It is an honor to represent Delta State and have the opportunity to share with Gridiron Strategies our pressure package from our Dime Personnel. Our Dime Package has become an integral part of our defense. With the complexity of the spread offense, it is easier to adjust to the four-five wide receiver sets when you have six DB’s on the field. On third and long situations, we want to be able to cover down all WR’s and pressure the QB out of the same pre-snap look. The Fire Zone concept is an effective way to do that from our two shell pre-snap look (See Diagram 1).
Outside Fire Zone Blitz (Diagram 2) - The OLB to the blitz side will take a flat step inside and read the guard. He will then come under any fan or reach block. The DE will stick to his inside slant and read the center. Versus a block back by the center, he will cross face and balance up our rush. The DE away from the blitz is in a contain pass rush from a 3 technique. He will step to the inside of the OT. If the OT blocks down on the DE, he will cross face and rush contain. If the OT is blocking out on the dropping OLB, the DE will work for containment through the inside hip of the OT and push the hip of the DE to expand his gap. The OLB away from the blitz will be the middle hook to the three dropper.
The Mike linebacker will scrape the C gap on flow to him or drop back pass. If the OT blocks out, the MLB will come underneath the OT. If the OT is blocking down, he will scrape the C gap and be inside any RB block. The invert to the blitz will pass rush containment from a press alignment or creep on indicators based on the split of his WR’s (Diagram 2).
Fire Zone Coverage - The underneath coverage is a match-up coverage on the inside receivers. We have two seam or deuce players and one middle hook three dropper (See Diagram 3).
They will take their drop and match their receivers on any release to the flat. They will carry any vertical releases and deliver inside routes to the next zone defender. We must spend time working the 3-2 exchanges that can occur which will cause the quick delivery.
The free safety or MOF defender is an alley player on run and a true middle 1/3 player vs. the pass. We want him to push the middle of the field with three hard steps before he gets into a back peda and be ready to lean on any wide receiver or linebacker match-ups and protect the post. The corners will play inside leverage 1/3, be ready to play the divide on 1-2 vertical releases and over play 1 if 2 is not on a vertical release (See Diagram 4).
We are usually calling this blitz to either the field, pass strength or to the RB in the protection. That will depend on scouting reports and match-ups. Other variations are the Inside Fire Zone with the invert and MLB or the FS and MLB. With these variations, being able to attack the offense from different areas with the Fire Zone has been a great complement to our Dime Package.
WHAT IF?
Q1. What if you’re facing a trips formation? What adjustments do you make with your dime pressure package?
We will match the WR with our invert safeties and run the nickel or dime over.
Q2. What if you’re facing a great running quarterback out of the shotgun? Would your defensive alignment or Fire Zone change in any way?
We like to run zone coverages that will allow us to keep vision on the QB, or have a game on up front. We could also add a spy call and drop out a DL to spy the QB.
Q3. What if you’re on defense deep in the red zone? Are there any adjustments you make when facing a 2x2 set?
We do not run much of the true zone down there. Some versions of the coverages are allowable but you can tighten up in the red zone and GL area because there is not as much of a chance to get beat deep and a field player is not a lot of help down there.
Ron Roberts enters his second year this fall as Head Coach at Delta State.
He can be reached at RonRoberts@GridironStrategies.com.