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

3-4 Rambo Defense

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 = 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

• C’s 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 = ½ 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 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

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 OT’s hip and works for contain• DE stunts off Panther’s 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 HilvertJames.hilvert@thomasmore.edu

859-344-3516