Fundamentals of the Bomber Blitz Package
The key to any good defense is the ability to play fundamentally sound and as fast as possible. At the same time, we want to be multiple in the sense that we can line up in a lot of different looks. “Marrying” the former to the latter takes a solid teaching approach that enables us to do both. As a result, we tend to use word association for most of our blitz package (a defense that allows for 5 or more players to attack the line of scrimmage).
Our “fire zone” system is based off the states of our great country. In theory, every state could be utilized with a different pattern involving the five plus defensive players. Although we could draw up “50” different state blitzes, the more you add, the slower you process which reduces the ability for the player to play fast. In other words, we limit the number of patterns, or “states” that we run in order to play fundamentally sound and fast.
Every state will include the three down linemen and two of the linebackers.
For example, this pattern blitz is called Iowa. The pattern is a basic pattern that just about any defense runs. We bring the Jet backer off the edge in what we call “attack force,” the play side End “long sticks the A gap, the Sam linebacker “read blitzes” the B gap behind the “long stick” of the End, the Nose Guard “short sticks” the away A gap and the away End “short sticks” the away C gap.
Pattern Blitz - Iowa: State
In order to look multiple yet continue to play faster (less thinking) we can use a mascot within the state. Whenever we add a mascot, the outside linebacker is replaced by an edge $afety. We use Hawkeye (Iowa Hawkeyes) as our mascot. The pattern remains the same so everyone, with the exception of the Jet linebacker don’t have to think. This is better served as a run blitz as the edge is secured by the $afety enabling the Jet to “free flow.”
Pattern Blitz - Hawkeye: Mascot
Finally, we can use a city within the state. Whenever we add a city, the Sam linebacker is replaced by the Adjuster (middle safety). We choose the city Des Moines as the complimentary city to Iowa. Of course, this step requires the players to do an additional geography lesson in the event they do not know where the city resides! Again, the pattern remains the same so everyone, with the exception of the Sam linebacker don’t have to think. This, like “Hawkeye” is better served as an inside run blitz since the Adjuster will occupy B gap allowing the Sam to “free flow.”
Pattern Blitz - Des Moines: City
Again, when you look at all three blitzes, the pattern stays the same but one of the players running the pattern change. Once the players understand the pattern concepts, we can add different fronts and coverages to disguise what we are trying to do. For example, we usually run what we call “Fire” Coverage behind our fire zone blitzes. This is our base front and Cover 3 or “safety closed” look. This is the look we would give the offense if we called “Iowa Fire”:
If we wanted to disguise the secondary along with the blitz we could call “Hawkeye Fire Sling” and the secondary would make the necessary adjustments giving the offense a Cover 2 or “safety open” look. This is what the offense and quarterback would see prior to the snap:
Once the players get comfortable with an individual “state package,” we can do a number of things to advance the concept. Obviously, coverage change-ups are important, but we can add rages to the blitz that can add a player, zone drop a defensive lineman, or twist lineman different linemen. The possibilities are endless. The following example is an example of how a coverage can change the look of the blitz. We call the coverage “Bronze Coverage” so the call would be “Iowa Bronze.”
