Air Force Football
Air Force Football
FOOTBALL
FIRE-ZONE
PACKAGE
WHY FIRE-ZONES
• Pressure the point of attack versus running game.
WHY FIRE-ZONES
• Pressure the point of attack versus running game.
• Attack pass protection weakness – QB’s confidence.
WHY FIRE-ZONES
• Pressure the point of attack versus running game.
• Attack pass protection weakness – QB’s confidence.
• Reduce the “big-play exposure” by taking the back-
end out of man coverage.
WHY FIRE-ZONES
• Pressure the point of attack versus running game.
• Attack pass protection weakness – QB’s confidence.
• Reduce the “big-play exposure” by taking the back-
end out of man coverage.
• Create negative yardage plays – get offense off
schedule.
WHY FIRE-ZONES
• Pressure the point of attack versus running game.
• Attack pass protection weakness – QB’s confidence.
• Reduce the “big-play exposure” by taking the back-
end out of man coverage.
• Create negative yardage plays – get offense off
schedule.
• Reduce the volume of offense from opponent.
WHY FIRE-ZONES
• Pressure the point of attack versus running game.
• Attack pass protection weakness – QB’s confidence.
• Reduce the “big-play exposure” by taking the back-
end out of man coverage.
• Create negative yardage plays – get offense off
schedule.
• Reduce the volume of offense from opponent.
• Zone adjustment to offensive change of strength.
WHY FIRE-ZONES
• Pressure the point of attack versus running game.
• Attack pass protection weakness – QB’s confidence.
• Reduce the “big-play exposure” by taking the back-
end out of man coverage.
• Create negative yardage plays – get offense off
schedule.
• Reduce the volume of offense from opponent.
• Zone adjustment to offensive change of strength.
• Zone drops often cause quarterback to hold ball in
pocket – allows for pressure to develop.
WHY FIRE-ZONES
• Pressure the point of attack versus running game.
• Attack pass protection weakness – QB’s confidence.
• Reduce the “big-play exposure” by taking the back-
end out of man coverage.
• Create negative yardage plays – get offense off
schedule.
• Reduce the volume of offense from opponent.
• Zone adjustment to offensive change of strength.
• Zone drops often cause quarterback to hold ball in
pocket – allows for pressure to develop.
• Cannot run off perimeter run support.
WHY FIRE-ZONES
• Pressure the point of attack versus running game.
• Attack pass protection weakness – QB’s confidence.
• Reduce the “big-play exposure” by taking the back-
end out of man coverage.
• Create negative yardage plays – get offense off
schedule.
• Reduce the volume of offense from opponent.
• Zone adjustment to offensive change of strength.
• Zone drops often cause quarterback to hold ball in
pocket – allows for pressure to develop.
• Cannot run off perimeter run support.
• Offense must be “protection-orientated” over “hot-
orientated” in the passing game.
