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.
Strengths of the Edge Blitz
With the 4-2-5 base alignment (diagram 1) we will always have a
safety (SS or WS) or body in our primary support positions. This
alignment allows us to edge blitz very effectively for these reasons.
First, the blitz can be very easily stemmed because the edge blitzers
are coming from their base alignment. Secondly, it allows us to
contain and set the edge very quickly, reducing the field. Lastly,
if we are coming off the edge we will have to stunt the defensive
lineman inside to cover the gaps. By doing this we will cover the
interior gaps, disrupt blocking schemes and free up our linebackers
from second level blocks.
Covering with the Edge Blitz
 Diagram 1. |
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.
 Diagram 2. |
Drill Work
“Edge Blitz” Drill
To teach the edge-blitzing techniques, we use two different drills.
The first drill we do places emphasis on all the coaching points
that we talked about in the beginning of the article: Two Second
Blitz, Point A to B, Gap Integrity and Reading the Quarterback.
To set up the “Edge Blitz” drill, first design something
to simulate an offensive line with proper splits for the edge blitzers
to get proper angles. Garbage cans or play strips work well for
this (Diagram 3).
 Diagram 3. |
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.
“Spy and Replace” Drill
Once we teach the proper techniques of coming off the edge we move
into a drill to teach the “Spy and Replace” coverage.
The “Spy and Replace” drill is set up the same as the
“Edge Blitz” drill except now you add two running backs
in the backfield and the linebackers are incorporated. There are
five basic situations that we will always get repetitions at, including
the zone bootleg, dropback pass with running back stepping up to
block, dropback pass with running back flare, sprint out and the
option. We will run these five different plays from an I-formation
backfield set or a split-back shotgun set. We will work in the
base
formations and plays for the opponent we are facing that week.
In the “Spy and Replace” blitz coverage, both the edge
blitzer and the linebacker must key the running back. Only on a
flare path by the running back will the “Spy and Replace”
concept come into effect. If the running back takes any other path
it is treated like our “Base” coverage.
 Diagram 4. |
Situation One - Zone Bootleg (Diagram 4)
With a quarterback to running back mesh, we will teach the frontside
blitzer a knife Technique. The frontside edge blitzer will plant
off his outside foot, redirect, and knife inside to fit up on the
running back. Remember, he is the edge setter and the containment
on the ball. The backside blitzer will continue on his path aiming
for the upfield shoulder of the quarterback and has containment
on the bootleg.
Situation 2 - Dropback pass with running back blocking (Diagram
5)
 Diagram 5. |
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.
 Diagram 6. |
Situation 3 - Dropback pass with running back flare (Diagram 6)
With a flare release by the running backs, it tells both the
linebacker and edge blitzer that there will be “Spy and Replace” coverage.
The edge blitzer will now spy off on the running back as the Linebacker
replaces his blitz. Linebackers must realize they
are now contain players on the quarterback. Again, have the quarterback
drop back and try to break containment to make sure the linebackers
are setting the edge and keeping their outside arm and leg free.
 Diagram 7. |
Situation 4 - Sprint out pass (Diagram 7)
In the sprint out pass the frontside blitzer must rip through or
defeat the cut block of the running back to keep contain on the
quarterback. His main concern is to keep contain on the quarterback
and to make the quarterback set up in the pocket sooner than he
wishes. This is very important for the backside blitzer. By making
the quarterback set up in the pocket sooner, it makes the distance
for the backside blitzer a shorter distance to travel, therefore
getting to the quarterback quicker. Linebackers must remember to
respect the running backs in case they slip into the flat for a
pass route.
 Diagram 8. |
Situation 5 - Option (Diagram 8)
Frontside blitzer and linebacker will read a flare release by
the running back, which will switch their option responsibilities
to
a “Spy and Replace.” The edge blitzer will now spy off
and take the pitch player and the linebacker will roll over the
top for the quarterback. The backside linebacker will then help
on the dive player since it is full flow. The backside edge blitzer
will then pursue at the depth of the ball looking for reverse or
cutback.
Overall, in any blitz drills we use, it all comes down to the basic
fundamentals that we preach daily: Two Second Blitz, Point A to
B, Gap Integrity and Reading the Quarterback. Remember, a job worth
doing, is a job worth doing right! Best of luck to you all.
| About the author Clayt Birmingham Clayt Birmingham is entering his third season with Emporia State after spending the 2000 season at the Division I-A level while at Western Michigan. The Broncos were 9-3 overall that year and won the West Division of the Mid-American Conference. In 1998-99, Coach Birmingham was a graduate assistant at Northern Michigan after spending the summer as the head coach of Stockholm’s Swedish National Championship team in the European Federation of American Football. |
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