1. Field & Boundary Blitz Variations & Coverages out of the 3-4 Defense
Jim Hilvert
Head Football Coach
Thomas More College

2. Overview Why Field and Boundary Teaching Blitz Coverages
Field and Boundary Blitzes
Surface Blitzes

3. Why Field and Boundary? Allows us to be Versatile
Different blitzes based on formation
Different coverages based on blitz
Attack Offense’s Weakness
Game plan blitzes for
Personnel
Formations
Makes Players Learn System
Players buy into playbook if they are making decisions

4. 3-4 Field/Boundary Defense
Stud – Field DE
End – Boundary DE
Nose – 0 Technique
Rover – Field OLB
Mike – Field ILB
Panther – Boundary ILB
Bob – Boundary OLB
Whip – Boundary Safety
Free Safety – Field Safety

5. 3-4 Rambo Defense

6. Field/Boundary Coverages
Formation and Blitz Dictate Coverage
Communication is key
1 Safety and 1 LB’er make calls
Buzz 3/Box 3
3 Under/3 Deep
Gold
C’s man-to-man/3 Under/1 Deep
Cover 8
4 Under/2 Deep

7. Blitz Coverage = Buzz/Box 3
6 Players in coverage
3 Deep are responsible for their 1/3
3 Underneath players are playing match up zone
2 SCIF Defenders (Seam/Curl/Flat)
I/S alignment on any #2 displaced WR
Responsible for collision on any vertical by #2
Feel #2 / See #1 / Listen

8. Blitz Coverage = Buzz/Box 3
2 SCIF Defenders
Wall off any inside breaking route by #1
Curl
Dig
Break on flat route when thrown
1 #3 Match Player
Opens up to #3 WR and react to route
If #3 goes out, “PUSH” and over take new #3

9. Blitz Coverage = Buzz/Box 3
O/S Deep 1/3 Defenders
Corners align 1x6 inside #1 WR
Slow shuffle out and must play 3 Step
Deep and deepest in their zone
Middle 1/3 Defender
One Safety is a Post/Seam Defender
Will open up and run to middle 1/3 on snap
15 yards deep after snap of ball

10. Blitz Coverage = Buzz 3/Box 3
3 Deep / 3 Under Coverage

11. Blitz Coverage = GOLD vs 2x2
6 Players in coverage
Corners play man-to-man
3 Underneath players are playing match up zone
2 SF Defenders (Seam/Flat)
O/S alignment on any #2 displaced WR
#2 Out - Jump route
#2 In – Squeeze and look for crosser
#2 Vert – Collision and funnel to FS
If 3x1 check Buzz 3

12. Blitz Coverage = Gold vs 2x2
C’s Man-to-Man/ 1 Deep / 3 Under Coverage

13. Blitz Coverage = Eight vs 3x1
2 Deep/ 4 Underneath Defenders
Auto Check to 3x1 in Certain Blitzes
Must Have a Curl Player to 3x1
Corner = Flat Player
OLB = Curl Player
Safety = ½ Player
#3 Match player
Single WR side
Flat Player
Post/Fade Player

14. Blitz Coverage = Eight vs 3x1
2 Deep / 4 Under

15. Field/Boundary Blitzes
Ball Must be on Hash
Set Front to Field
Blitzes Based on Offensive Personnel
# RB and #TE in game
Example: 21 = Expect Pro or Twins Formation
Indicator Blitzes
Running Back
Tight End

16. Snow Blitz Personnel = 21 Safety and OLB Blitz to TE side
Field = Freeze
Boundary = Blizzard
Safety and OLB Blitz to TE side
Good vs Pro / Twins sets
Teams that run ball strong
OLB is “Low-Track” Player - Dive
Safety is “High-Track” Player – QB

17. Snow Blitz OLB Rules Safety Rules Press TE & LOS TE blocks down
Run to –Spill any block and work vertical
Run away – Squeeze down line, Cutback/Boot/Reverse
TE blocks out
OLB will slap/rip into “C” gap and work vertical
Safety Rules
Outside blitzer
Should not be crossing line at same time as OLB
Should expect ball to be “bounced” out
If run away, safety can read out of blitz

18. Snow Blitz (Freeze)
Freeze Buzz 3

19. Snow Blitz (Freeze)
Freeze vs Power

20. Snow Blitz (Blizzard)
Blizzard vs Outside Zone

21. Steam Blitz Personnel = 10/11 OLB and ILB Blitz to RB side
Field = Fire
Boundary = Water
OLB and ILB Blitz to RB side
Pinch & Scrape Blitz
Good vs Teams that Run Zone Read
OLB is “Low-Track” Player - Dive
ILB is “High-Track” Player – QB

22. Steam Blitz (Fire)
Fire Buzz 3 vs Zone Read

23. Steam Blitz (Water)
Water Cover 8 vs Slide Pro

24. Buster Blitz Personnel = 10/11 Both ILB’s Cross Blitz Over Center
This Blitz can be an auto-check
Passing down blitz
Both ILB’s Cross Blitz Over Center
Nose loops to “B” Gap away from RB
ILB away from RB blitzes 1st
ILB to RB read blitzes

25. Buster Blitz
Buster Box 3 vs 2x2 Formation

26. Buster Blitz
Buster Cover 8 vs 3x1 Formation

27. Tsunami Blitz Personnel = 10/11 ILB and Opposite OLB Field = Flood
Boundary = Wave
ILB and Opposite OLB
Called to RB
Passing down blitz
Panther will run Pick Stunt to RB
Panther attacks OT’s hip and works for contain
DE stunts off Panther’s movement
OLB away from RB edge blitz

28. Tsunami Blitz (Wave)
Wave Buzz 3 vs 3x1 Formation

29. Tsunami Blitz (Flood)
Flood Buzz 3 vs Ace Gun Near

30. Surface Blitzes Blitz based on #of Linemen/TE Rules Field = Falcon
Boundary = Bench
Rules
3 Man surface = Snow Blitz
2 Man surface = Steam Blitz
3x 1 set = Buster Blitz

31. Surface Blitzes Falcon Coverages
Good for teams that have versatile personnel
Example = TE and RB that can line up at WR
Blitz will always come from field
If 3x1 set, Buster is run towards RB
Coverages
Built into separate blitzes
Communication is key!

32. Falcon
Falcon (Fire) Buzz 3 vs Twins
FIELD

33. Falcon
Falcon (Freeze) Buzz 3 vs Ace

34. Falcon
Buster Cover 8 vs 3x1 Formation

35. Jim Hilvert James.hilvert@thomasmore.edu 859-344-3516
Questions?
Jim Hilvert