1. Zone Blitzes & Coverages out of the 3-4 Defense
Jim Hilvert
Head Football Coach
Thomas More College

2. Overview Why Zone Blitz? Keys to Zone Blitzing Teaching Blitz Coverage
Two LB’er Blitzes
Corner Blitz

3. Why We Like 3-4 Zone Blitzing
Variations
Defensive Ends Don’t Have to Drop
Best Personnel on the Field

4. Keys to Zone Blitzing Communication Collision WR’s
Safeties/DE/LB must talk to each other
Collision WR’s
Be physical and re-route any vertical route
Dictate where ball will be thrown
Don’t cover any route under 5 yds
Defend deep / Give up Flats
Must work vs Run & Pass

5. 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

6. 3-4 Rambo Defense

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. Coverage = Buzz 3/Box 3
3 Deep / 3 Under Coverage

11. Two LB’er Blitzes RAMBO SLAM IN BOX 3 Rover and Bob are SCIF players
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

12. Two LB’er Blitzes
RAMBO SLAM IN BOX 3

13. Two LB’er Blitzes RAMBO SLAM OUT BOX 3 Rover and Bob are SCIF players
Mike will blitz strongside “C” gap
Stud will “Longstick” to “A” gap
Panther will blitz strongside “B” gap
Should scrape right off Stud’s 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

14. Two LB’er Blitzes
RAMBO SLAM OUT BOX 3

15. Two LB’er 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

16. Two LB’er Blitzes
RAMBO BANDIT IN BUZZ 3

17. Two LB’er 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

18. Two LB’er Blitzes
RAMBO BANDIT OUT BUZZ 3

19. Tags for Two LB’er Blitzes
Cross Tag
Tells LB’er to exchange gaps
LB’ers must communicate
Split Tag
Tells LB’er to run “In/Out” Combo
Must communicate w/ DL
Nose – Rome/London
DE - Tracks

20. Tags for Two LB’er Blitzes
RAMBO SLAM IN CROSS BOX 3

21. Tags for Two LB’er Blitzes
RAMBO BANDIT SPLIT BUZZ 3

22. Corner Blitzes RAMBO WHISKEY 2 Bob will play Flat
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

23. Two LB’er Blitzes
RAMBO WHISKEY 2 vs 2x2

24. Two LB’er Blitzes
RAMBO WHISKEY 2 vs 3x1

25. 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

26. Overload Blitz RAMBO ROMO GOLD Panther will rush outside to RB
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

27. Blitz Coverage = Gold vs 2x2

28. Two LB’er Blitzes
RAMBO ROMO GOLD vs 2x2 – “Boomer”

29. Two LB’er Blitzes
RAMBO ROMO BUZZ 3 vs 3x1 - Flutie

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