1. AIR FORCE
FOOTBALL

2. FIRE-ZONE
PACKAGE

3. WHY FIRE-ZONES
• Pressure the point of attack versus running game.

4. WHY FIRE-ZONES
• Pressure the point of attack versus running game.
• Attack pass protection weakness – QB’s confidence.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. OUR DEFENSIVE STRUCTURE
_
_ _
_

13. OUR DEFENSIVE STRUCTURE
E N E
_
_ _
_

14. OUR DEFENSIVE STRUCTURE
E N E
L M R
_
_ _
_

15. OUR DEFENSIVE STRUCTURE
E N E
F F
L M R
_
_ _
_

16. OUR DEFENSIVE STRUCTURE
E N E
F F
L M R
C C
_ FS _
_ _

17. BASIC DESIGN PRINCIPLE
PRESSURE ELEMENT:
FRONT THREE + TWO

18. BASIC DESIGN PRINCIPLE
PRESSURE ELEMENT:
FRONT THREE + TWO
COVERAGE ELEMENT:
TWO SEAMS + ONE HOLE
THREE DEEP ZONE

19. PRESSURE ELEMENT
E N E
F F
L M R
C C
_ FS _
_ _
BEAR

20. PRESSURE ELEMENT
E N E
F F
L M R
C C
_ FS _
_ _
TIGER

21. PRESSURE ELEMENT
E N E
F F
L M R
C C
_ FS _
_ _
SHOOT

22. DECLARATIONS
TIGHT
SPLIT
FORMATION
FIELD
BOUNDARY
TILT
NUMBERS

23. PRESSURE ELEMENT
E N E
F L M R
F
C C
_ FS _
_ _
BLAZE

24. PRESSURE ELEMENT
E N E
F L M R
F
C C
_ FS _
_ _
THUNDER

25. PRESSURE ELEMENT
E N E
F L M R
F
C C
_ FS _
_ _
TORNADO

26. PRESSURE ELEMENT
E N E
F L M R
C C
FS F
_
_ _
_
FLOOD (RIVER/LAKE)

27. TIGHT
E N E
F L M R
F
C C
_ FS _
_ _
THUNDER

28. SPLIT
E N E
F L M R
F
C C
_ FS _
_ _
THUNDER

29. FORMATION
E N E
F L M R
F
C C
_ FS _
_ _
THUNDER

30. FIELD FIELD
E N E
F
L M R
F
C C
_ FS _
_ _
THUNDER

31. BOUNDARY FIELD
E N E
F L M R
F
C C
_ FS _
_ _
THUNDER

32. TILT
E N E
F L M R
F
C C
_ FS _
_ _
THUNDER

33. NUMBERS
E N E
F L M R
F
C C
_ FS _
_ _
THUNDER

34. BASIC DESIGN PRINCIPLE
PRESSURE ELEMENT:
FRONT THREE + TWO

35. BASIC DESIGN PRINCIPLE
PRESSURE ELEMENT:
FRONT THREE + TWO
COVERAGE ELEMENT:
TWO SEAMS + ONE HOLE
THREE DEEP ZONE

36. HOW DO YOU PLAY ZONE
COVERAGE WITH ONLY SIX
DEFENDERS?

37. TEACH PLAYERS HOW TO
READ ROUTE COMBINATIONS
TEACH CONCEPT OF PLAYING
MAN WITHIN YOUR ZONE –
MUCH LIKE A MATCH UP ZONE
IN BASKETBALL

38. HOLE
SEAM SEAM
T T T
H H H
I
R
_
_
I
R
_
_
I
R
D D D
COVERAGE ELEMENT BEHIND FIVE MAN BLITZ

39. Z
Z PRESS
Z SPIN
Z ROB
Z LOU
Z MIKE
Z JOHN

40. COVER: Z
E N E
F F
SEAM
SEAM
_
_ _
_
COVERAGE RESPONSIBILITIES

41. COVER: Z
E N E
F F
SEAM L M R SEAM
HOLE
**NON-BLITZING LINEBACKER
BECOMES HOLE PLAYER
_
_ _
_
COVERAGE RESPONSIBILITIES

42. COVER: Z
E N E
F F
SEAM L M R SEAM
HOLE
_ FS _
_ MIDDLE
THIRD
_
COVERAGE RESPONSIBILITIES

43. COVER: Z
E N E
F F
SEAM L M R SEAM
HOLE
C
OUTSIDE
C
OUTSIDE
THIRD THIRD
_ FS _
_ MIDDLE
THIRD
_
COVERAGE RESPONSIBILITIES

