Odd Stack Pressure and

Coverage Packages

By: James Vint

jvint@iwc.edu
 Why The 30 Stack
• Puts Your Athletes On The Field
• Linebackers Are Harder To Block Than
Down Guys
• Allows You Multiple Stunts and Fronts
• Linebackers Work From Attack Mode
• LB’s Read Less and Play Downhill
• Attack and Redirect rather than Read and
React
• Great Change-Up To Your Base Front
 D Line Rules
• Nose Aligns in 0
• Ends Line UP in 4’s, unless we adjust by game
plane or front.
• Backers Stack on the outside leg of the O-
lineman. Mac is Head Up
• Ends Drop On Thunder, Lightning, and Storm
• Attack your gap shoulder and read the hat
• Outside Rusher has Peel on Swing
• Hammer, Rocky, and Lunatic puts ends in B
Gap
• Maintain your pass rush lanes!
 Inside Backer Rules
• Run, Draw, Screen, Pass—ATTACK DOWNHILL
• Mike Keys The Offensive Guard To Flow (FB)
• Lou and Rob Key The Block Of The Guard And
Tackle To Flow
• If Lou or Rob is Up On TE, Squeeze the D into the
C. Limit TE Release
• On 3rd Down and pass, progression is Draw—
Screen—Pass
• LB’s are the last players to Drop on pass
• Attack First, Then Redirect
• Mix up your bluff looks
 Dogs Rules
• Line Up Splitting The Distance from EMOL and WR
versus pro look. If no ISWR, you have D gap force
• Versus two receivers, play inside leverage of #2 to head
up, unless game plan calls for adjustments. You have
force/support. Defend the bubble
• Versus Trips, line up on #2 at 5 yards and collision
number 2. You must defend the bubble.
• On closed side, line up at LB depth at least 5 yards
outside TE.
• Key EMOL for run/pass, low hat/high hat. WR key is #2.
Buzz Hook/Curl to Flat (Numbers Drop)
• Work to get a smart collision on #2 receiver, funnel him
to your help.
• If you are blitzing off the edge you have PEEL!
 Secondary Rules
• Follow your alignment guides.
• DON’T GET BEAT DEEP!
• Play over the top first in all coverages.
Play the Hands of the Wideout to the ball.
• When you play the run, be sure.
• Read the block of the EMOL.
• When playing man, see your man!
• Understand your leverage points and help.
Our Base Alignment

E N E
$ L M R H
C C

Vs. Twins Open

 30 Stack Base Font-Bama C-3
Vs 21 I Pro

E N E
C
$ L M R H
C
F
Nose-0 Backside A Gap Hero-LB Depth, Split Distance, D Gap Force
End-4 Tech to C Gap Corners-5 to 7 Yards, Head UP, C-3
MAC-10 Frontside A Gap Free-B Gap TE Side, C-3
Lou-70 B Gap
Rob-50 B Gap
Stud-LB Depth, Split Distance, D Gap Force
 30 Stack Base Font-Bama C-3
Versus 11 Personnel

E N E
C
$ L M R H
C
F
Nose-0 Backside A Gap Stud-LB Depth, Split Distance, D Gap
End-4 Tech to C Gap Force, Key TE Release, Help on TE Under
MAC-10 Frontside A Gap Hero-Shade #2, Run with 2 on Vertical
Lou-70 B Gap Corners-5 to 7 Yards, Head UP, C-3
Rob-50 B Gap Free-A Gap TE Side, Deep Third
Stud-LB Depth, Split Distance, D Gap Force
 30 Stack Base Font-Bama C-3
Versus 10 Personnel Trips Open

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$
C L M R H
C
F
Nose-0 Backside A Gap Stud-IS Shade #2at 3 yards Key #2
End-4 Tech to C Gap Release, Hook/Curl To Flat
MAC-10 Frontside A Gap Hero-LB Depth, Split Distance, Key #1
Lou-90 B Gap Release
Rob-40 B Gap Corners-5 to 7 Yards, Head UP, C-3
Free-C Gap Trips Side, Deep Third-Help to
Field
 30 Stack Base Coverages
• Cover 0
• Cover 1
• Cover 2
• Cover 2 Man
• Cover 3 and 3 Switch
• Cover 4
• Cover 5
• Cover 9
*NOTE* We will stay simple with our coverages!
 Pass Drop Zones Cover 3

