Air Force Zone

Pressures
Tim DeRuyter
Air Force Academy
 • AIR FORCE ZONE PRESSURES
• COVERAGE CONCEPTS
– * 3 UNDER, 3 DEEP MATCH UP ZONE
– * 4 UNDER, 2 DEEP
• PRESSURE CONCEPTS
– * RUN or PASS BLITZ (or Both)
– * TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PROTECTION RULES
– * USE DISGUISE
– * BRING VARIETY OF PEOPLE / PLACES
• Keep it Simple - Run what you can Rep!

2
 • AIR FORCE ZONE PRESSURES

• BLITZ CONCEPTS
– * 1 OLB / 1 ILB FROM A SIDE
– * BOTH INSIDE LINEBACKERS
– * BOTH OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS

• WHERE WE BRING BLITZ

– * FIELD OR BOUNDARY
– * OPEN / CLOSED SIDE
– * STRONG (PASSING STRENGTH) or WEAK
– * TILT
3
 • AFA ZONE PRESSURES
• MUST UNDERSTAND FIRE ZONE:
– * Underneath Coverage
• - 2 SEAM DEFENDERS (#2)
• - 1 STACK # 3 PLAYER
– * Deep Coverage:
• - Corners play FZ 1/3’s
• - M/3 Safety plays FZ M/3

4
 • FIRE ZONE
FIRE ZONE COVERAGE

3 2

2 1

SEAM SEAM

# 3 PLAYER
S
E S
A E
M A
M

FZ 1/3 FZ 1/3

FZ M/3

5
 • AFA ZONE PRESSURES
• SEAM DEFENDERS:
–* Responsible for # 2 receiver
–* “Matches” outside release of # 2
–* “Collision and Carries” vertical of # 2
–* “Delivers” inside routes of # 2
–* Must know where # 3 receiver is to be aware of Switches
– * MUST KEEP VISION

6
 • SEAM DEFENDERS
#3 QB
#2
#1
#2 #1
S E N E
Match M W B Match
C C
FS SS

2. If # releases VERTICAL, You "COLISION AND CARRY"

QB #3
#2
#1
#2 #1
S E N E B
M W
Carry C
C Carry

FS SS

7
 • ZONE PRESSURES
• STACK # 3 PLAYER:
–* Responsible for # 3 receiver
–* Plays closer to QB than # 3 receiver (Low shoulder)
–* Plays Inside/Out on # 3
–* Must know where # 2 receiver is to be aware of Switch
– * NO Vertical responsibility for # 3
– * MUST KEEP VISION!

8
 • STACK # 3 PLAYERS
QB
#3
#2
#1

#2 #1

S E N E
Carry M W B
C C

FS
SS

2. If # 3 runs vertical, Carry to 12 yards and "zone up".

#2 QB

#1 #2

#3 #1

E N E B
S M W
C
C

SS FS

M/3 9
 3 If # 3 and # 2 switch, play the new # 3 inside-out, always remaining closer to the QB.
QB
#3 #2
#1

#2 #1
S E N E
Carry W B
M
C C
# 3 Player

FS SS
Seam

4. If # 3 and # 2 switch, play the new # 3 inside-out, always remaining closer to the QB.

#3 QB
#2
#1

#2 #1

S E N E
Deliver M W B
#3 Carry C
C

10
FAR PRO "RINGO

S E NG E B 9 DOG
SEAM
C M W BACKER
SEAM
FORCE
# 3
FZ 1/3 BLAST C
FZ 1/3
SS FS

FAR to NEAR PRO

"RINGO" to
'LUCKY"

S E NG E B
SEAM / 9 DOG /
C 9 DOG M
# 3 / W SEAM
BLAST /
FZ 1/3
BLAST # 3 C
SS FS FZ 1/3
M/3 /
SEA M
"RINGO" - SEAM /
CHECK "LUCKY" - M/3

DENVER TO "RINGO" to
TEXAS "LUCKY"

S E NG E
B
C # 3 / M
W 9 DOG /
BLAST / SEAM
BLAST # 3 C

FZ 1/3 FS SS
RINGO - M/3 / FZ 1/3
CHECK "LUCKY" - SEAM SEAM /
M/3

11
VS DENVER "LIZ"
TB "CHECK SKY"

S Z

X Y

B E N E S
SEAM
# 3 W M
SS
SEAM 2nd 1st C
C

FS

VS TEXAS "RIP"
"CHECK SKY"
TB

Z S

Y X

S E N E B
SS # 3 SEAM
SEAM M W
C 1st 2nd C

FS

VS TAHOE
"LIZ"
"CHECK SKY"
TB

S Z

X Y

B E N E S
SS W M
C 1st
C
2nd
12
FS
 • 2 ZONE DOG

• * 4 UNDER, 2 DEEP ZONE PRESSURE

• * 2 “SOFT SQUAT” CORNERS
• * 2 “WALL – 2” PLAYERS
• * 2 ZONE DOG ½’S

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VS DENVER TB

S Z
X Y

E N T J
N W M
WALL 2 WALL 2 C
C S. SQUAT
S. SQUAT SS FS

1/2 1/2

VS TEXAS
"SLING" TB

Z S
Y X

T N E
N
W J
C M
WALL 2 WALL 3 C
S. SQUAT
SS FS S. SQUAT

1/2 1/2
VS TAHOE TB
CHECK "SKY"

S Z
X Y

E N T J
N
Seam W M
Stack 3 Seam
C
C SS FZ 1/3
FZ 1/3
FS
FZ
M/3 14