Nobody loves toys more than I do, and so I’m continuing to play with the NFL Game Rewind. I continue to find a lot more enjoyment in the NFL when I can look at what is really happening, rather than what the announcers are telling me.

Today we’re looking at the Houston Texans 3-4 Defense in Week 15, taking on Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts. In the 3^rd Quarter, with the Colts backed up deep in their own territory on a 3^rd Down and 15, the Texans brought the popular America’s Fire Zone blitz and forced an incompletion. The Colts had to punt from their own end zone on 4^th Down, and Houston went on to win the football game 29-17.

By the way, I don’t use many of the actual player’s names because 1) I don’t know them and 2) I don’t care. This isn’t a Fan blog.

Let’s take a look at how the Texans ran America’s Fire Zone…

Lined up against a Trips Formation, the Texans show a Cover 2 look pre-snap. Aligned with double 3-techniques, a strong 5-technique and the weak side OLB walked up, the Texans appear to be bringing a 4 man rush. On cadence, the strong side OLB walks into the box as the weak side safety rolls over the top and the Strong Safety works down to play the flat.

After the Defensive Linemen take their initial steps up the field, the Nose crosses the face of the Guard to the A Gap and the End crosses face to the inside as well once they read the pass set. The Outside Linebacker comes off the edge, and the Mike Linebacker comes off the hip of the long sticking Defensive End.

On the weak side, the Outside Linebacker checks run, but when he reads the High Hat of the pass setting tackle, he drops off into the weak side flat. He will be underneath the curl route of the single receiver.

The 3 Under, 3 Deep Zone coverage is perfect for this situation. The Colts Receivers are running their routes for the sticks (presumably, though if you watched the games on Sunday it doesn’t seem like receivers do that anymore). The 3 deep shell stays over top, while the 3 underneath defenders take away any easy throws.

With pressure in his face, Luck has to get rid of the ball quickly. The only throw the Texans have left him is the longest throw, to the far sideline. The long throw gives the Corner plenty of time to break on the ball and force the incompletion. (note: There was also Offensive Pass Interference on this play, which was declined)

America’s Fire Zone is a great Single Edge pressure, that still gives the security of a 3 Deep shell behind it. Couple that with the flexibility of the 3-4 Defense, and the blitz is easy to disguise and attack with great angles.

Want more on Fire Zone Blitzes? Get a 7 Day Free Trial Membership for tons of blitz articles, and read Dominating Football Defense with the Zone Blitz, my eBook on bringing pressure with zone coverage behind it.