Flat Flat

Curl Hook Robber Hook Curl

Middle

Deep 1/3 Deep 1/3 Deep 1/3

This is our pass zone identification for cover 3. When we are

in cover 3, the dogs have the curl zone to the flats, and the L,
M, and R, have the Hook/Curl Zones and the Middle Robber.
The Dogs always go through the Curl Zone to the Flat as the L,
M, and R are the last guys to get into their drops as they play
Run, Draw, Screen, Pass. We tell our dogs to buzz the curl, on
their way to the flat.
 Pass Drop Zones Cover 4

Flat Flat

Curl Hook Robber Hook Curl

Middle

Deep 1/4 Deep 1/4 Deep 1/4 Deep 1/4

This is our pass zone identification for cover 4. In our base

alignment, one of our dogs is going to play a deep seam zone.
We will determine which dog will drop based on game
planning and tendencies. When we drop a dog, our linebackers
must adjust to cover the underneath zone vacated by the dog
who is dropping.
 Cover 3
• Corners will play deep thirds.
• Our Free Safety will be the high hole
player in the middle of the field.
• Will buzz the curl to the flat. (#’s Drop)
• Lou and Rob are hash drop players.
• Mike with low-hole player.
• Cover 3 is a low-risk defense!
 Cover 3 Switch
• Corners will play a cover 2 technique.
• Corners are the force and flat players.
• Dogs will play the deep 1/3 zones.
• Free safety will play the middle 1/3 of the
field.
• This is a good change-up when we are
getting hitches and stop routes.
 Cover 3 Switch
Versus 20 Personnel

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C L M R H C
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Nose-0 Backside A Gap Hero-LB Depth, Creep back, open hips,
End-4 Tech to C Gap
Mike-Stacked, Low Hole Player OS third.
Lou-50 B Gap– Hash Drop Corners-4-6, Be Physical, funnel IS, you are
Rob-40 B Gap– Hash Drop force!
Free-Middle of the field, deep 1/3
Stud-LB Depth, Creep back, open hips,
OS third.
 Cover 3 Switch Pre Snap
Versus 20 Personnel

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C $ L M R H C
F
 Cover 3 Switch
Versus 20 Personnel

E N E C
C
L M R
$ H
F
 Cover 3 Cloud Weak
Versus 20 Personnel

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$
C L M R H
C
F
Nose-0 Backside A Gap Hero-LB Depth, Creep back, open hips,
End-4 Tech to C Gap
Mike-Stacked, Low Hole Player OS third.
Lou-50 B Gap– Hash Drop ]Weak Corner-4-6, Be Physical, funnel IS,
Rob-40 B Gap– Hash Drop you are force
Strong Corner- 5-7, Cover 3 Technique
Stud-Work to collision #2, Numbers Free-Middle of the field, deep 1/3
Drop
 Cover 3 Cloud Weak
Versus 20 Personnel

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C L M R H

F C
 Cover 13 (3 Under)
Versus 10 Personnel

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C L M R H
C
F
Nose-0 Backside A Gap Hero-LB Depth, Man on #2, know help
End-4 Tech to C Gap
Weak Corner-5-7, Man
Mike-Stacked, Low Hole Player to Banjo
Strong Corner- 5-7, Man
Lou-50 B Gap– Read 3 to 2 Banjo
Free-Middle of the field, Help on worst
Rob-40 B Gap– Bracket 2 Banjo
match-up first
Stud- LB Depth, Man versus #2, know
help
 Cover 0
Versus 21 Personnel

E N E
C $ L M R H
C
F
Nose-0 Backside A Gap Hero-LB Depth, Numbers Drop
End-4 Tech to C Gap
Weak Corner-5-7, Man
Mike-Stacked, Low Hole Player
Strong Corner- 5-7, Man
Lou-50 B Gap– Back my side
Free-Middle of the field, creep to inside
Rob-40 B Gap– Back my side
alignment on FS
Stud- LB Depth, Numbers Drop
 Base Cover 4
Versus 21 Personnel

