8/12/2019 Fire Zone Coverage

1/2

Install/Structure

Fire Zone teaching, we simply add the word Hotto alert each player to expect hot throws as a response to

the blitz. Because none of us want robots,we teach the three underneath defenders to align at a minimum

pre-snap depth of 6 yds or a maximum pre-snap depth of 8 yds. For us, the teaching must be flexible (i.e. a

Safety coming down to play Hot/Flat may be at 8 yds, where a drop DE may only get to 6) however, we stress

that no underneath defender should be less than 6 yds until the ball is thrown. The pre-snap alignment for

each defender directly corresponds with their route match rules, which we have found simplifies the post-

snap structure of the coverage. Hot/Flat defenders are taught to align inside #1, outside #2, and the Hot/Hook

defenders are taught to align inside #3 (between #3 & QB). Though a WR may begin as #1 and end as #3, or a

TE as #2 Strong and end as #2 Weak, etc., the principles and concepts remain the same in our teaching.

8/12/2019 Fire Zone Coverage

2/2

Keys/Rules

Hot/Flat Defenders

Our Hot/Flat defenders are taught to Key #2 on the snap and match inside the final #1, and outside the final #2

based on three rules:(1) 2 Up = Holdvs a vertical release by #2, our Hot/Flat players are taught to sit on the vertical, make

the WR force you to give ground, and collision or funnel the vertical release to the Middle of the Field

Safety. Once a flat threat/crosser appears or the #2 vertical reaches 10 yds, the Hot/Flat player can

expand, read the intentions of the QB and break on the throw.

(2) 2 Out = Expandvs an outside release by #2, our Hot/Flat players are taught to widen with #2

maintaining 6-8 yd depth, while keeping their body in the Slant/Curl window until the QB turns his

shoulders parallel to the Line of Scrimmage indicating an outside throw. Parallel QB shoulders are the

Hot/Flat playerstrigger to drive the top shoulder of the outside route. We teach the drive to the topshoulder to ensure a proper angle for an open-field tackle or to collision any Wheel route by #2. (Wheel

call to Corner Alerts Corner to MidpointDeep 1/3)

(3) 2 In = Squeeze& Searchvs an inside release by #2, our Hot/Flat players are taught to communicate

In,In, In,squeeze the release of #2 to the Hot/Hook defender and search for a new #2 to appear from

the backfield or opposite side of the field. If a new #2 appears, we will apply #2 Out rules, if no new 2

appears, we will sink, read the intentions of the QB and break on the throw.

Hot/Hook DefendersOur Hot/Hook defenders are taught to Key #3 on the snap and match inside the final #3 (between #3 and the

QB) based on two rules:

(1) 3 Up/In = Hold(Same principles as Hot/Flat vs #2 Vertical).

(2) 3 Out = Expandvs #3 Out, the Hot/Hook defender must communicate Out,Out, Out,to the

Hot/Flat defender, expand to the new #3 and execute Holdtechnique. We teach our Hot/Hook players

that an Incall from the Hot/Flat defender is an alert that his match is coming to him and no In

indicates he must go to his match. In the event of Incalls from each Hot/Flat player, the Hot Hook

defender is taught to immediately sink, read the intentions of the QB and break on the throw.

3 Hot DE Dropping