Crossfire Blitz out of the 3-4 Under Defense
The Crossfire Blitz out of the 3-4 under defense is a great way to take away the strength of the offense’s formation. This blitz is easy to install, but very difficult for the offense to block. It utilizes a defensive line slant inside, with the linebackers blitzing outside of them. This will create blocking confusion and it will keep the offensive linemen guessing. This is a great blitz, but it’s important that you keep in mind that you can live by the blitz, but you can also die by the blitz. It’s critical you blitz strategically based on game plan, scouting, and formation.
Crossfire Blitz out of the 3-4 Under Defense
Related Content: Laser Blitz out of the 3-4 Defense | Zone Blitz
N: Dip and rip, slant backside A-gap
DT: Dip and rip, slant A-gap.
E: C-gap. Contain (when there is no TE to his side).
R: Dip and rip, slant C-gap. Contain.
M: Blitz B-gap, start creeping up when QB begins cadence. Pre-snap, show like he is going to blitz A-gap, post-snap, blitz B-gap.
W: B-gap, pursuit.
S: Blitz off of the edge, contain responsibility. When the QB begin his cadence that is when he starts creeping up. Pre-snap, show like he is going to blitz C-gap, post-snap, blitz off of the edge.
SS: Roll down once the QB begins his cadence. Read and react, get to the football, he is a free defender. On pass he must play curl to flat.
FS: Once the QB begins cadence he rolls to the middle of the field. Has deep 3rd coverage.
CB: Deep 3rd coverage.
CB: Deep 3rd coverage.
Related Content: 3-4 Slanting Defense Playbook
Pass Coverage
I prefer cover 3 behind this blitz. However, you can very easily play man to man coverage behind this blitz as well.
Coaching Points
- Make sure your blitzing defenders creep up pre-snap. You do not want them blitzing from 4 yards off of the line of scrimmage. They need to be almost at the line of scrimmage ready to blitz their gap on ball movement.
- It’s important that all defensive linemen dip and rip, then anchor their gap. They cannot allow themselves to get washed. We don’t want them to slant themselves out of the play.
- Blitz smartly! On this crossfire blitz you are sending one entire side of the defense. If they don’t get there you could be in trouble. There is nothing worse than blitzing your linebacker right out of the play.
- It’s critical that the blitzing S maintains outside leverage. He cannot allow any ball carrier to get outside of him. If the ball carrier gets outside of contain you will have no pursuit defenders.