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C $ L M R H
C
F
Nose-0 Backside A Gap Hero-LB Depth Play ¼ coverage
End-4 Tech to C Gap
Weak Corner-5-7, Cover 4
Mike-Stacked, Low Hole Player
Strong Corner- 5-7, Cover 4
Lou-50 B Gap– Hash Drop
Free-Middle of the field, creep to alignment
Rob-40 B Gap– Hash Drop
Stud- LB Depth, Numbers Drop
 Demon Off Drill Cover 4
Versus 21 Personnel

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C $ L M R
C
F H
Nose-0 Frontside A Gap Hero-Cover 2 Shell Play ¼ coverage
End-4 Tech to C Gap
Weak Corner-5-7, Cover 4
Mike-Stacked, Low Hole Player
Strong Corner- 5-7, Cover 4
Lou-50 B Gap– Hash Drop
Free-Middle of the field, creep to alignment
Rob-40 B Gap– Hash Drop
Stud- LB Depth, Numbers Drop
 Demon Cover 5 Weak
Versus Trips

E N E
C $ L M R
C
F H
Nose-0 Backside A Gap Hero-Cover 2 Shell Play ½ coverage
End-4 Tech to C Gap
Weak Corner-3 to 5, Play Hard
Mike-Stacked, Low Hole Player
Strong Corner- 5-7, Cover 4 Concept
Lou-50 B Gap– Hash Drop
Free-Align Inside #3, play quarter concept.
Rob-40 B Gap– Hash Drop
Stud- LB Depth, Numbers Drop, be
aggressive
Wide Look Cover 5 vs. Trips

$ E N E
L
M R
C C
F H

We will work from our demon look.

Our Stud will play up on #2.
Our Lou will play inside of #3.
Our SC on Free are playing ¼.
Wide Align Cover 5 vs. Trips
 Demon Cover 5 Strong Lock
Versus Trips

E N E
C $ L M R
C
F H
Nose-0 Backside A Gap Hero-Cover 4 Shell, Unless you get flow
End-4 Tech to C Gap weak, work to middle of the field.
Mike-Stacked, Low Hole Player Weak Corner-4 to 6, play man
Lou-50 B Gap– Hash Drop– Sit under seam! Strong Corner- 3 to 5, Do not let #1 off!
Rob-40 B Gap– Hash Drop Free-Align Inside #3, play quarter concept.
Stud- LB Depth, Sit in the curl zone! Play
soft vs. Bubble.
 Coverage Ideals
• We play Cover 1, 3, and 0 the majority of the time.
• Versus 21 Personnel we will play the most Cover 0.
• Versus 10 Personnel we will play Cover 3 and Cover 1.
• Versus 11 Personnel we will play Cover 1, Cover 3,
Cover 4, and Cover 5.
• Versus 12 Personnel we will play Cover 3 and some
Cover 2.
• Versus Empty we will play more Cover 4 and Cover 5.
• If we get a bad match-up we will check out of our
coverage package to remain sound.
 3-5-3 Pressure Packages
• We will be aggressive in our pressures.
• We will primarily run 4 and 5 man pressures,
however, we can bring as many as 8.
• Make sure to match up your coverage and
pressure packages.
• Be sure to understand where your voided zones
are located.
• Be prepared to check out of your blitz game
versus certain looks by the offense.
• The offense should never know who is coming,
or how many. Bluff and disguise whenever
possible.
 Bringing Pressure
• Create potential 4 on 3 and 3 on 2 match-ups.
• Identify and utilize a mismatch.
• Put the offensive line and backs in conflict.
• Force the quarterback to throw the football
quickly.
• Get the offense out of their comfort zone.
• Create a turnover.
• Give the illusion that eight can come at any time!
4 Man Pressures– Rob Fire Cover 3
Versus 21 Personnel

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C

F
Hero will help fill the void left by
the Rob blitz. He will protect the
curl and be late to the flat.
 4 Man Pressures– Mike Cover 3
Versus 21 Personnel

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C

F
Off backer becomes the low
hole player when the Mac
Blitzes. The Rob will work his
drop four yards inside the hash.
4 Man Pressures– Hero Drill Cover 3
Versus 21 Personnel

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C

F
The Rob has to widen his
drop to limit the void. If we
Note: We might check out have to choose, we will void
of this blitz if the hero the flat!
versus empty to avoid a
coverage mismatch.
 4 Man Pressures– Smoke Cover 3
Versus 21 Personnel

