Field & Boundary Blitz Variations & Coverages out of the 3-4 Defense
Jim HilvertHead 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 Offense’s 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
Field/Boundary Coverages
• Formation and Blitz Dictate Coverage– Communication is key– 1 Safety and 1 LB’er make calls
• Buzz 3/Box 3– 3 Under/3 Deep
• Gold– C’s 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 = 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 = 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 = ½ Player
• #3 Match player• Single WR side – Flat Player– Post/Fade Player
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
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
Buster Blitz
• Personnel = 10/11– This Blitz can be an auto-check– Passing down blitz
• Both ILB’s Cross Blitz Over Center– Nose loops to “B” Gap away from RB– ILB away from RB blitzes 1st
– ILB to RB read blitzes
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 OT’s hip and works for contain• DE stunts off Panther’s movement
– OLB away from RB edge blitz
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!