Football defensive units look for anything they can to get an advantage and stop the offense. Blitzing is one of the techniques used to put pressure on the offense and turn the tide in favor of the defense. Defenses use a variety of blitzes depending on the situation and offensive play.
About Blitzing
A blitz is any play where the defensive unit rushes more players than the standard down linemen. Most teams use either three or four down linemen, but teams can blitz as many as eight players on a single play. The idea of the blitz is to confuse or overload the offensive line, therefore gaining penetration and stopping the offense for a loss or a turnover. Blitzes can be risky because they often leave players in man-to-man pass coverage. which can result in a big play if the offense blocks well or picks up the blitz.
Pass Blitzing
Pass blitzes are used by the defense in situations where they expect the offense to be throwing the football. The goal of a pass blitz is to get pressure on the quarterback to result in a sack, turnover or rushed throw. Every player has the potential to be used as a blitzer in a pass blitz situation, meaning the offense must watch and prepare for potential blitzes in all directions. In a pass blitz, the defenders are very aggressive and rush hard with the goal of getting to the quarterback without worrying about potential draw plays or screens.
Run Blitzing
Run blitzes are used on plays where the defense expects the offensive team to run the football. According to former football coach Tom Bass, run blitzes are designed to disrupt the play and redirect the running lane of the runner. Instead of rushing all out and hard like a pass blitz, run blitzes are more controlled as the defense seeks to fill any gaps or holes. Rushing too hard can leave the defense vulnerable for trap plays or cutbacks, which defeat the purpose of the blitz.
Zone Blitz
The zone blitz is a newer blitzing concept that is used on passing plays. According to former college football coach Bob Davie, zone blitzing began in the early 1990s to allow defenses to blitz without having to take the chance of playing man-to-man defense and allowing a big play. In the zone blitz, the defense tries to confuse the offense by disguising who is blitzing and from what angles. Defenses often drop down linemen and replace them with extra blitzers to further confuse the offense on who will be rushing after the passer. This confusion can lead to missed blocks and, in turn, sacks. In addition, if the quarterback fails to see a lineman dropping into coverage, turnovers can result.
Member Comments