Here’s a look at our Storm Blitz out of the 4-2-5 defense. This blitz is execute from the wide side of the field. This blitz doesn’t make much sense coming from the boundary. Storm will take away the wide side of the field and bring a ton of heat off of the edge. This is a great blitz against mobile QBS. Keep in mind that when you blitz you will leave yourself valuable to giving up a big play. It’s important that your players understand that when they are called on to blitz, they need to blitz! Half-hearted blitzes will get your defense burnt.
Storm Blitz out of the 4-2-5 Defense
Storm Blitz (Zone Blitz-Cover 3)
N: A-gap
DT: Outside shade of the RG, dip and rip, slant A-gap.
LE: Outside shade of the RT, dip and rip, slant B-gap. Rip across the face of the RT.
RE: C-gap, boundary contain.
M: Once the QB begins his cadence he creeps up like he is going to blitz B-gap. Once the ball is snapped, he crosses behind the LE and blitzes tight off of the edge. He needs to blitz tight off of the RT’s outside shoulder, there should be no space between him and the RT.
W: Boundary curl to flat. Wall off any inside route from #2 (Z).
S: Pre-snap, show that he is playing man coverage on the (S). As soon as the QB begins his cadence, he comes off the (S) and blitzes off of the edge once the ball is snapped. He must maintain outside leverage, as he is the primary contain player. He also has to play a “peel” technique- which means if the TB releases on a swing route, he must come off of his blitz path and cover the TB on the swing.
FS: Pre-snap show two deep safety look. Once the QB begins his cadence he rolls to the middle of the field. He has deep middle responsibility.
SS: Pre-snap show two deep safety look, once the QB begins his cadence he rolls down and plays curl to flat. He must maintain inside leverage on #2 and wall off any inside route from #2 (S).
CB: Pre-snap show like he is playing man to man coverage on #1. Once QB begins cadence the CB bails back and splits the different between #1 & #2. He has deep 3rd responsibility.
Boundary CB: Pre-snap show like he is playing man to man coverage on #1. Once the QB begins cadence the CB bails back and splits the different between #1 & #2. He has deep 3rd responsibility. Boundary CB must play a little heavier on the #2 receiver (Z).
Playbook (15% off): 4-2-5 Defense Playbook
Storm Blitz (Zone Blitz-Cover 3)
The responsibilities for the N, DT, LE, RE, M, and S do not change, it doesn’t matter the coverage. The responsibility is different for the secondary players and the W backer.
CB: Lock, man to man on the #1 receiver. Play with inside leverage.
CB: Lock, man to man on the #1 receiver. Play with inside leverage
FS: Pre-snap show two deep look and once the QB begins his cadence he rolls down and plays man to man coverage on the #2 receiver (Z). He must play with inside leverage.
SS: Pre-snap show two deep safety look and once the QB begins his cadence he rolls down and plays man coverage on #2 (S). He must play with inside leverage.
W: You have several options here. You can have the W blitz B-gap (as shown on the diagram). Or you can have him spy a mobile QB or even run with any TB going on push motion. You can also have him help out underneath- play a robber type coverage.
Related Content: Storm & Snake Blitz out of the 4-3 Defense
Coaching Points
- Blitz needs to be execute from the wide side if the field.
- Make sure your defenders do not give away where they are blitzing too early. You want to make the offense to have adjust on the fly- do not give them time to adjust to the bltiz pre-snap.
- Make sure your slanting defensive linemen, dip and rip and not get themselves washed down.
- You have several options with your W backer. You can have him spy, wall off, blitz or play some sort of underneath coverage.
- Playing man coverage (cover o) is risky- your defender have to be able to play man to man coverage