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

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

3. Why we Zone Blitz Positives Negatives Disguise Blitz & Coverage
Allow to Blitz w/o Playing Man to Man
Allows to be Multiple = FUN
Defensive Ends Drop
Soft Underneath
Weak in the Seams/Flats

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. 4-3 Stack Defense Rover – Strongside LB Stud – Strongside DE
Tackle – 3 Technique
Mike – Middle LB
Bob – Weakside LB
Whip – Strong Safety
Free Safety – Aligns to Passing Strength

6. 4-3 Stack Defense

7. Coverage = Buzz 3
3 Deep / 3 Under Coverage

8. Blitz Coverage = Buzz 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

9. Blitz Coverage = Buzz 3 2 SCIF Defenders 1 #3 Match Player
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

10. Blitz Coverage = Buzz 3 O/S Deep 1/3 Defenders Middle 1/3 Defender
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

11. Single LB’er Blitzes STACK ROCKET BUZZ 3
Rover will blitz off strongside edge
Time up blitz with QB cadence
Aiming point is OT’s near hip
Pitch player on option / QB on zone read
Wrong arm any run block and press vertical
Free Safety & Bob are SCIF players
Mike is #3 Defender
Whip is Middle 1/3 Defender

12. Single LB’er Blitzes
STACK ROCKET BUZZ 3

13. Single LB’er Blitzes
STACK ROCKET BUZZ 3 vs TRIPLE OPTION

14. Single LB’er Blitzes
STACK ROCKET BUZZ 3 vs 5 STEP

15. Single LB’er Blitzes STACK EAGLE BOB LOOP BUZZ 3
Eagle Call sets 3 Tech away from strength
Loop tells 3 tech to blast B Gap
Weakside End will loop into A Gap
Bob will blitz off weakside edge
Bob will wrong arm run block and press vertical
Whip and Rover are SCIF
Mike is #3 Defender
FS is Middle 1/3 Player

16. Single LB’er Blitzes
STACK EAGLE BOB LOOP BUZZ 3 vs POWER

17. Single LB’er Blitzes
STACK EAGLE BOB LOOP BUZZ 3 vs NCAA RT

18. Two LB’er Blitzes Spy / Hunt Calls In/Out Calls Spy tells Stud to drop
Hunt tells End to drop
In/Out Calls
Remaining LB’er will tell dropping DE where to go
Any 2x2 send In
Any 3x1 send Out
If 3x1 to dropping DL side, LB must say “Trips”

19. Two LB’er Blitzes RAM – Rover and Mike Blitz Strongside Edge
Like to run to RB
Rover D Gap, Mike C Gap
Mike should blitz right off Stud’s butt
If not TE, Rover and Mike must keep space between each other.
Good against Slide Protection
Rover outside RB, Mike inside RB

20. Two LB’er Blitzes
STACK RAM HUNT BUZZ 3 – “In Call”

21. Two LB’er Blitzes
STACK RAM HUNT BUZZ 3 – “Out Call”

22. Two LB’er Blitzes MOB – Bob and Mike Blitz A &B Weakside
Like to run away from RB
Bob B Gap, Mike A Gap
Mike should blitz right off Nose’s butt
Good against Man/Slide Protection
Does Center carry Nose?

23. Two LB’er Blitzes
STACK MOB SPY BUZZ 3 – “In Call”

24. Two LB’er Blitzes
STACK MOB SPY BUZZ 3 – “Out/Trips Call”

25. Two LB’er Blitzes STACK OKIE COWBOY X HUNT BUZZ 3
“OKIE” tells Stud to play 9 technique
Rover aligns to Passing Strength
11 Personnel Defense/Blitz
Mike and Bob Cross blitz over Center
LB’ers must communicate who’s going first?
Patience, Patience, Patience

26. Two LB’er Blitzes
STACK OKIE COWBOY X HUNT BUZZ 3 – “In Call”

27. Two LB’er Blitzes
STACK OKIE COWBOY X HUNT BUZZ 3 – “Out Call”

28. Two LB’er Blitzes STACK OKIE SOONER HUNT BUZZ 3
“OKIE” tells Stud to play 9 technique
Rover aligns to Passing Strength
11 Personnel Defense/Blitz
Mike and Bob Blitz over Guard
Bob should blitz right off 3 Tech butt

29. Two LB’er Blitzes
STACK OKIE SOONER HUNT BUZZ 3 – “In Call”

30. Two LB’er Blitzes STACK HOT DOG 2/COLD
“HOT” tells Stud and End to drop
Both are Curl players vs 2x2
Vs 3x1 Check “Cold”
Corner to single WR plays man-to-man
Dropping Stud/End has RB
Rover and Bob edge blitz

31. Two LB’er Blitzes
STACK HOT DOG 2 vs 2x2

32. Two LB’er Blitzes
STACK HOT DOG COLD – AUTO CHECK vs 3x1

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