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Systems/4-3 Defense/Safety Blitz Strong
BlitzBest for: Passing down10U+ · Core

Safety Blitz Strong

The strong safety blitzes off the edge or interior gap.

Concept: Strong safety walks up late and fires his gap while coverage rolls to single-high behind him.

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

1-technique, control the weak A-gap.

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

Squeeze inside as the safety takes the edge, or contain.

Coach it with
Edge Rush & Bend the Corner
DE (weak)

Contain the weak edge.

Coach it with
Edge Rush & Bend the Corner
Mike

Cover the middle hook or the back.

Sam

Cover the strong hook/curl or the tight end in coverage.

Coach it with
LB Coverage Drop DB Zone Coverage and Break Team Skelly Pass Period
Will

Cover the weak hook/curl.

SS

Walk up late and blitz the strong edge/interior gap, attack the QB.

Coach it with
Blitz Timing & Path DL Stance and Get-Off DL Shed and Block Destruction
FS

Rotate to single-high deep middle behind the blitz.

Coach it with
Blitz Timing & Path RB Blitz Pickup
CB (strong)

Cover strong receiver in man as coverage rolls single-high.

Coach it with
DB Backpedal Technique DB Man Coverage Mirror DB Zone Coverage and Break
CB (weak)

Cover weak receiver in man as coverage rolls single-high.

Coach it with
DB Backpedal Technique DB Man Coverage Mirror DB Zone Coverage and Break

How to teach it

  • 1The strong safety walks up late and fires his gap so the offense can't identify the extra rusher.
  • 2Coverage rolls to single-high, so the free safety takes the deep middle alone.
  • 3The blitzing safety wins the edge fast because there is no man behind.

Common mistakes to fix

  • !Safety showing the blitz too early; fix by disguising until the last second.
  • !Coverage not rolling to single-high; fix by the free safety spinning to the deep middle at the snap.
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