3-4 Zone Blitzing

vs.
Shotgun Spread
Offense
Jason Bornn
Saugus High School, CA
jbornn@hartdistrict.org

Zone
Blitzing

Why do we Zone Blitz?

Use when we do not match up well with
offense
Aggressive but safe
QB has 2.7 sec. to throw the ball
Offense has to throw the ball short &
outside
Attack protections/weak pass blockers
Allows for a 5 man pressure
Allows for zone coverage behind it
Great for run and pass downs
As long as you understand the concept,
you can send any five players you want, ie.
variety

COVERAG
E

Understanding the Coverage

3 Under, 3 Deep Concept
1.You will have two Seam defenders and
one low hole player to cover the UNDER
zones
2. You will have three Deep defenders
covering the DEEP third zones of the field

Seam Defenders
Match-Carry-Deliver Concept
Align 4 yards off the ball outside of TE or inside of
Slot
Read OT for Run or Pass
If Run is read, you are primary force defender
If Pass is read, get your eyes on the #2

Seam Defenders
Match-Carry-Deliver Concept
Once Pass is read, be in a position to collision the #2
It is NOT a devastating blowabsorb him and
carry
Once you have contact with the #2, get eyes on QB
MATCH the OUT of #2
CARRY the VERTICAL of #2
DELIEVER the IN of #2
You will NEVER get deeper than 12 yards
React to the QBs Shoulders

Seam Defenders
MATCH the OUT of #2
If #2 goes Out before 12 yards, match it by going
out
DO NOT JUMP HIMget to Curl of #1
If #2 goes out after 12 yards, get under him

Seam Defenders
CARRY the VERTICAL of #2
If #2 goes Vertical, absorb and carry him; release
at 12 yards and
read the QBs shoulders
S

12 yards

Seam Defenders
DELIVER the IN of #2
If #2 goes Inside, collision him and follow for 2
glide steps and
read the QBs shoulders
S

Low Hole Player

On Run, Low Hole player protects the open gap
On Pass, always play shoulders of the QB

S
C
$

N
M

R
C

W
F/S

Deep Defenders
Stay on top of Receivers

S
C
$

N
M

R
C

W
F/S

BLITZING

Left/Strong Outlaw

N
M

T
W

seam

3 hole

F/S

seam

N
M

seam

3 hole

F/S

seam

R
C

N
W

E
M

seam

3 hole

F/S

seam

Left/Strong Able

seam

N
M

T
W

seam

F/S

3 hole

seam

N
M

T
W

seam

F/S

3 hole

seam

C
F/S

N
W

E
W

seam

C
$

3 hole

Left/Strong Cross

seam

seam

F/S

3 hole

seam

N
M

T
W

F/S

3 hole

seam

C
F/S

seam

N
W

seam

C
$

3 hole

Left/Strong Storm

Sseam

N
M

T
W

seam

3 hole

F/S

Sseam

N
M

seam

3 hole

F/S

seam

N
W

E
M

seam

3 hole

F/S

Drills

Seam Defenders
Multiple Reps Read-React Drill
#2 Slot

#2 Slot

#2 Slot

#2 Slot
WR

WR

SS

FS

COACH

*** Coach signals to Scout Players what to do: Run, Pass; routes
to run. By doing this in mass, multiple players get reps.

DL/Blitzers
Trash Can Drill
QB
C
S
$

E
M

COACH

*** Call all our Zone Blitzs and players get to right gap.

FS

ROLL FILM