Seven Point LeadSeven Point Lead
Systems/6-2 Wide Tackle/Zone Dog
BlitzBest for: Passing down10U+ · Core

Zone Dog

One linebacker blitzes while the front drops into a zone behind the pressure.

Concept: A backer fires a gap and a lineman drops to the vacated hook zone to keep coverage sound.

Age version
OLBTGGTOLBBBCFC
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

LB (blitzing)

Fire the assigned edge/gap on the snap as the pressure player.

Coach it with
Blitz Timing & Path DL Shed and Block Destruction LB Read Keys and Shuffle
Edge (dropping)

The backside edge drops off the line into the vacated hook zone to keep the coverage sound.

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

Cover a hook / middle zone alongside the coverage.

Coach it with
LB Coverage Drop DB Zone Coverage and Break Team Skelly Pass Period
CB (strong)

Cover the strong deep third.

CB (weak)

Cover the weak deep third.

FS

Cover the deep middle third.

How to teach it

  • 1One backer blitzes and the backside EDGE drops to the vacated hook zone to keep a three-deep coverage sound — rep the drop.
  • 2The blitzer and the dropping edge swap jobs — everyone knows his role pre-snap.
  • 3Keep three-deep (corners on the thirds, free safety in the middle) behind the pressure.

Common mistakes to fix

  • !The dropping edge is late or lost in his zone; fix by drilling his zone drop repeatedly.
  • !The blitz doesn't get home and the zone is stretched; fix by timing the pressure to the snap.
← Back to 6-2 Wide Tackle playbook

Build this into your call sheet.

Adopt this system in your coach portal, tag plays by situation, and print call sheets and player wristbands.

Get StartedBook a Demo