Once you have designed your run blitz package, you will want to design and incorporate into your defensive package a good pressure pass blitz package. It was always my feeling that while our run blitz and pass blitz packages were made up of the same number of defensive players committed to the blitz, they were certainly different in design and, when it was the appropriate situation to call them during the game.

CLINIC SUMMARY

When we set out to design our pass blitz pressure each year, we thought that it was very important that we considered each blitz in relationship to the type of pass protection that an opponent would be using against us during the game. The scheme that we would face would determine which pass blitz we would feature during that week.

Pass protection schemes were broken down into man, zone and slide protection. Usually an offensive team will feature one type of pass protection over the other especially on definite passing situations.

Next we would evaluate our opponentís personnel. We would try to determine which player or players might be easiest to beat. Attempting to run stunts at your opponents best pass blockers usually does not result in pressure on the quarterback.

We would then try to determine and predict definite pass situations of our opponent based on the scouting reports of their previous games. If we found that an opponent used multiple substitution and different personnel sets when passing the ball, it then became necessary for us to design some form of a substitution pass blitz package. We did this to insure we would always have the option to bring pressure regardless of who was on the field.

While our pass blitz package using defensive lineman and linebackers included a variety of stunts, we eliminated the a majority of the stunts when we involved a blitzer from the secondary.

TWO OR THREE DEEP ZONE

While running a zone coverage and using either our three or four man line defense, our first blitz always included stunts between one of our outside linebackers and our defensive end. When we brought a backer in our four down look, we either had to drop another defensive lineman into coverage or choose to vacate a zone. Our three down front did not necessitate either of these adjustments.

Next, we would design packages which included one of our inside linebackers. In our four down front these would involve our middle linebacker and one of our defensive tackles. Our three down front gave us the advantage of using either inside backer in conjunction with the nose tackle or a defensive. Also, the variety of stunts available to us was much greater than from our four man front.

34 MAN TO MAN BLITZ PACKAGE

This pass blitz package allowed us a great deal of flexibility and a variety of combinations. Trying to keep as many defensive players in our coverage, we would first work with a five man pressure package using 2 outside linebackers and three linemen, two inside linebackers and 3 linemen and finally combining 1 outside and 1 inside linebacker with our three down linemen. This combination could be an inside and outside linebacker from the same or opposite sides.

Our next step was to design our six man pressure. With this style of pressure, we would first use a combination of any three linebackers and 3 down linemen. In this same area would be a six man blitz package which included a defensive back, 2 linebackers and 3 linemen.

42 MAN TO MAN BLITZ PACKAGE

This would be one form of our substitution defense with four linemen, 2 linebackers and 5 defensive backs. Our five man pressure in this alignment would come from using either one linebacker or one defensive back with our four down defensive linemen. To achieve our six man pressure package, we would use both linebackers or 1 linebacker and a defensive back in coordination with the four defensive linemen.

51 MAN TO MAN BLITZ PACKAGE

This was a unique change up defense that we liked to use on a passing down where we were able to cover each offensive lineman, isolating their weakest pass protector against our best pass rusher. We were still able to get a six man pressure package by bringing either the one linebacker or 1 defensive back.

I hope this summary gives you a good feeling and insight into the written text and diagrams which will be included in the detailed material available to you in the In-Depth Clinic. Each of the areas in this summary will be fully covered and developed in the In -Depth Clinic material. The bound clinic material that you will receive for your reference library and for your immediate personal use will include diagrams in addition to complete and thorough explanations. The clinic will provide you with new innovative ideas, specific techniques, plans for implementation and valuable insights that will make you a better teacher and coach.

I am very happy to be able to share with you my first hand knowledge, experience and understanding of the game.

Good luck this week and please e-mail me at CoachBass@AOL.com for any questions you may have,

Coach Bass.