Handling the Blitz

David -

We first attempt to identify the blitz intentions of the defense by determining their secondary structure. We are a one-back team, so we believe we can pick up virtually any 6-man blitz....if they are going to blitz, but still maintain a man-under secondary structure than our basic pass concepts don't really change. We obviously will try to attack the middle when they intend on bringing 2 ILB'ers, etc. but we don't feel a need to audible a great deal. When we do face a 7-man blitz threat, we essentially will be prepared to do one of the following...sprint out (usually away, but even sometimes toward the pressure)...audible to a 1-3 step drop and throw to softest cover....audible to a 1-3 step and throw vertical...audible to a 1-3 step and throw the flat/post combo to take advantage of the empty deep middle. Our QB and receivers are taught to look for "0" coverage on every play and then "steal". When you have some good kids playing receiver and a decent QB, we look forward to a blitzing defense. Running the option also can minimize a defense's desire to blitz because of the requirement for them to play assignment football. pdow

Coach Campbell,
Could you go more into the calls that you make and when you make them. And what are your normal pass blocking, are you BOB or gap protection. What is the Mollie/Collie call and when do you make the Nasty call. We get a lot of give us a 50 look and send the backer or backers A gap sending 3 to the G/C gap. I just need to learn more about pass pro and am looking for all the information that I can get.

Thank you

EXERPT FROM BILL WALSH LECTURE AT 2003 AFCA CONVENTION:

"There should be a better way to protect the passer than we do. One way is to use the “tight end” plus “H” & “RB” as pass protectors. All three of them would check and then release, but you would have a way to pick up eight rushers.

You have eight blockers. You’d have a way to pick up eight people. You have two receivers working against man-to-man coverage. Then as those people checking and then releasing, they would release on patterns that would be open vs. the zone. So you could deal with the zone with your late releases, you could deal with man-to-man with your two best receiving people, but you can protect the passer. Do I suggest that you do that full time? No. But I’d have the ABILITY to do it.”

enc: 1) If you are in a Pro I formation--To protect A-gaps versus the blitz, let the center make a "Cat, Cat" call. That alerts the OL to step laterally inside and protect the inside gap. The fullback blocks the EMOL to the right and the TB blocks the EMOL to his left. 2) If you are in a one-back set, you will probably see a 4-2. Let the center double team the one technique with the guard. They "feel the Nose, see the LB". If the LB comes in B gap the guard takes him and the center has the Nose by himself. It the Nose slants to B gap the guard takes him and the center picks up the LB. The Back takes the LB away from the one technique. There are a lot of other answers we have for the Blitz but I hope this helps.

I have put a great deal of thought in regards to the blitz. I have comeup with acouple conclusions. you either have to protect ie 7 or 8 man protection or you have to out flank the blitz ie throw to the area they vacated.

I am not at a option school but I am a firm believer in the passing game. ran it for several years on my own terms.

I wanted to either max protect or I wanted to scat protect. I found acouple ways to do what I wanted.

the first formation which I think every passing coach should have is splitbacks, 3 wr and be in the shotgun. from this formation you can handle every blitz. you can also go scat and get 5 out.

protection wise you have to decide also. the big h.s. blitz is to bring 4 weak. so to combat this you either have to have your wr sight adjust or have a back to that side to pickup the blitz. if you are in split with 3 wr you can do this.

me I like a man protection scheme with very wide splits. thus I have to have a back to the weakside at all times.