Air Force Zone

Pressures
Tim DeRuyter
Air Force Academy

 AIR FORCE ZONE PRESSURES

COVERAGE CONCEPTS
* 3 UNDER, 3 DEEP MATCH UP ZONE
* 4 UNDER, 2 DEEP

PRESSURE CONCEPTS

*
*
*
*

RUN or PASS BLITZ (or Both)

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PROTECTION RULES
USE DISGUISE
BRING VARIETY OF PEOPLE / PLACES

Keep it Simple
Rep!

- Run what you can

2

 AIR FORCE ZONE PRESSURES

BLITZ CONCEPTS
* 1 OLB / 1 ILB FROM A SIDE
* BOTH INSIDE LINEBACKERS
* BOTH OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS

WHERE WE BRING BLITZ

*
*
*
*

FIELD OR BOUNDARY
OPEN / CLOSED SIDE
STRONG (PASSING STRENGTH) or WEAK
TILT
3

 AFA ZONE PRESSURES

MUST UNDERSTAND FIRE ZONE:
* Underneath Coverage
- 2 SEAM DEFENDERS (#2)
- 1 STACK # 3 PLAYER

* Deep Coverage:
- Corners play FZ 1/3s
- M/3 Safety plays FZ M/3

 FIRE ZONE
FIRE ZONE COVERAGE
3

1
2

SEAM

SEAM
# 3 PLAYER
S
E
A
M

S
E
A
M

FZ 1/3

FZ 1/3
FZ M/3

 AFA ZONE PRESSURES

SEAM DEFENDERS:
*
*
*
2
*
*

Responsible for # 2 receiver

Matches outside release of # 2
Collision and Carries vertical of #
Delivers inside routes of # 2

Must know where # 3 receiver is to be

aware of Switches
* MUST KEEP VISION
6

 SEAM DEFENDERS
#3

QB

#2

#1
#2

E
M

Match

#1

N
W

Match

SS

FS

2. If # releases VERTICAL, You

"COLISION AND CARRY"

QB

#3
#2

#1
#2

S
C

#1

E
M

Carry

W
Carry

FS

SS
7

 ZONE PRESSURES
STACK # 3 PLAYER:
* Responsible for # 3 receiver
* Plays closer to QB than # 3 receiver
(Low shoulder)

* Plays Inside/Out on # 3
* Must know where # 2 receiver is to be
aware of Switch
* NO Vertical responsibility for # 3
* MUST KEEP VISION!
8

 STACK # 3 PLAYERS
QB

#3

#2

#1
#2

#1

N
M

Carry

B
C

C
FS

SS

2. If # 3 runs vertical, Carry to 12 yards and "zone up".

#2

QB

#2

#1

#3

#1

E
S

N
M

W
C

C
SS

FS

M/3

3 If # 3 and # 2 switch, play the new # 3 inside-out, always remaining closer to the QB.
QB
#2
#3
#1
#2

#1

S
Carry

B
C

# 3 Player

SS

FS

Seam

4. If # 3 and # 2 switch, play the new # 3 inside-out, always remaining closer to the QB.
#3

QB
#2

#1
#2

Deliver
C

#1

N
M

W
#3

B
Carry

C
10

FAR

"RINGO

PRO

S
C

NG

SEAM

M
# 3

FZ 1/3

9 DOG
BACKER
SEAM

BLAST

FORCE

FZ 1/3

FS

SS

FAR to NEAR

PRO

"RINGO" to
'LUCKY"

SEAM /
9 DOG

NG
M

FZ 1/3

E
W

# 3 /
BLAST

BLAST /
# 3

B
9 DOG /
SEAM

FS

SS

FZ 1/3

M/3 /
SEAM
"RINGO" - SEAM /
CHECK "LUCKY" - M/3

DENVER TO
TEXAS

"RINGO" to
"LUCKY"

S
C
FZ 1/3

NG

E
M

# 3 /
BLAST

FS
RINGO - M/3 /
CHECK "LUCKY" - SEAM

E
W

BLAST /
# 3

9 DOG /
SEAM

SS
SEAM
M/3

FZ

1/3

11

VS DENVER

"LIZ"
"CHECK SKY"

TB
S

E
# 3

SS

SEAM

W
2nd

SEAM

1st

FS

VS TEXAS

"RIP"
"CHECK SKY"
TB

S
X

B
SEAM

SEAM

# 3

SS

1st

2nd

FS

VS TAHOE
"LIZ"
"CHECK SKY"
TB
Z

S
X

B
SS
C

E
W
2nd

M
C

1st

FS

12

 2 ZONE DOG

*
*
*
*

4
2
2
2

UNDER, 2 DEEP ZONE PRESSURE

SOFT SQUAT CORNERS
WALL 2 PLAYERS
ZONE DOG S

13

TB

VS DENVER

S
X

SS

S. SQUAT

WALL 2

WALL 2

T
M

S. SQUAT

FS
1/2

1/2
VS TEXAS
"SLING"

TB

S
Y

WALL 2

S. SQUAT

WALL 3

FS

SS

S. SQUAT

1/2

1/2

VS TAHOE
CHECK "SKY"

TB

N
Seam

FZ 1/3

N
W

Stack 3

SS

M
Seam

J
C
FZ 1/3

FS
FZ
M/3

14