitz 2 way go

Rover and Bob are SCIF players

Whip is #3 Match Player
FS is Deep Middle 1/3 Player

Two LBer Blitzes

RAMBO SLAM OUT BOX 3

Two LBer Blitzes

RAMBO BANDIT IN BUZZ 3
Bob will blitz weakside B gap
Panther will blitz weakside A gap
Nose will work away from blitz 2 way go
Stud and End are contain rush

Rover and Whip are SCIF players

Mike is #3 Match Player
FS is Deep Middle 1/3 Player

Two LBer Blitzes

RAMBO BANDIT IN BUZZ 3

Two LBer Blitzes

RAMBO BANDIT OUT BUZZ 3
Bob will blitz weakside C gap
End will stunt to weakside A gap
Panther will blitz weakside B gap
Should scrape off End butt

Nose will work away from blitz 2 way go

Rover and Whip are SCIF players

Mike is #3 Match Player
FS is Deep Middle 1/3 Player

Two LBer Blitzes

RAMBO BANDIT OUT BUZZ 3

Tags for Two LBer Blitzes

Cross Tag
Tells LBer to exchange gaps
LBers must communicate
Split Tag
Tells LBer to run In/Out Combo
Must communicate w/ DL
Nose Rome/London
DE - Tracks

Tags for Two LBer Blitzes

RAMBO SLAM IN CROSS BOX 3

Tags for Two LBer Blitzes

RAMBO BANDIT SPLIT BUZZ 3

Corner Blitzes
RAMBO WHISKEY 2
Boundary blitz
Boundary Corner will blitz on snap
Panther will blitz strongside C gap
We use Panther as a distraction

Nose will bull rush Center

Bob will play Flat

Mike must react to formation
Vs 2x2 work to weakside curl
Vs 3x1 work to #3 WR

Two LBer Blitzes

RAMBO WHISKEY 2 vs 2x2

Two LBer Blitzes

RAMBO WHISKEY 2 vs 3x1

Blitz Coverage = GOLD vs

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

2 SCF 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

Overload Blitz
RAMBO ROMO GOLD
3 Defenders off an edge to RB
Ball must be on a hash
Flutie Field
Boomer - Boundary

Nose aligns as 3 Tech away from blitz

Mike presses LOS and bails out

Panther will rush outside to RB

OLB to RB will delay blitz off edge
DE will attack up field and then dip underneath

Blitz Coverage = Gold vs

2x2

Two LBer Blitzes

RAMBO ROMO GOLD vs 2x2
Boomer

Two LBer Blitzes

RAMBO ROMO BUZZ 3 vs 3x1 - Flutie

Questions?

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