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Systems/4-3 Defense/Fire Zone Blitz
BlitzBest for: Passing down10U+ · Core

Fire Zone Blitz

Five-man pressure with a three-deep, three-under zone behind it.

Concept: A backer or nickel blitzes while a defensive end drops to cover the vacated underneath zone.

Age version
ETTESMWCSSC
RushBlitzDrop to coverage
14U — Add pressure: Layer in the called blitz — one timed gap-shooter on the snap. Teach the coverage drops behind the front and read run vs. pass. Combine front, pressure, and coverage — and disguise it pre-snap.
Play movement — schematic, not to scale

Grows with your players

Same play, more layers as they age up — teach it once and build on it every season for a consistent program.

  1. 10UIntroduce: Line up right and own your gap — win with alignment, pad level, and pursuit to the ball.
  2. 12UAttack blocks: Add get-off and block destruction so the front controls the line of scrimmage.
  3. 14UAdd pressure: Layer in the called blitz — one timed gap-shooter on the snap. Teach the coverage drops behind the front and read run vs. pass. Combine front, pressure, and coverage — and disguise it pre-snap.

Every position's job

NG

Rush the A-gap as part of the five-man pressure.

Coach it with
Blitz Timing & Path DL Stance and Get-Off DL Shed and Block Destruction
DT (strong)

3-technique, rush the strong B-gap.

Coach it with
DL Stance and Get-Off DL Shed and Block Destruction DL Gap Control and Two-Gap Read
DE (strong)

Drop off into the vacated underneath zone (hook/curl) instead of rushing.

Coach it with
Zone Drop & Pattern Read Reach Block Zone Step QB Stance and Footwork
DE (weak)

Contain rush the weak edge as part of the five-man rush.

Coach it with
Edge Rush & Bend the Corner
Mike

Blitz his gap as the fifth rusher, or drop depending on the call.

Coach it with
Blitz Timing & Path DL Shed and Block Destruction LB Read Keys and Shuffle
Sam

Blitz off the edge, or drop to an underneath zone.

Coach it with
Zone Drop & Pattern Read LB Coverage Drop DB Zone Coverage and Break
Will

Drop to an underneath zone (hook/curl) in the three-under.

Coach it with
Zone Drop & Pattern Read LB Coverage Drop DB Zone Coverage and Break
N (Nickel)

Blitz off the slot or drop to a curl-flat zone on the call.

Coach it with
Zone Drop & Pattern Read Reach Block Zone Step QB Stance and Footwork
SS

Cover an underneath curl-flat zone in the three-under.

Coach it with
Reach Block Zone Step LB Coverage Drop DB Zone Coverage and Break
FS

Cover a deep third in the three-deep.

CB

Cover the outside deep thirds.

How to teach it

  • 1Five rush and a defensive end drops to cover the zone the blitzing backer or nickel vacated.
  • 2Behind the rush is three-deep, three-under, so no receiver runs free.
  • 3The dropping end turns and gains depth to his hook/curl landmark fast.

Common mistakes to fix

  • !The end slow to drop and leaving the zone open; fix by dropping at the snap and gaining depth.
  • !Rushers not staying in lanes and letting the QB step up; fix by disciplined rush lanes.
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