Safety Blitz
A safety blitzes off the edge or interior gap to add a rusher.
Concept: The blitzing safety fires his gap while the coverage rolls to single-high behind him.
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.
- 10UIntroduce: Line up right and own your gap — win with alignment, pad level, and pursuit to the ball.
- 12UAttack blocks: Add get-off and block destruction so the front controls the line of scrimmage.
- 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
0-technique, two-gap the center.
5-technique C-gap contain rush.
5-technique backside C-gap contain rush.
Contain the strong edge or squeeze if safety blitzes off that edge.
Cover the middle hook or the receiver the safety vacated.
Cover the hook/curl or a man responsibility.
Blitz off the edge or interior gap on the call, attack the quarterback.
Rotate to single-high deep middle to replace the blitzing safety.
Cover strong receiver in man as coverage rolls to single-high.
Cover weak receiver in man as coverage rolls to single-high.
How to teach it
- 1Safety walks up late and times the snap so the offense can't identify the extra rusher.
- 2Coverage rotates to single-high behind him, so the free safety takes the deep middle.
- 3The blitzing safety must win the edge quickly with no man behind.
Common mistakes to fix
- !Safety tipping the blitz by walking up too early; fix by disguising until the last second.
- !Coverage not rotating to single-high and leaving a deep hole; fix by the free safety spinning to the middle.
Build this into your call sheet.
Adopt this system in your coach portal, tag plays by situation, and print call sheets and player wristbands.