Before we teach our players any of our pressures, we introduce them to the four rules of engagement, which are our standard blitz rules EVERY player on defense should know and understand. We also focus on teaching the rules and responsibilities of the coverage before teaching who will be blitzing and where. If the players don’t understand the coverage and its strengths and weakness, it doesn’t matter how much pressure you bring if the QB can always find a receiver open.
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT:
1. Pop & amp; Stop = When blitzing the A or B gaps vs. pass and a guard or center stones you, stop and back up to spy the QB and help in coverage.
2. Peel = Anyone rushing from the outside vs. pass will never let a back cross their face. They will peel with all flare/swing routes.
*B.S. RULES
3. Inside rusher = Bend & amp; Spill to tackle dive on option & amp; force everything outside.
4. Outside rusher = Box & amp; Squeeze to read QB on option, cutback, boot & amp; reverse. Keep everything inside.
Fire 3 coverages are part of our base 5 man pressures. It is a 3-deep and 3-under zone. The 3-deep players will each be responsible for covering 1/3 of the field. Both corners will key #1 through to the QB for 3-step. The “roof” safety will key the QB to the #2 receivers and must be able to make all plays between the hashes. The 3-underneath players will be responsible for disrupting receivers and leveraging 4 verticals and all horizontal routes. The 3-underneath players consist of the 3 seam (3s), 3 hook (3h), and 2 seam (2s) responsibilities. The safeties will always call out the pass strength to help identify who is the 3 seam and 2 seam players. The seam players are also our force players vs. the run.
3 seam = The 3 seam player is the player not blitzing to the 3 receiver or what becomes the 3 receiver side (pass strength). He keys WR #2 to #3 but he MUST keep outside leverage and DISRUPT #2. He cannot give a free outside release. If #2 shows any inside release, then his eyes go to #3.
3 hook = The 3 hook player is the middle hook player who is not blitzing. He will immediately open up to the 3-receiver side or what becomes the 3-receiver side (pass strength). He will also key WR #2 to #3 walling off any inside release and leveraging the #3 receiver.
2 seam = The 2 seam player is the player not blitzing to the 2 receiver side or what becomes the 2 receiver side. He keys WR #2 and must keep inside leverage while DISRUPTING his route. If #2 runs a crossing route, then the 2 seam player will wheel his hips around looking for another crosser coming back. Any vertical release by #2 and the 2 seam player must carry his route while seeing #1 for an inside cut. If any outside release by #2, then the 2 seam player has him in man coverage. If there is no #2 receiver to his side, then the 2 seam player will get underneath and bracket any routes by #1.
Below you will see a few diagrams of some of our pressures as well as which players would potentially be the seam players.
