JOHN RICE
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR
CANYON SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL
MORENO VALLEY, CA
(951) 537-9902
zacoach102@aol.com
Why Pressure?
• To augment your normal pass rush numbers
• To create a big play and change momentum
• To attack an offensive tendency
• To force a short throw (sight adjustment) in a
third and long situation
• To attack a weakness in protection scheme or personnel
• To break a defensive tendency (as a change up)
Principles for Applying Pressure
• Disguise your intentions if at all possible
• Use more than one disguise per blitz
• Know the protection scheme you are attacking
• Know the opponent’s hot reads and sight adjustments
(may be able to force a certain throw favorable to you)
• Ensure your defense is gap sound
• Assign proper run force
• In man schemes, every potential receiver is accounted for
• Don’t allow offense to create a mismatch
• Create mismatches that favor the defenseattack weakness
Principles for Maximizing
Effectiveness of Pressure Scheme
• Pressure Calls MUST be scripted.
• Blitz Period /7 on 7/Team
– Practice the four looks (show, half, time,
depth)
– Show unusual formations/motion
– Force checks to prevent unfavorable
situations
– Emphasize blitzing defenders redirect to the
ball if play is a run
3 Shell Pressure
• All pressure in this category will give a Cover 3
Look or a 1 Free Look
E N E
S B
L M R C
C
F
4 man pressure
• Blitzer going
through his
D C B A A B C
normal gap
of
responsibility
•Blitzer going through his
normal gap of responsibility
4 man pressure
• Usually with Cover 3
• Example:
• “3 Ram” or “3 Lion”
• “3 Spur” or “3 Bandit”
• “3 Torpedo” or “3 Anchor”
4 man pressure
• “CoverageBlitz”
• Examples:
– “3 Ram” (cover 3 with Ram going)
– “3 Lion” (cover 3 with Lion going)
– “3 Spur” (cover 3 with Spur going)
– “3 Torpedo” (cover 3 with Ram going
C gap, End pinching to B gap)
– “3 Mike Left” (cover 3, line slanting
left, Ram going C gap)
4 man pressure
We Blitz from 4 positions
Depth (ex: 3 Ram)
2 yards (ex: 3 Ram half)
LOS (ex: 3 Ram show)
Time (ex: 3 Ram time)
3 Torpedo
3 Anchor
3 Linda
3 Rita
3 Spur
3 Bandit
5 man pressure
• “CoverageBlitz”
• Examples:
– “3 Ox Show” (cover 3 with Mike & Ram going)
– “3 Tiger Half” (cover 3 Mike and Ram going)
– “0 Sting Time” (cover 0 with Spur and Bandit
going)
– “0 Smoke Show” (cover 0, line slanting weak,
Spur, Ram going outside End)
3 OX
3 Tiger
0 Smoke
0 Torch
3 Jacks Red
3 Jacks Red
5 man pressure
from Dime
Dime 1Free Rules:
E N E
B
C S $ M R C
Hole
F Deep Middle
Dime ($) in for Lion; will align according to blitz called. Man up with #3 in empty
We are playing man coverage with Spur and Bandit on #2’s (over vs. trips)
We will always send at least 1 linebacker; the other will be a hole defender.
If we send both inside backers, Dime will be hole defender unless covering #3 in empty.
Free Safety is playing deep middle. We can also use him to bracket a receiver & play 0.
Hole defender will abandon responsibility if R releases. In that case, man up on R.
Dime Crossfire Cover 1Free
S E N E
$ B
C M R C
Hole
F
Deep Middle
Dime “Mable” Cover 1 Free
E N E
B
C S M R
$ C
Hole
F
Deep Middle
Dime “ Mable Switch” Cover 1 Free
E N E
B
C S M R
$ C
Hole
F
Deep Middle
Dime “Spice” Cover 1 Free
E N E
C $ B
M R C
S Hole
F
Deep Middle
Dime “Sugar” Cover 1 Free
E N E
$ B
C M R C
S Hole
Deep Middle
Dime Axe Cover 1Free
To field
E N E
$ B
C S M R C
Hole
F
Deep Middle
Nose slants to field (blitz)
6 Man Pressure
from Base Front
6 Man Pressure from Base Front
• “CoverageBlitz”
• Examples:
– “ 0 Zoo Time” (cover 0 with Lion Mike,Ram
going)
– “3 Zoo” (cover 3 Lion,Mike and Ram going)
– “0 Tiger Bandit half” (cover 0 with Lion, Mike &
Bandit going)
– “0 Ox Spur” (cover 0, line slanting weak, Spur,
Ram going outside End)
“0” Shamrock Fire
Or (Nose 2 Middle Fire)
C #3 to either side C
F
#2 your side
L M
B #2 your side
S
E R N E
Zoo
Zoo Right, Zoo Weak
7 Man Pressure
33 Fire Zone Pressure
Cover 33: 3 deep, 3 under, rush 5
E N E B
S
C L M R
Seam/curl/flat hole
C
Seam/curl/flat
F
Cover 33 Rules:
We are sending 5 (3 linemen and usually 2 linebackers)
The remaining linebacker is a hole defender
We will cover both seams, not allow vertical releases by #2’s
Thunder Cover 33
Field
E N E B
C L M R
Seam/curl/flat
C
Hole Seam/curl/flat
S
F
Thirds Thirds Thirds
Hurricane Cover 33
Field
S E N E
C L M R
Seam/curl/flat
C
Hole Seam/curl/flat
F B
E N E
C S L M R
Seam/curl/flat
B C
Seam/curl/flat
Hole
F
Thirds Thirds Thirds
Rambo Cover 33
E N E
C S L M R
Seam/curl/flat
B C
Hole Seam/curl/flat
F
Thirds Thirds Thirds
Rex Cover 33
E N E R
C S L M
Seam/curl/flat
B C
Hole Seam/curl/flat
F
Thirds Thirds Thirds
Lex Cover 33
L E N E
C S M R
Seam/curl/flat
B C
Seam/curl/flat
Hole
F
Thirds Thirds Thirds
Laser Cover 33
E N E
C S L M R
Seam/curl/flat
B C
Seam/curl/flat
Hole
F
Thirds Thirds Thirds
Male Cover 33
E N E
C S L M R
Seam/curl/flat
B C
Hole Seam/curl/flat
F
Thirds Thirds Thirds
Mare Cover 33
E N E
C S L M R
Seam/curl/flat
B C
Hole Seam/curl/flat
F
Thirds Thirds Thirds
More Pressure
from Dime
Dime Field Slam
Dime Lightening
Dime Win
Dime Nitro
Dime Double Plug Robber
Dime Tornado
326 Dime Zone Blitz
Dime 4 Idaho
E N E
S B
C $ L M F C
Dime 4 “Oregon”
E N E
S B
C $ L M F C
326 Dime Man Pressure from 2 Shell Look
E N E
C $ M R B
C
S F
Spur and FS are adjusters for blitzing Spur and/or Bandit
Dime “Boa” Cover 0
E N E
C $ B
M R C
S F
Dime “Python” Cover 0
E N E
B
C M R C
$
S F
Dime “Python Under” Cover 0
E N E
$ $
C M R C
S F
Appendix
• Sample Blitz Period Script
• Sample Defensive Game Call Sheet
• 33 Coaching Resources
Sample Blitz Period Script
C OUGA R F OOTB A L L
"BLITZ PERIOD" DEFENSIVE PRACTICE wed 9/ 28
SCRIPT
Emphasis: QB Run Game, Screen, Draw