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Systems/6-2 Wide Tackle/Safety Blitz
BlitzBest for: Passing down10U+ · Core

Safety Blitz

A safety blitzes off the edge or interior to add a rusher.

Concept: The blitzing safety fires his assigned gap while the coverage rolls to single-high behind him.

Age version
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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

FS (blitzing)

The free safety fires the assigned edge/gap as the added rusher — there is no deep help behind it, so it becomes a Cover-0 pressure.

Coach it with
Blitz Timing & Path DL Stance and Get-Off DL Shed and Block Destruction
DE (blitz side)

Rush / occupy to complement the safety's edge and clear his lane.

Coach it with
Edge Rush & Bend the Corner Blitz Timing & Path RB Blitz Pickup
DE (other)

Rush and contain the opposite D gap.

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

Wide tackle rushes the strong C gap.

Coach it with
Team Inside Run Period DL Stance and Get-Off DL Shed and Block Destruction
DT (weak)

Wide tackle rushes the weak C gap.

Coach it with
Team Inside Run Period DL Stance and Get-Off DL Shed and Block Destruction
Guard (both DL)

Defensive guards rush the A gaps.

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

Man-cover No. 2 strong (near back / tight end).

LB (weak)

Man-cover No. 2 weak.

CB (strong)

Press-man No. 1 strong with no deep help.

Coach it with
Press Jam & Bail
CB (weak)

Press-man No. 1 weak with no deep help.

Coach it with
Press Jam & Bail

How to teach it

  • 1The free safety walks up late and fires his gap — with the lone safety rushing there is no deep help, so corners and backers lock tight man (Cover 0).
  • 2The near edge can clear the safety's lane if the safety blitzes off the edge.
  • 3Because it empties the deep middle, get pressure home fast.

Common mistakes to fix

  • !The safety shows the blitz too early; fix by teaching a late walk-up trigger.
  • !A man defender gives cushion with no help; fix by teaching a tight press jam.
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