Dec. '21 Blitz of the Month

Tulsa's Back Spurs Add 0 blitz

The three-safety system has become a normal defensive structure after being introduced to major college football four years ago in Ames. One of the programs that picked up on the trend early was Tulsa. The American Athletic Conference (P6!) is a diverse landscape of offenses, and it makes sense that a team from a conference that closely reflects the Big 12 in offensive diversity (minus Navy).

Tulsa is not a name most would think of when discussing defense (Joe Gillespie is now the DC at TCU). However, Cincinnati has done enough for the AAC in that department and is on a tear again in ‘21 (and will join the B12 shortly). In a Covid shortened ‘20 season, the Hurricanes finished 39th overall in DFEI, similar to Football Outsiders DVOA, but for college (it measures efficiency). Though Tulsa is not hitting at the same rate in ‘21, they run a well-structured three-high system that compliments their wide-open offense and schedule.

Related Content: The Bearcat Stack (Cincinnati ’20)

The malleability of the Hurricanes’ structure affords them the freedom to get “exotic” with blitz design yet not sacrifice coverage integrity. If only running the system to play Tampa 2, the defense loses the ability to surprise opponents with pressure or apply stress to an offense by eliminating key areas or players. In addition, the five (sometimes six) DBs on the field allow for a multitude of coverage rotations, blitzers, and post-snap looks that are not afforded to traditional schemes.

Like other three-high defenses, Tulsa uses the Middle Safety (Jack in the Tulsa diagram) to insert on a six-man pressure. In most cases, the MS will sit in the middle of the formation or on top of the Center. That location allows him to mix into the blitz schemes without tipping the offense off or displacing other secondary players. One of my favorite of these MS pressures is Iowa State’s ALAMO path (below).

You can also find this path in single-high defenses that put the Safety on the RB. For example, in the following clip, Indiana (‘20) runs what is referred to as Missouri Dog 2 versus Ohio State. The path is almost identical to the one run by Iowa St. but from a completely different base structure.

Related Content: Creating an A-Gap Progression Series (Mex/Manning/Missouri)

Utilizing the Safety in the blitz concept brings a different look for an offense. When a defense gives a certain presentation repeatedly, the offense gets used to players being in certain spots. A defense’s ability to bring a third-level player (DB) is one way to catch the offense off guard. In the clip above, Indiana created a free-hitter from the secondary.

In the following play, Tulsa was able to do the same, getting their MS free through the protection. Though the Hurricanes did not end up with a sack, the QB couldn’t step up in the pocket and deliver a well-thrown ball. In the end, Tulsa won the down in a crucial area of the field, the Low Red Zone, and would eventually win the game 35-29.

---

Six-man pressures can be dangerous in the middle of the field, where the offense can easily get a match-up advantage and blow the top off the defense. Towards the Red Zone, and primarily the Low Red area (14-GL), the offense has limited space to attack a defense vertically. For the most part, defenses don’t want to match their six-man blitzes in the Red Zone with HOT or EYES coverage. The offense has to cross the thin white line to score a touchdown. A defense doesn’t want defenders covering grass in a high-need situation.

Related Content: Aug. ’21 BOTM – Pitt’s Odd Cowboys Hot Blitz

To match the pressure, many teams will play Cover 1 and “peel” the edge rusher if the RB were to flare. In Tulsa’s case, they opt to run Cover 0 with the Sam linebacker acting as a “Rat” in the middle of the formation. The secondary plays catch coverage or press their man across the field. Playing tightly in the Low Red forces contested throws and outside breaking routes. If any route breaks inside, the Sam is there patrolling the middle.

Memphis, sensing man coverage, aligns their WRs tight together. The Hurricanes counter by getting on different levels. For offenses, this is a clear indicator for man coverage. The dropping “Rat” in the Sam can also “trace” across the formation and take the RB if he were to flare. The Tigers run Slide protection and use the RB as the edge blocker, picking up the Will. Tulsa’s pre-snap movement from their typical 505 to a “Back” Front (4i to the RB) puts the ‘Canes in a de-facto Over Front versus the 11 personnel 2x2 formation.

The Canes’ pressure overloads the boundary for the Tigers. With the TE releasing on a route, Memphis has three players to take on four defenders. In Slide protection, the offensive line will “zone” in a direction. For Memphis, this was to the field. The RB will become the edge setter and take on the first outside threat. The movement by the DE plays into the slide protection and brings the Guard, with the Mike attacking the B-gap, bringing the RT. The movement leaves the Tigers a man short for the Safety insert.

The diagram illustrates the gap logic of the blitz. The 4i works across the Guard and takes the A-gap, Mike the B-gap, and the Will the C. With the RB stepping up and willing the Will from the inside, there is a natural gap created for the “J” to attack. Putting two on the RB is a recipe for success. Tulsa used the Slide and the use of the RB in the protection against the Tigers.

---

Three-high systems can be rigid and static, even predictable in how they pressure. However, utilizing secondary pressures, whether coverage shifts or in the blitz path, can pay the defense dividends. With so many DBs on the field, the defense has many ways to apply pressure on an offense and change the post-snap picture for a QB. In modern football, it is this post-snap picture that defenses need to change to combat the uptick in play-action usage on early downs.

Tulsa used a non-traditional defender to attack a gap in the Tigers’ protection. The offense wasn’t expecting the Middle Safety to dive down into the box. Though the Hurricanes didn’t get a sack or turnover, the pressure forced an off-target throw and a win on an early down. Tulsa took a rational Fire Zone, Spurs, and added a Safety from their three-high shell to overwhelm the Memphis protection. Even with the RB left in protection, the Canes were able to get a free-hitter.

The pressure illustrates how a defense can use its structure to its full advantage in its pressure scheme. In many 3-3-5 defenses, the six “box” defenders usually pressure the offense. However, when defenses utilize the hybrid players on the field as coverage defenders and blitzers, the offense has to account for all eleven players on the field.

---

Check out The #ArtofX Show Ep. 1 where I discuss Tulsa’s defense and this blitz:

---

This article is brought to you by…

Pro Quick Draw is a powerful platform used on Microsoft® Visio & PowerPoint to allow football coaches to organize, format, and export Playbooks, Scout Cards & Presentations efficiently.

Click below to start your free trial & make sure to tell them you saw PQD on MQ!

---

© 2021 MatchQuarters.com | Cody Alexander | All rights reserved.

---