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Getting an Edge on the BlitzEmporia State University\'s 4-2-5 defenseby: Clayt Birmingham Defensive Coordinator, Emporia State University © More from this issue This past season at Emporia State University we finished with a 9-3 record ending our season with an overtime win in the Mineral Water Bowl. Our defense is based out of the 4-2-5 set. Our defensive philosophy with the eight-man front is to stop the run while having an aggressive blitz package. One of our most efficient blitz packages this past season has been our edge blitz game. Emphasizing the Blitz When teaching our blitz game to our athletes, we emphasize four main points: Two Second Blitz, Point A to B, Gap Integrity, and Reading the Quarterback. First and foremost, each player must realize the purpose and the aggressive mentality that goes along with the blitz scheme. We teach this by using a buzz phrase of “Two Second Blitz.” Meaning that in every blitz we need to get to the quarterback in two or less seconds. Our blitzers and defensive linemen have to realize that we are in man coverage with our secondary and we cannot expect them to cover for long periods of time. As a defense, we will never fault our coverage in the blitz game, but rather take a closer look at our blitz scheme and aggressiveness. Secondly, we preach “Point A to B.” This simply means that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. The first thing we talk about when teaching this is alignment. Many times you will find that the blitzer will round his path because he is misaligned for the proper blitz angle. We want our players to be able to get the target in sight (running back or quarterback set up point) through the gap that they are blitzing. Next, we teach our players the importance of Gap Integrity. When running sound blitzes we will have every gap covered with a blitzer or a stunter. Each player must understand his responsibility of controlling and going through his gap so he does not get in the path of and knock off one of his blitzing teammates. Lastly, we teach our blitzers how to “Read the Quarterback”
on a dropback pass. Many think this should not have to be taught
but we have all seen and thrown our hat down to the matador quarterback
who olay’s our blitzer. We teach them three basic reads because
we do not want to take away their aggressiveness. First, if the
quarterback has his back to you it is a no brainer and you continue
full stride hitting him high and raking down on his throwing arm.
Second scenario, you are blitzing the quarterback’s front side
and he is looking directly at you. We teach that if the quarterback
has two hands on the ball and is looking at you he is now more of
a run threat, therefore we will breakdown our stride and get ready
to make a play side to side. If the quarterback releases his front
arm and enters the throwing progression we will again continue full
stride through his numbers.
There are two different coverage techniques we use with our edge blitzers. The first is simply our “Base” cover and the second is the “Spy and Replace” cover. In “Base,” our edge blitzers (SS and WS) are quarterback players on dropback pass and option. Our Linebackers have the running backs man-to-man as shown in diagram 1. The second way we cover it is with a “Spy and Replace” concept. This is simply a change up by the edge blitzer and the linebacker based on the running back’s path. The only change up where the “Spy and Replace” concept takes place is if the running back flares or runs a pitch path (Diagram 2). In this case the edge blitzer will spy off on the running back and take him man-to-man. Being that the linebacker is now free, he will replace blitz for the edge blitzer. This is a great change up verses option teams and teams that like to throw HOT routes to their running backs.
Next place a cone five yards behind each offensive
tackle position simulating a pass set by the offensive tackle.
Next,
either the coach or a shifty work team player should simulate the
quarterback. We usually use our shiftiest work team quarterback
to get the proper drop and then let him try to break contain sometimes.
Coach the quarterback to go through different situations, such
as:
five-step, three-step, sprint-out, bootleg, scramble, etc. Our
strong and weak safeties will align in base position stemming a
zone coverage.
At the snap of ball both will blitz off the edge. Coaches should
look for proper speed (2 second blitz), proper angles (based on
alignment), proper aiming point (which is the upfield shoulder
of
the quarterback), proper quarterback reads (of when to breakdown
and when to run through), and to make sure of containment on the
quarterback.
Situation One - Zone Bootleg (Diagram 4)
Both edge blitzers will aim for the upfield shoulder of the running
back that steps up to block them. This is an important aiming point
because the edge blitzers are now the contain players that must
keep their outside arm and leg free at all times. In this situation,
have the quarterback try to break contain on occasion to force
the
edge blitzers to keep the edge. You can also have the running backs
release into the flat to make the linebackers work on their man
cover techniques.
Situation 3 - Dropback pass with running back flare (Diagram 6)
Situation 4 - Sprint out pass (Diagram 7)
Situation 5 - Option (Diagram 8)
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