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AFM Magazine


Overload Blitz Package

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At Elizabeth City State University, we play a multiple 40 defense. We are an aggressive style defense that aims to disrupt the timing of the offense. We do this by getting pressure with the front four, disguising our coverages and blitzing.

One of our favorite blitzes is the overload blitz. We run a strong side and weak side overload blitz out of Cover 0. These pressures are designed to outnumber the offense on the blitz side. Here are some of our overload blitz packages:

4-3 Wasp Blitz (vs. Pro)

Wasp is our weak side blitz. Versus a Pro formation the defense aligns with a two-safety look. The WLB and the MLB will be the blitzing linebackers. The WLB aligns head up on the OT. On the snap, the weak DE collisions the OT and occupies him until the WLB blitzes on his outside. When the backer clears, the DE must get depth in the backfield to insure he has the football contained to his inside. The MLB aligns in a strong shade on the OC. The weak DT attacks through the A gap, and the MLB blitzes to the weak B gap, tight to the hip of the DT. The strong side DT and DE play through their respective gaps and pursue to the football. The remaining defenders will play man-to-man coverage (See Diagram 1).

Diagram 1

4-3 Wasp Blitz (vs. Spread)

Versus a Spread formation there are only a few changes. We will still align with a two-safety look, but the WLB must now widen his split relative to the Slot WR. The WLB and MLB are still the blitzing backers and the DL’s responsibilities remain the same. The biggest coaching point vs. this formation is timing the WLB blitz with the FS rolling down to play man-to-man coverage vs. the Slot WR. The remaining defenders will play man-to-man coverage vs. the remaining offensive players (See Diagram 2).

Diagram 2

4-3 Sting Blitz (vs. Pro)

Sting is our strong side blitz. Versus a Pro formation the defense aligns with a two-safety look. The SLB and the MLB will be the blitzing linebackers. The SLB aligns on the outside shoulder of the OT. On the snap, the SLB blitzes straight through the C gap and the strong DE attacks outside containing the football. The MLB aligns in a strong shade on the OC. The strong DT slants inside to the A gap and the MLB blitzes to the strong B gap tight to the hip of the DT. The weak side DT and DE play through their respective gaps and pursue to the football. The remaining defenders will play man-to-man coverage (See Diagram 3).

Diagram 3

4-3 Sting Blitz (vs. Spread)

On our Sting blitz vs. a Spread formation, the blitz remains the same as the Pro formation except for a few coverage changes. The WLB covers the Slot WR man-to-man and the FS covers the RB man-to-man. Each CB still covers the #1 WR on their side man-to-man and the SS covers the TE man-to-man (See Diagram 4).

Diagram 4

4-4 Wasp Blitz (vs. Pro)

We also run our overload blitzes from an 8-man box. We bring the SS down to the strong side and bump the backers weak. Our weak side blitz looks the same but our backers come from different alignments. The weak DT attacks through the A gap forcing a double team from the OC. The MLB blitzes to the weak B gap tight to the hip of the DT. The weak DE collisions and occupies the OT as the WLB blitzes tight off the edge of the LOS. When the backer clears, the DE must get depth in the backfield to insure he has the football contained to his inside. The strong side DT and DE play through their respective gaps and pursue to the football. The remaining defenders will play man-to-man coverage (See Diagram 5).

Diagram 5

4-4 Wasp Blitz (vs. Spread)

Versus a Spread formation there are only a few changes. The WLB must now adjust his split relative to the Slot WR. The WLB and MLB are still the blitzing backer, and the DL’s responsibilities remain the same. The biggest coaching point vs. this formation is timing the WLB blitz with the FS rolling down to play man-to-man coverage vs. the Slot WR. The SS is already in position to play man coverage vs. the TE. The remaining defenders will play man coverage vs. the remaining offensive players (See Diagram 6).

Diagram 6

4-4 Sting Blitz (vs. Pro)

On our 8-man box Sting blitz, pressure is coming from the MLB and SLB linebackers. Both backers are aligned directly over the Guards. The strong DE slants outside the TE and contains the football. The strong DT slants inside to the A gap, and the SLB blitzes to the strong C gap. The MLB blitzes through the strong B gap tight to the hip of the DT. The weak side DT and DE play through their respective gaps and pursue to the football. The remaining defenders will play man-to-man coverage (See Diagram 7).

Diagram 7

4-4 Sting Blitz (vs. Spread)

Versus a Spread formation, the WLB must play man-to-man coverage vs. the Slot WR. The SS is already in position to play man coverage vs. the TE. The remaining defenders will play man coverage vs. the remaining offensive players (See Diagram 8).

Diagram 8

We use these blitzes vs. several of the offensive sets we encounter. We like the fact that it is easy to teach and it is a great neutralizer vs. most offensive protection schemes.






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