Deconstructing: Penn State's Modern Take On Old-School Defense - Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo! Sports

Awesome breakdown of Penn State's Cover-3 defense by Chris Brown of Smart Football.

Comments

JoePa’s staff has a variety of blitzes, though they have a cardinal rule: Once a zone blitz is called, it will be run; no checking out of it at the last minute.

I’m am by far the worst when it comes to technical football mechanics, but isn’t this rule a mistake? What does everyone else think, aka carolinaeasy?

I liken this to sticking with pass action plays on offense when a blitz is clearly coming. But what do I know?

Ok, I have to get back to work and stop posting.

by Mr. Rosewater on Oct 23, 2009 4:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't think so

You don’t want your secondary thinking one thing and your linebackers doing something else.

Sometimes you will see PSU linebackers fake a blitz with an LB, but then he’ll drop back in coverage. They’re trying to get the QB and slot guy to switch to a hot read, but then the LB drops back and takes it away. It crosses up the QB for a split second and forces him to look to his second option. Hopefully that’s all the time the DLine, or the blitz coming from the other direction, needs to get to him.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Oct 23, 2009 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This should be required reading for every PSU fan

At least the ones who complain about defensive schemes

by InScoresOfOtherGames on Oct 23, 2009 5:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think taking away to option to audible to a better defensive set is a bad idea… I’d be surprised if this is an actual rule…
zone blitzing is complicated and can get killed by a spread passing attach, 4 or more WRs. it’s best used in 2 WR sets with a TE so the tackle or end can get back into a coverage under the TE… if it’s to spread out and the lineman that’s dropping can get to where he needs to be in time…

the zone blitz works so well because typically when you blitz, the secondary is playing man behind it and lined-up showing man. This is a tell-tale sign to the QB the blitz is coming… with the zone blitz, the secondary is line-up like they’re play zone, thus the blitz is disguised…

defense scheming truly is an art and you need a special mind for it…

by WETSU on Oct 23, 2009 5:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs