Stretching the Field: Contents Under Pressure
by Luke Paul Chandler
Prospects such as UNLV’s Beau Bell are featured as possible targets for teams running zone blitz style defenses this upcoming season.
By Luke Paul Chandler
The NFL is a copycat league. It always has been and always will be. Often, teams will copy Super Bowl winners, hoping that lightning strikes twice. This can be seen from the explosion of Tampa-2 defenses after the Buccaneers won Super XXXVIII, and then the 3-4 defense becoming so popular with the Patriots recent dominance.
As the Giants and Steve Spagnuolo showed, putting pressure on the opposing quarterback can be effective. With so many teams spreading out their offenses more, sitting back in a zone cover opens up more holes then it closes off, so why not get after the quarterback? The zone blitz has become the trend in the NFL.
Thus far, the Jaguars and new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams will be running this aggressive style of defense, and it’s expected that the Patriots will start implementing more zone-blitz principles with Dom Capers coming on board. The Vikings started to show more aggressive tendencies by season’s end, and the Bengals under Mike Zimmer will do the same thing. With so many teams trying to fill these needs, the top zone-blitz style front seven defenders are identified.
Defensive tackle
Defensive tackles in a zone-blitz scheme are often one-gap players, and are a lighter than average. They usually shooting the A-gap (between center and guard) or the B-gap (between guard and tackle). In some cases, you will see a team run a zone-blitz scheme on a four-man line with a nose tackle that covers two gaps, but this isn’t as common.
Sedrick Ellis USC - The four-year starter from Southern Cal is extremely light on his feet, and a genuine disruptive force. Ellis has a great first step, and can get up field quickly. There are some concerns about his conditioning after showing up to the Senior Bowl with a high amount of body fat, but that has never been a concern on the field. Look for Ellis to be drafted in the top 10 picks.
Dre Moore Maryland - Moore is probably the most athletic tackle in the draft. His pursuit skills and ability to shed quickly could make him an attractive option to zone-blitz teams. Moore has some experience dropping back into short or intermediate zones, and is a smooth athlete.
Andre Fluellen Florida State - The senior from Florida State is the top pure one-gap tackle in this year’s draft. He has a good feeling for the game, and uses good leverage and a quick first step to get up field quickly. He doesn’t have much experience dropping back into zone, but is athletic enough to pull it off.
Defensive end
The ends in a zone-blitz scheme are often moved around to gain a favorable matchup and keep the offensive line guessing. Usually they are quicker players, but occasionally a powerful strong-side end can be effective in this scheme. Ends in this defense have to be able to rush the passer from two- or three-point stance.
Vernon Gholston Ohio State - Gholston’s upside has many teams in the top 10 excited about getting their hands on him. Gholston played the Leo, or drop end, position in Columbus, a position that San Diego’s Shawne Merriman played at Maryland. Gholston is a better pass rusher in a two-point stance than a three-point, because he can beat tackles out of their stance. Gholston will be viewed favorably by 3-4 and 4-3 zone-blitz teams.
Quintin Groves Auburn - After rushing the passer for four years at Auburn, Groves is finally ready for the NFL. He has grown into his body over that time, and has evolved from a pure speed rusher into a player who can bull rush or speed rush. Groves has some experience at linebacker, but he looked stiff and awkward there. Groves could turn into a similar player to the Giants’ Justin Tuck, who often lines up over the guard in a passing downs.
Chase Ortiz TCU - The scrappy Ortiz often was overlooked in college due to his big-name teammate Tommy Blake, who battled with mental health issues all season. Ortiz is a lunch pale kind of pass rusher who wears down his opponents. Ortiz has good game smarts and recognition skills, and has enough athleticism to thrive in this role.
Outside Linebacker
The outside linebackers in zone-blitz scheme are the key. They play in a complex position, having to be able to both cover and to rush the passer. It requires quick, physical linebackers who can stack and shed and make plays on the move.
Beau Bell - If there is a prototypical strong-side linebacker for this defense, it’s Bell. He is used to playing over the tight end and getting mixed up in traffic. He is very physical and has great hand use. Bell pursues well down the line, and can be tough to block off the edge. Bell has athletic limitations, but overall plays a tough game.
Geno Hayes Florida State - While Hayes would be a bit undersized for this style of defense, his skills translate well to the will linebacker position. Hayes has good pop and closing speed, and plays bigger than his listed 220 pounds. Usually in this defense, one linebacker plays a coverage/clean up role, which Hayes could fill well. He’s inexperienced as a blitzer, but lacks some creativity in his pass rush moves.
Phillip Wheeler - As a member of Jon Tenuta’s aggressive defense for the Rambling Wreck, Wheeler walks into the NFL ready to contribute. Wheeler, nicknamed “the Predator” by teammates, is used to playing both inside and out. He is able to blitz the A-gap well, and shows some nice pass rushes moves when getting the quarterback. His pass drops are sloppy and he has tight hips, but he is a prime candidate to play on the strong side.
Middle linebacker
The middle linebacker in this defense has to control traffic and keep order. He has to be intelligent, and able to call out assignments quickly. His role can vary, but he must be able to shoot the A-gap and maintain it. Blitzing the interior of the offensive line and controlling the inside run is a must. The ability to drop back into intermediate zone is as well.
Dan Connor Penn State - Connor has bounced around the linebacker positions while at Penn State, but he would best fit on the inside. He’s not going to be a deep cover guy, but he could play a robber-style intermediate cover linebacker, like Antonio Pierce did for the Giants this season. He’s a physical player who could rough it up on the interior blitz.
Erin Henderson Maryland - Henderson was not quite ready when he declared for the draft, but his best fit is in a defense that takes advantage of his aggressiveness. His recovery speed and athleticism could allow him to be able to sell blitz, but be dropping into deep cover.
Vince Hall Virginia Tech - Like Wheeler, Hall is a veteran of this style of defense. He is well built, and handles all traffic in the phone booth well. Hall has good smarts and redirects traffic well, and has a good overall feeling for the game. He times his blitz very well.
Contact Luke at Luke@newerascouting.com.