Zone Blitz

Coach:
We are an 8-man front and from time to time we will zone blitz. We will send an OLB and drop the DE to be the curl/flat player, or send a LB and let the DT be the hook player. Regardless of which one we execute, we will back it up with three-deep zone. A good book to get (I bought it recently) is the FIRESTONE BLITZ by Jim Schwartz. It does a great job explaining how to play a match-up 3-deep zone while sending people.

G. Shulman
Shawnee H.S.

First, they must take a jab step toward the man they are over. The purpose of this step is to get the offensive man's attention. If they make some contact on this step, OK; but we don't want to get into a war. We tell the DE's that when they drop they should drop at a 45 degree angle and replace the OLB's initial alignment and get their head on a swivel. Depending on the situation, we might be playing some form of cover2 or man and the DE will have some help out in the curl/flat area.
The DT's do the same thing vs pass(they are the hook or short middle defender), but if they see that the play is a run, we tell them not to drop and go to the ball. This technique takes a little work, but it can be done.
We can "tag" our zone blitzes with a call that tells the DE or DT (whoever is droppping) not to drop, but to rush a particular gap. For example: the addition of "GO" to an OLB zone blitz might tell the DE that he is to jab step and then rush from the outside; he is the contain man. If we were to tag the DT/LB blitz the call would tell the DT to rush A or B-gap (depending on the stunt) as opposed to dropping.
Hope this helps.

G. Shulman
Shawnee H.S.

i was wandering if any coaches would drop the D End in a zone blits from the same side they are blitzing. I am not to familiar with zone blitz and was wandereing if the D End took one jab step to occupy the tackle or TE and then droped with the blitz coming right after him would work.