OUR DEFENSIVE STRUCTURE
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OUR DEFENSIVE STRUCTURE
E N E
__ __
OUR DEFENSIVE STRUCTURE
E N E
L M R
__ __
OUR DEFENSIVE STRUCTURE
E N E
F F
L M R
__ __
OUR DEFENSIVE STRUCTURE
E N E
F F
L M R
C C
__ FS __
BASIC DESIGN PRINCIPLE
PRESSURE ELEMENT:
FRONT THREE + TWO
BASIC DESIGN PRINCIPLE
PRESSURE ELEMENT:
FRONT THREE + TWO
COVERAGE ELEMENT:
TWO SEAMS + ONE HOLE
THREE DEEP ZONE
PRESSURE ELEMENT
E N E
F F
L M R
C C
__ FS __
BEAR
PRESSURE ELEMENT
E N E
F F
L M R
C C
__ FS __
TIGER
PRESSURE ELEMENT
E N E
F F
L M R
C C
__ FS __
SHOOT
DECLARATIONS
TIGHT
SPLIT
FORMATION
FIELD
BOUNDARY
TILT
NUMBERS
PRESSURE ELEMENT
E N E
F L M R
F
C C
__ FS __
BLAZE
PRESSURE ELEMENT
E N E
F L M R
F
C C
__ FS __
THUNDER
PRESSURE ELEMENT
E N E
F L M R
F
C C
__ FS __
TORNADO
PRESSURE ELEMENT
E N E
F L M R
C C
FS F
__ __
FLOOD (RIVER/LAKE)
TIGHT
E N E
F L M R
F
C C
__ FS __
THUNDER
SPLIT
E N E
F L M R
F
C C
__ FS __
THUNDER
FORMATION
E N E
F L M R
F
C C
__ FS __
THUNDER
FIELD FIELD
E N E
F
L M R
F
C C
__ FS __
THUNDER
BOUNDARY FIELD
E N E
F L M R
F
C C
__ FS __
THUNDER
TILT
E N E
F L M R
F
C C
__ FS __
THUNDER
NUMBERS
E N E
F L M R
F
C C
__ FS __
THUNDER
BASIC DESIGN PRINCIPLE
PRESSURE ELEMENT:
FRONT THREE + TWO
BASIC DESIGN PRINCIPLE
PRESSURE ELEMENT:
FRONT THREE + TWO
COVERAGE ELEMENT:
TWO SEAMS + ONE HOLE
THREE DEEP ZONE
HOW DO YOU PLAY ZONE
COVERAGE WITH ONLY SIX
DEFENDERS?
TEACH PLAYERS HOW TO
READ ROUTE COMBINATIONS
T T T
H H H
I
R
__ I
R
__ I
R
D D D
E N E
F F
SEAM
SEAM
__ __
COVERAGE RESPONSIBILITIES
COVER: Z
E N E
F F
SEAM L M R SEAM
HOLE
**NON-BLITZING LINEBACKER
BECOMES HOLE PLAYER
__ __
COVERAGE RESPONSIBILITIES
COVER: Z
E N E
F F
SEAM L M R SEAM
HOLE
__ FS
MIDDLE __
THIRD
COVERAGE RESPONSIBILITIES
COVER: Z
E N E
F F
SEAM L M R SEAM
HOLE
C
OUTSIDE
C
OUTSIDE
THIRD THIRD
__ FS
MIDDLE __
THIRD
COVERAGE RESPONSIBILITIES
COVER: Z
E N E
F F
FORCE L M R FORCE
C C
__ FS __
RUN SUPPORT
COVER: Z
E N E
F F
FORCE L M R FORCE
C C
__ FS
ALLEY __
RUN SUPPORT
COVER: Z
E N E
F F
FORCE L M R FORCE
C
SECONDARY
C
SECONDARY
CONTAIN CONTAIN
__ FS
ALLEY __
RUN SUPPORT
SEAM TECHNIQUE
SEAM TECHNIQUE
F
**FLAT-FOOT
READ
F
10 YARDS
DEPTH
F
**FLAT-FOOT
READ
READ ROUTE OF #2
SEAM TECHNIQUE
F
HOLD
CURL
F
C
E N E
LB
E N E
LB
E N E
F
LB
LB
F **WIDEN AS
NEEDED
**FLAT-FOOT
READ
LB
F
LB
F
DO NOT CUT SLANT OF #2 IN BANJO – HOLD CURL IF YOU GET FLAT -- HOLE
PLAYER DRIVE NEW #3
BANJO TECHNIQUE
LB
F
HOLE PLAYER WILL CUT SHORT CROSSER – SEAM PLAYER WILL PLAY
AS TWO STAND UPS
BANJO TECHNIQUE
LB
F
LB
F
T N T
F
12 F
L M R
C C
__ FS __
F E N E
12
L M R F
C C
__ FS __
E N E
F F
L M R
C C
__ FS __
40
7
__ __
40
1
__ __
40 2
__ __
PUSH OUT TO SLOW PEDDLE - KEY FOR QUICK THREE STEP PASSING
GAME AT SNAP
CORNER PLAY
40
C
__ __
40
3
C
__ __
C
__ __
C
__ __
C
__ __