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C

F
The Lou may have to widen
his drop if threatened. He
will read the release of the
tight end.
 4 Man Pressures– Rocky Cover 3
Versus 21 Personnel

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C

F
Rocky puts the Rob in the C
gap. The end will slam the
B gap. This is great vs.
Sprint Out!
 4 Man Pressures– Ron Cover 3
Versus 21 Personnel

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C

F
Ron is Rob over Nose
4 Man Zone Pressures– Thunder Cover 3
Versus 21 Personnel

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C

F
Thunder is great pressure
package. You can play Cover 1 or
3 with a Thunder call.
4 Man Zone Pressures– Lightening Cover 3
Versus 21 Personnel

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C

F
If we are blitzing to the receiver
strength, we will adjust our backer
drops.
Lightening Pre-Snap
 5 Man Pressures– Storm Cover 3
Versus 21 Personnel

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Storm puts thunder and lightening
both on. We would probably adjust
our coverage slightly. Storm has both
ends dropping out.
5 Man Pressures– Double Dog Fire Cover 3
Versus 21 Personnel

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C

F
When both dogs blitz, our Lou and
Rob must widen their pass drops.
Our dogs will play peel. To the open
side we can drill the end.
5 Man Pressures– Double Dog Fire Cover 0
Versus 11 Personnel

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We can bring Double Dog versus 11
personnel as well. We must play
Cover 0. Our Mike and Rob will banjo
the back.
5 Man Pressures– Double Dog Fire Cover 1
Versus 11 Personnel

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C
F
Rob and Lou Fire gives us a five man pressure , putting
the guards in a bind. We usually run this blitz from depth
versus 1 back sets. We can play a cover 3 look from this
pressure as well.
5 Man Pressures– Rocky Lunatic Cover 1
Versus 11 Personnel

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C $ L M R H
C
F
Rocky tells the Rob to blitz C gap. Lunatic tells the Lou to
blitz his C gap. When we put them together we get both
backers coming C gap. We can also run these with the
Mike blitzing versus a 2 back look. We would call that
Rocky Lunatic Triple Fire.
5 Man Pressures– Hero Mike Off Cover 0
Versus 10 Personnel

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C
F
We are trying to create a potential match-up problem for
the offensive line. We have 4 players rushing 3 down
players. Our Rob and Lou will banjo the back will working
to their drop zones.
 5 Man Pressures– Rambo Cover 1
Versus 10 Personnel

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C
F
Rambo allows us to attack one side of the defense. If the
We feel like this puts the offensive guard in conflict. The
Lou will bounce around and show blitz personality.
6 Man Pressures– Hero Mike Off Lou C-0
Versus 10 Personnel

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C
F
We are now going to bring 6 defenders to put pressure on
their five offensive lineman. We will creep on this blitz to
set up a bluff later in the game. Our free safety must start
off in the middle of the field. The Rob has the back man.
6 Man Pressures– Lunatic Triple Fire C-0
Versus 10 Personnel

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C
F
The Lou is blitzing C gap, and the Mike and Rob are
blitzing their normal gap responsibilities. The free safety
will be man on the back. We will get out of this if we have
a coverage match-up problem.
6 Man Pressures– Rambo Triple Fire C-0
Versus 20 Personnel

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C
F
Rambo alerts the Rob he will go to the A gap, and the
Mike will go through the B gap. The mike will go first, and
the Rob will go second. We can also run this blitz with
the Lou playing man on the back, and the Stud coming off
the edge.
7 Man Pressures– Rambo Smoke Triple Fire C-0
We would make a minus
call when we are one Versus 20 Personnel
short in coverage!

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C $ L M R H
C
F
Our Stud will go get his back. The End will attack the C
gap shoulder of the RT and work to play peel. The Free
Safety has the back to the TE side.
7 Man Pressures– Lunatic Triple Fire Hero
Versus 31 Personnel

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$ L M R H
C
C
F
Versus 31 Personnel we will bring an occasional 7 man
pressure. We will bring all 3 backers and our Hero off the
edge.
 Coverage and Pressures
• Never put yourself in a coverage bind.
• If you can’t play man, don’t.
• If you are getting 3 step, use your pressure
accordingly.
• Understand which zones are you will void.
• Never bring pressure to the point you are short
in coverage.
• When you bring pressure you must get pressure.
• Every front 8 player must understand your minus
call.