44. COVER: Z
E N E
F F
FORCE L M R FORCE
C C
_ FS _
_ _
RUN SUPPORT

45. COVER: Z
E N E
F F
FORCE L M R FORCE
C C
_ FS _
_ ALLEY _
RUN SUPPORT

46. COVER: Z
E N E
F F
FORCE L M R FORCE
C
SECONDARY
C
SECONDARY
CONTAIN CONTAIN
_ FS _
_ ALLEY _
RUN SUPPORT

47. SEAM TECHNIQUE

48. SEAM TECHNIQUE
3
5
F
**FLAT-FOOT
READ
VERSUS SINGLE WIDTH

49. SEAM TECHNIQUE
F
10 YARDS
DEPTH
PLAY AS NORMAL CURL ZONE DEFENDER

50. SEAM TECHNIQUE
2
7
F
**FLAT-FOOT
READ
VERSUS TWO STANDS UPS

51. SEAM TECHNIQUE
F
READ ROUTE OF #2 RECEIVER

52. SEAM TECHNIQUE
F
HOLD
CURL
IF #2 QUICK TO FLAT -- WORK TO NORMAL CURL AND HOLD

53. SEAM TECHNIQUE
F
IF #2 QUICK TO FLAT -- WORK TO NORMAL CURL AND HOLD

54. SEAM TECHNIQUE
F
IF #2 RUNS SLANT -- CUT AND CARRY THROUGH QB’s EYES

55. SEAM TECHNIQUE
F
IF #2 VERTICAL -- COLLISION AS NEARS RE-ROUTING OUTSIDE

56. SEAM TECHNIQUE
F
IF #2 VERTICAL -- COLLISION -- PLAY MAN ON ALL STOP/OPTION ROUTES

57. SEAM TECHNIQUE
F
IF #2 QUICK CROSSER -- PASS OFF TO HOLE PLAYER - SETTLE AND ZONE QB’s EYES

58. SEAM TECHNIQUE
F
C
VERSUS ANY SCREEN -- SEAM PLAYER TRIGGERS

59. HOLE TECHNIQUE

60. HOLE TECHNIQUE
E N E
LB
PATTERN READ OFF #3 RECEIVER -- OFTEN BACK IN BACKFIELD

61. HOLE TECHNIQUE
E N E
LB
DROP OVER #3 AS YOU READ HIS ROUTE -- NO RECEIVER THREAT – DRIVE ON #3

62. HOLE TECHNIQUE
E N E
F
LB
DROP OVER #3 AS YOU READ HIS ROUTE – IF THREAT BY #2 – WALL OFF AND ROLL

63. BANJO TECHNIQUE
1
7
LB
F **WIDEN AS
NEEDED
**FLAT-FOOT
READ
VERSUS THREE STANDS UPS

64. BANJO TECHNIQUE
LB
F
WORK BANJO WITH HOLE -- INSIDE/OUTSIDE CUTTERS

65. BANJO TECHNIQUE
LB
F
DO NOT CUT SLANT OF #2 IN BANJO – HOLD CURL IF YOU GET FLAT -- HOLE PLAYER DRIVE NEW #3

66. BANJO TECHNIQUE
LB
F
HOLE PLAYER WILL CUT SHORT CROSSER – SEAM PLAYER WILL PLAY AS TWO STAND UPS

67. BANJO TECHNIQUE
LB
F
HOLE PLAYER CARRY VERTICIAL BY #3 – LOOK FOR CROSSER FROM #2

68. BANJO TECHNIQUE
LB
F
HOLE PLAYER DRIVE NEW #3 – SEAM PLAYER HEAVY OVER #3

69. FREE SAFETY
PLAY

70. FREE SAFETY PLAY
T N T
F
12 F
L M R
C C
_ FS _
_ _
ALIGN IN MIDDLE OF FIELD – PERFORMANCE IS PRIORITY

71. FREE SAFETY PLAY
F E N E
12
L M R F
C C
_ FS _
_ _
BALL ON HASH -- SPLIT DIFFERENCE #2 AND BALL

72. FREE SAFETY PLAY
E N E
F F
L M R
C C
_ FS _
_ _
ZONE MIDDLE THIRD – FAVOR TO SKILL – BE FAST ON QB’s INTENTIONS

73. CORNER PLAY

74. CORNER PLAY
40
40
7
C
_
_ _
_
VERSUS NORMAL WIDE RECEIVER SPLIT

75. CORNER PLAY
40
40
1
7
C
_
_ _
_
VERSUS WIDE SPLIT BY WIDE RECEIVER

76. CORNER PLAY
40
40 2
7
C
_
_ _
_
VERSUS TIGHT SPLIT BY WIDE RECEIVER

77. CORNER PLAY
C
SINGLE WIDTH: PLAY AN INSIDE THIRD – MAN ALL THREATENING RELEASES – POST PROTECT

78. CORNER PLAY
C
PUSH OUT TO SLOW PEDDLE - KEY FOR QUICK THREE STEP PASSING GAME AT SNAP

79. CORNER PLAY
C
BREAK UP ON ALL NORMAL BREAKING ROUTES

80. CORNER PLAY
C
BREAK UP ON ALL NORMAL BREAKING ROUTES

81. CORNER PLAY
C
TURN AND DRIVE ON DEEP SHOULDER OF RECEIVER ON POST

82. CORNER PLAY
C
CLOSE AND PLAY CHASE ON DIG

83. CORNER PLAY
C
TURN AND GAIN HIP POSITION ON FADE

84. CORNER PLAY
40
40
7
C
_
_ _
_
VERSUS MULTIPLE STANDS UPS – NORMAL SPLIT

85. CORNER PLAY
40
40
3
7
C
_
_ _
_
VERSUS MULTIPLE STANDS UPS – WIDE SPLIT

86. CORNER PLAY
C
_
_ _
_
VERSUS MULTIPLE STANDS UPS – PLAY DIVIDER TECHNIQUE – TRUE ZONE

87. CORNER PLAY
C
_
_ _
_
VERSUS MULTIPLE STANDS UPS – PLAY DIVIDER TECHNIQUE – TRUE ZONE

88. CORNER PLAY
C
_
_ _
_
VERSUS MULTIPLE STANDS UPS – IF #2 CANCELS OUT – DRIVE ON #1

89. END