How Jim Schwartz Utilizes Blitzes to Confuse Blockers
The number one focus of Jim Schwartz's defensive game plan is to put constant pressure on the quarterback. Though he's known for his elaborate ways to do this with his defensive line, he's also effective when it comes to blitzing as well. He doesn't do it often, but when he does, it's routinely successful.
Schwartz is methodical and calculated when it comes to determining how and when to utilize non-defensive linemen in his pass rush. He likes to use a lot of "mug" fronts initially instead of bringing a second-level defender like a linebacker or walked-up safety to blitz. This makes it appear that he's going to blitz without actually doing it by walking up linebackers to the line of scrimmage before the snap. As soon as the ball is snapped, they'll drop back into coverage. This is meant to confuse individual offensive linemen pre-snap, as well as attempting to influence the center and quarterback into possibly changing protection calls and "MIKE" declarations.
This is a "win" for the defense because rather than releasing to run a route, the tight end or running back might be told to stay back and help block. Manipulating an offense into taking a potential pass-catcher out of the passing game to help block when they don't actually need to is a victory in and of itself.
When he does decide to dial up a blitz in-game, he bases his thought process on three main factors.
1. The overall strength of his coverage unit. This is what Jim Schwartz bases his entire blitzing game plan off of. If Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome, and Martin Emerson are doing a good job of shutting down the offense's passing game, he'll increase his blitz rate. For example, this would give him the freedom to take Anthony Walker Jr. or Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah out of coverage to enhance the pass rush by blitzing. If the coverage unit is struggling, then the blitz rate will decrease to help on that front. Coverage success and blitz rate are directly correlated to each other in his defense.
Both Anthony Walker Jr. and Owusu-Koramoah are above average blitzers, for different reasons. Walker Jr. has been excellent at being able to diagnose and exploit weak points in opposing blocking schemes on delayed or "spy" blitzes throughout his career. Owusu-Koramoah is such a rare athlete that he's able to juke around and dip under offensive linemen on a consistent basis.
The combination of talent that the Browns have both in the secondary and at linebacker could potentially lead to Jim Schwartz blitzing more frequently than he has in the past.
2. The opposing quarterback's ability to handle the blitz. Schwartz doesn't blitz quarterbacks that are great at handling it. If the opposing quarterback has a proven track record of being efficient and effective in high-pressure situations, then he simply won't blitz. There's no point in bringing more than four rushers, when in some cases blitzing could actually favor the offense.
3. The strength or productivity of his defensive line. Schwartz usually manages to build a great defensive line unit wherever he goes and Cleveland has certainly followed suit. They've added the likes of Dalvin Tomlinson, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Za'Darius Smith, and Siaki Ika amongst others this offseason. The group should be much improved, but if they occasionally aren't producing as they should, Schwartz will blitz more. In this scenario, he tends to only bring one linebacker in tandem with running more defensive line stunts.
He does everything that he can with four or five pass rushers before moving on to more elaborate blitz schemes. Jim Schwartz wants to blitz for effectiveness rather than for need.
4-Man Blitz
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Schwartz uses this unique scheme to bring pressure from the second level, while still only rushing with four players.
Play Analysis:
The defensive ends explode upfield for one to two steps and then drop back into coverage. They'll usually be assigned to cover the flat or the hook/curl zone of the field. Both of the defensive tackles will line up in the B gaps and then loop outside to replace the defensive ends. The linebackers crisscross and fire into the A gaps.
Goal:
The main goal is to bring linebackers on a blitz in order to confuse the blockers, while still only bringing four rushers. This gives Schwartz a unique way to benefit from blitzing while maintaining seven coverage players.
5-Man Blitz
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This type of blitz overloads one side of the offensive line in order to "force" the pocket to move one way. This play also utilizes the strong safety as an interior blitzer.
Play Analysis:
The strong side defensive end rushes upfield on a normal outside path, while the strong side defensive tackle loops or slants inside to attack the A gap or center. The opposite defensive tackle attacks the B gap, while the weak side defensive end drops back into coverage. The WILL linebacker drops back into coverage in order to relieve some of the coverage liability created by the blitzing strong safety. The MIKE linebacker attacks whichever A gap looks "weaker", while the strong safety shoots through the strong side B gap.
Goal:
The main goal is to push the pocket in the opposite direction of where the offense wants it to be. It's effective on the strong side because it forces the quarterback to move away from the strength.
6-Man Blitz
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Schwartz's 6-man blitz aims to overwhelm the offense, while still being able to effectively cover any intermediate-level threat with the MIKE linebacker.
Play Analysis:
The entire defensive line slants inside in order to squeeze the offensive line together, while the WILL and SAM linebackers attack the edge. The MIKE linebacker either spies the quarterback or drops back into coverage.
Goal:
The goal is to try and force the offensive linemen to step inside so it's easier for the outside linebackers to create pressure. If the offensive linemen end up fanning out, then the defensive linemen have the easier path.
7-Man Blitz
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Jim Schwartz uses this 7-man, cover-0 blitz in obvious passing situations in order to completely overwhelm the quarterback. He usually uses press-man coverage on the outside in order to shut down any form of quick passing game as well.
Play Analysis:
Both defensive tackles line up in and shoot the A gaps in order to occupy the three interior offensive linemen. The strong side defensive end explodes upfield on a normal outside path, while the weak side defensive end loops or slants inside to the B gap. The SAM linebacker gets wide and rushes outside of the tight end (if there is one), or outside of the defensive end's path. The MIKE linebacker crashed inside and attempts to shoot through the strong side B gap. The WILL linebacker takes an outside path to the quarterback.
Goal:
The goal is to create multiple holes or weak spots in the offensive line for the linebackers to take advantage of.
