Zone Pressures

Attacking the Offense with Zone Concepts
by: David Wood
Defensive Coordinator,Widener University
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The philosophy of our Zone Blitz Package at Widener is built upon the following concepts: simplicity, accountability and relentless pursuit to the football. Our package can be run with any of our defensive fronts, everywhere on the field and in all game situations. This allows us to give the offense a lot of different looks while maintaining our shell integrity in the secondary. As a result, we have a system that has multiple looks, is uncomplicated to learn, and looks the same to quarterbacks prior to the snap. (See Diagram 1)

Two years ago we decided to go from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense based on the personnel we were recruiting. The main goals of our zone blitz package are:

1. Stop the offense from running the football.
2. Make the offense become one-dimensional.
3. Create confusion in blocking and protection schemes.
4. Create turnovers.
5. Don't allow opponents to score.

The following game statistics were achieved over the past two seasons using our zone blitz package:

1997 1998
1 . Rushing yards allowed per game 85.4 *3l.4
2. QB sacks 57 73
3. Turnovers 28 33
4. Points per game 17.6 12.3
*Note: Number one rushing defense in the nation in all divisions (I, IAA, II, III)

Dropping Linemen

We ask our defensive linemen to drop into coverage in certain fire zone series. The lineman will only drop into coverage if they recognize pass. The nice part of the Series is that if the play is a run, it turns into a 6 or 7 man blitz. Diagrams 2 and 3 demonstrate our defensive linemen dropping into coverage. Our defensive ends use a one-step technique, while our nose guard uses a Three-step technique. (See Diagrams 2 and 3)

1. DE's will take one step upfield and then drop into coverage using a crossover step.
2. DE's must be able to read their keys in that one step in order to recognize run or pass.
3. DE's will always play the run first, then react to the pass.
4. DE's will drop at a depth of 5 to 6 yards. They can drop to the hole or alley areas. (Hole area- the DE's will open up to the TE to see which receiver is coming inside to his zone. Alley area- DE's will open up and immediately look to see if the #1 receiver is running an inside route, if not, find the next threat.)
5. DE's must get to their drop area quickly, play football and react.

Coverage

Cover 33 is used in our zone blitz package because it allows us to screw a safety down to achieve an 8-man front. We like to overload the point of attack in the running game in order to have more defenders than they have blockers. We can also screw down a corner to help take away the short side 3-step game. (See Diagram 4)

1 . Nose will take three steps upfield and then drop into coverage using a crossover step.
2 . Nose must be able to read his keys within three steps in order to recognize run or pass.
3 . Nose will always play the run first, then react to the pass.
4 . Nose will drop at a depth of 5 to 6 yards. He will always drop to the hole area. (Hole area- the nose will open up to the TE to see which receiver is coming inside to his zone.)
5 . Nose must get to his drop area quickly, play football and react.

Alley — a 12-yard drop area outside the original / imaginary TE position.

1 . Match #2 through #3 receiver working the seam, curl, Flat area.
2 . Flow away — hold the seam area

looking for crossing routes.
3 . Collision #2 receiver on any vertical route.
4 . Always play the deepest man in your zone.
5 . Know who the "Hot" receiver is in all formations.

Hole — a 12-yard drop area over top of the Strong-side offensive guard.

1 . Match #3 through #2 receiver working the hole to seam area.
2 . Collision or wall off any crossing routes.
3 . Be aware of the #2 and #3 receivers switching positions.
4 . Always play the deepest man in your zone.
5 . Know who the "Hot" receiver is in all formations.

Outside Third Players — Corners

1 . Must tackle the 3-step game within 5 yards.
2 . Call out all "china" or "smash" routes to underneath zone players.
3 . Match the deepest receiver in your zone.
4 . Always look for work, don't cover grass.
5 . Don't get beat deep.

Middle Third Player — FS and SS

1 . Match the deepest receiver in your zone.
2 . Always look for work, donít cover grass.
3 . Don't get beat deep.

Inside Fire Zones

Diagrams 5 and 6 illustrate our inside fire zone series. This series is used in situations where we feel our opponents will try and run the ball tackle to tackle or pass the ball using a 3-step game. Diagram 5 shows our nose guard dropping into the hole area.

Diagram 6 puts a safety in the hole after the snap in order to help stop the inside running game, but also allows us to utilize a better cover guy in the hole if situations dictate a 5-step or play action passing game.

Outside Fire Zones

Diagrams 7, 8 and 9 illustrate our outside fire zone series. We use these fire zones in order to get outside pressure from the open or closed side of the formation. They are designed to stop the outside running game or to take advantage of a specific type of pass protection used by the offense.

Diagram 7 is an open-side fire zone that puts our defensive end in the hole against the pass and allows us to bring our free safety off of the corner. We utilize this series to help us stop the open-side running game and confuse the protection scheme if the offense was to throw the football.

Diagram 8 is another open-side fire zone that puts our defensive end in the alley against the pass and allows us to blitz the corner outside. We utilize this series to stop the open-side running game and give us a double blitz threat off of the corner. This series is used when there is no #2 receiver threat to the open side.

Diagram 9 is a closed-side fire zone that is used primarily when the formation tendencies dictate a strong-side running game. This series allows us to bring the strong safety off the corner to outnumber the blockers at the point of attack.

We spend a lot of time evaluating opponents' down and distance tendencies in their running game and pass protection schemes. This helps us game plan and decide which versions of cover 33 we will utilize. If necessary we also have a version of cover 2 that helps us against the 3 step or DBP passing game. Our zone blitz package has so many variables and coverages that offenses limit the number of pass protections, formations, or potential receivers in order to block our zone blitz schemes.

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