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Systems/5-2 Defense (Oklahoma)/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 blitzes while an end drops to cover the vacated underneath zone for a sound rush.

Age version
ETNTEBBCSSC
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)

5-technique C-gap contain rush.

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

5-technique backside C-gap contain rush.

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 through his gap as the fifth rusher, attack the QB.

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

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
SS

Cover an underneath zone (flat/curl) 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 (strong)

Cover the strong deep third.

CB (weak)

Cover the weak deep third.

How to teach it

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

Common mistakes to fix

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