DIAGRAM 2: Gut Package Vs. 3-5 Scheme. This blitz can also be run on the weak side.
STRONG-SIDE GUT RESPONSIBILITIES: (Call goes off of FS strength).
Call-Side Backer: Shows blitz and blitzes B-gap.
Call-Side End: Rushes wide on pass.
Tackle: Is sent A-gap away.
FS: Times the snap and is situated 4 yards from the ball and going full speed when the ball is snapped, blitzing the A-gap.
Back Rover: Rolls to the middle third of the field and covers the pass.
Corners: Defend the deep outside third of the field.,DIAGRAM 1: Zone Package Out Of A 3-5 Scheme. This blitz can also be run to the weak side.
STRONG-SIDE ZONE RESPONSIBILITIES: (Call goes off of FS strength).
Call-Side Backer: Blitzes the A-gap and hits the hole hard. With the DE and DT attacking the line at the same time, you’ll end up with two offensive lineman, in essence, trying to cover three defenders.
Call-Side Rover: Blitzes from the edge and comes hard. The offensive tackle to that side will have to make a decision whether to pick up the rover or help the guard try to handle the DE who’s attacking the B-gap.
Call-Side End: Attacks hard toward the B-gap and works in tandem with the call-side rover and backer to apply heavy pressure from the call side.
Tackle: Plays the A-gap away and helps occupy the center who’s also trying to block the call-side backer.
Free Safety: Defends the hot No. 2 receiver and then covers the curl route or flat. With heavy pressure coming from that side of the line, the FS should be free to make some plays, especially if the No. 2 receiver is hot.
Back Rover: Rolls to the middle third of the field and defends against pass.
Corners: Defend the outside third of their sides of the field.
2. GUT PACKAGE. This zone-blitz package involves the FS and the call-side LB.,By Jay Mayet, Defensive Coordinator, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Parkview Baptist High School, Baton Rouge, La.
MANY COACHES WHO do not have the athletes or the speed to play man coverage are very limited in their blitz package. While we were previously limited to linebacker and boundary-safety blitzes, we now utilize, due to our personnel, a zone-blitz package.
The zone-blitz package allows you to get pressure on the quarterback from many different areas and play zone coverage behind it. You’ll also have the ability to play many different coverages from a 2-shell look in the secondary, as well as blitzing from anywhere on the field with safe zone coverage behind it.
You’ll also be able to run this blitz package without making adjustments in your defensive look, which allows you to disguise all blitzes. We’ve had good success using this package and have created 40 and 42 turnovers in each of the last 2 years since its implementation.
ZONE BLITZ OFFERS VERSATILITY
The zone-blitz package can be run out of many different schemes. Our base front is a 3-5 scheme. This scheme allows us to play 2-deep coverage against any set (even spread balanced sets), by adjusting to a 3-4 scheme. Before adapting our new scheme we ran, and still sometimes do, a 4-2-5 scheme.
We have five combinations of zone blitzes and I’m sure more can be developed out of this look. Here are a couple that we use, one that involves the half safeties and one that involves the curl/flat players.
1. ZONE PACKAGE. This zone blitz involves the call-side Rover and call-side linebacker.
