Double A Gap LB Twist Blitz

The Falcons walk up in a double A gap mug look with Nickel personnel using OLB bodies as the edge (DE) rush backers. The pressure is a variation of the classic double A gap ILB blitz.

The Rush: 

The Rush backers contain and the DTs are in the B gaps. All four are aligned wide. The DTs are wide 4i's to help force the guards to fan out and create more A gap space for the ILBs to operate. The ILB's twist in the A gaps. 

The Coverage:

Cover 1 Peel. With  6 man rush the rush has to peel with the RB if he releases into a route. The DBs to the bunch us a lock & level technique.

The Mike is aligned out over the guard while the Will is in the A gap to the RB. The alignment of the Mike forces the Center to set wide to make the block. The penetrating Will does a great job of stacking the Center before going vertical. The RB is in a bind in the protection. The Will never actually leaves his A gap but the looping Mike presents a new A gap threat. It is possible the Falcons called the twist and ran it as is based on protection game plan. The LB opposite the RB is the looper and aligns wider to influence the Center's pass set. It is also possible the ILB are using a read the center twist technique (Torch). The Rush backer to the RB does go depth and under. This could be a pass rusher reacting to being walled out of the rush by the DT getting up the field and looking for new space to pass rush. More likely this is the Rush backer playing a coverage technique to secure the RB on any interior release. Really good design from Dan Quinn. 

Adjusting Firezone Coverage

Here is a nickel personnel 5 man firezone pressure from the Arizona Cardinals.

The Rush:

4 from a side concept with a long stick DT (Nose) while ILB and Safety overload the inside gaps with the DE as contain.

The Coverage:

3 under 3 deep firezone with the 3RH dropper locked on #3

This coverage adjustment is not new in the NFL firezone world.

This "Mable" adjustment is from the 1997 Carolina Panthers defense and Dom Capers. The Cardinals are using this type of coverage adjustment. 

By locking the DE on the TE to the flat the Cardinals avoid the DE dropping into space. The DE's assignment of covering the TE to flat is a job the DE can do. Consider the alternative:

The DE would need to push the Nickel from the Seam out to the flat. That would force the DE to drop with depth and width to cover a WR on the out cut. 

By adjusting the 3RH drop the Cardinals gave the DE a winnable assignment in coverage. Having these types of coverage tools is part of making firezone pressure packages successful for all skill sets in coverage. Good stuff from Coach Holcomb.

Bunch Formation Chase Route Concept

Here is a 5 Step passing concept from a bunch formation designed to create an interior triangle read for the QB.

The route progression for the QB is:

Peek the Vertical (X)

1. Chase Route (S)

2. Dig Read (Y)

3. Drive Read (Z)

The Peek is a pre-snap read used vs. a press man look.

The QB can throw the outside release vertical to the X as a 1 on 1 winner route. If the QB likes the matchup he can take it, otherwise he follows his normal route progression.

The post-snap read progression is an interior triangle read.

The first route in the progression is the S on chase route. The S is letting the Z & Y clear while selling a flat route. The chase route is three hard steps outside, plant, and angle into MOF chasing the Drive route. The chase route is climbing to a depth of 5 yards.

If the inside linebackers drop with depth the chase route should be open.

The second route in the progression is the Y on the dig read route. The Y should take an outside release and break to the dig at 10-12. The Y is reading for open space to settle and square his numbers to the QB. If there is a zone dropper underneath; the Y will keep working inside until there is open space to settle. If there is a player running with the dig in man; the Y will keep running across. The Y does not settle the route vs. man coverage.

If the ILB takes an angle to cover the chase route; the dig should be open.

The third route in the progression is the Z on the drive read route. The Z is releasing at the heels of the DL and gaining ground. As the drive crosses the Center; the Z is reading the flat defender. If the flat defender is wide, the Z is squaring this shoulders and showing his numbers to the QB. On the away side the X is running an outside release vertical. Against press coverage the X will run a vertical and must be ready for the peek throw from the QB. If there is no press coverage; the X will turn the vertical into a comeback at 10-12 yards. The comeback is there is force the flat defender to widen.

Here the ILB’s take angles to take away both the Chase and Dig routes. The Z is reading on the drive route. In this example the FS is inverting to the flat. The X runs the comeback to force the FS to widen. The Z will settle in area of the OT. The max depth is 5 yards.

Here the flat defender is the Corner. Again the Z will settle & square in area of the OT.

Here the flat defender is the ILB expanding. Again the Z will settle & square in area of the OT.

If the flat defender does not expand to cover the comeback; the Z will keep running. If there is a player running with the drive in man; the Z will keep running across. The Z does not settle the route vs. man coverage. The Z will also keep running if any zone defender attempts to match up. If it feels like man coverage treat it like man coverage.

The A back is running a swing to widen the flat defender to the bunch and is not part of the read progression. While not part of the read; the A back must be ready for the ball in a hot throw situation. Against pressure the QB can throw the peek vertical to the X if he likes the matchup. The other hot option is to throw the swing route to the A back.

Adjustments

The route can easily be run from a 2x2 motion look.

Here the same concept from a 4x1 empty; forces the defense to handle and inside bunch and waste a coverage player on the A back. The A can run any route that forces the flat defender to cover him.

The route can be run from 3x2 empty as well. The A runs vertical to clear out space and take the top off the coverage.

Another option is to run the route from a 3x1 formation with the A back running the chase route. This can be an easy way to get the A back involved in the passing game.

In all of the adjustments the QB has the same interior triangle read.