3-5 Zone Blitzes

Throughout the last post, the message was made clear that the 3-5 can complicate blocking rules because of the different amount of pressure packages defensive coordinators are able to put together.  Today's post is based on just two of the hundreds of zone blitz packages that a 3-5 defense can use to disorient the QB and opposing offense.

The focus is on the TORCH and CLUB zone blitzes.  Each complicates the QB's read, because they use simple zone blitzing techniques to confuse the offense.  TORCH is the DE and SS/OLBs zone blitzing games, and CLUB is both DEs and both SSs moving.

 *** A key to zone blitzing, the defensive lineman must always step forward, checking for run, before he takes off into his zone. ***

TORCH

Torch alerts the callside DE that he will be dropping into his zone.  His zone is defined as the shallow flat (5 yards depth).  Torch also alerts the callside stack linebacker and strong safety they will be blitzing the B and outside gap.  The advantage of torch is the simplicity of bringing four man pressure.

By tagging OPEN into TORCH, assignments can be changed simply.  Open designates the open (or weak) side to perform their TORCH responsibilities.  Now the Open end drops into his zone coverage, and the Open stack linebacker and strong safety attack their gaps.

CLUB

Club alerts both defensive ends (DE) that they will be dropping into their shallow flat drops.  This compliments the Torch blitz, because the DEs do not have to learn a new technique or zone to cover.  Club also alerts both strong safeties that they will be blitzing the outside gap, using their speed to rush past the O-line.  Club is based off of bringing three man pressure, dropping 8, but giving a different look to the offense.

When wanting to bring more pressure out of the club look, a tag can be added, such as "Mike."  This alerts the Mike that he will be blitzing, allowing the defensive coordinator to bring 4 man pressure off the edge and up the middle, while dropping his defensive ends into their zones.

The best part about the simplicity of the defense, is that additional blitzes that were covered earlier can be added into the zone blitzing scheme.  For example, Bear was covered in the last posting.  This let the two stack backers (Sam and Will) know they will be blitzing the B gap.  Now with Bear Club, those stack backers will be blitzing, while club alerts the DEs they will drop into their zone and the safeties will blitz the outside gap, ultimately bringing 5 man pressure from multiple different positions, while still maintaining the integrity of the Cover 3 Shell behind it.  

 



Zone Blitzing is one of the most effective ways to get pressure on the QB, and confuse the offensive line.  When run effectively, QB's are often hit by many defenders, leaving them on the ground and frustrated.

Take advantage of the advancements of zone blitzing, and get it into your defense today!

Coming up.... defensive line play out of the 3-5

As always, you MUST head over to www.chiefpigskin.com for the best coverage of football on the web!