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{{more citations needed|date=March 2010}}
In [[gridiron football]], '''blitzing''' is a tactic used by the [[American football#Defensive unit|defense]] to disrupt [[Forward pass#American and Canadian football|pass attempts]] by the [[American football#Offensive unit|offense]]. During a blitz, a higher than usual number of defensive players will [[Pass rush|rush]] the opposing [[quarterback]], in an attempt either to [[Quarterback sack|tackle]] them or force them to [[Quarterback sack#Pass pressure|hurry]]
In practice, a blitz involves five or more players rushing during a single [[Down (gridiron football)|down]], rather than the four or three rushers used during normal play.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thefootballconcepts.com/2016/01/28/bob-shoop-and-the-fire-zone/|title=Bob Shoop and the Fire Zone|last=Price|first=Seth|date=2016-01-28|website=Football Concepts|access-date=2017-01-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170102082303/https://thefootballconcepts.com/2016/01/28/bob-shoop-and-the-fire-zone/|archive-date=2017-01-02|url-status=dead}}</ref> For example, in a defense that normally uses [[4–3 defense|four]] [[Lineman (gridiron football)#Defensive line|defensive linemen]] to rush, a blitz can be created by adding one or more [[linebacker]]s or [[defensive back]]s.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://football.about.com/cs/football101/g/gl_blitz.htm|title=About Football Glossary - Blitz|newspaper=About.com Sports|access-date=2017-01-01|archive-date=2017-01-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170102171451/http://football.about.com/cs/football101/g/gl_blitz.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Blitzing is a higher-risk strategy, as fewer defensive players are left to [[American football strategy#Pass defense|cover receivers]] or to [[American football strategy#Run defense|defend against running plays]]. However, a successful blitz will result in a [[Quarterback sack|sack]] or will force the quarterback into making an error.<ref name=":0" />
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The “red-dog", likely first completed by Carl Battershell, a MAC football legend.
The term "red-dog" referred to a rushing [[linebacker]] that created a six-on-five matchup against the offensive line; and blitz meant rushing seven, thereby leaving one potential receiver uncovered. <ref>[https://archive.today/20130903043110/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1133924/2/
[[Chuck Drulis]] is widely credited with inventing the safety blitz in 1960 while serving as defensive coordinator of the [[Arizona Cardinals|St. Louis Cardinals]]. He had devised a play called "Wildcat" which called for a safety to be the extra pass rusher. He believed the pressure on the quarterback would be severe, since defensive backs had almost never taken part in pass rushes before.
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By nature, blitzes are risky endeavors for the defense. Since the defense is taking away coverage defenders to rush the quarterback, this usually means that the [[defensive back|secondary]] can not afford to miss any coverage assignments. The defense does not and cannot cover all offensive players, but rather through the blitz, is proactively involved in pressuring the quarterback—specifically, trying to [[quarterback sack|sack]] him, throw off his timing, or force him to make an error such as an [[interception]] or [[fumble]].
The most common blitzes are linebacker blitzes.
==Defensive shells and techniques==
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Advantages gained by blitzing are obvious: proactively disrupt the [[American football positions#Offense|offense]]'s play before it develops and cause enough pressure on the [[quarterback]] to force him into a [[Turnover (football)|turnover]], sack, or incomplete pass.
Disadvantages abound in any blitz scheme as well. First, the [[offensive linemen]] are usually trained to recognize a blitzing player before the snap of the ball. They communicate with each other at the [[line of scrimmage]] using [[Code word (communication)|code words]] that shift the protection to the blitzing player's side, thus strengthening their [[Blocking (American football)|blocking]] front. The [[quarterback]] can also call other players into the protection scheme with [[Quarterback#Special tactics|audibles]] if he feels that his current protection is weak. With good protection calls and fundamental blocking principles, some blitzes can be "picked up"—stopped at the point of attack.
Second, the tight man bump and run technique typical of blitz scheme cornerbacks can be defeated with aggressive wide receiver release moves. Once this happens, the cornerback is at a disadvantage and must regain ground and position quickly to prevent a catch. If the blitz is picked up, the wide receiver can create enough separation to become open relatively quickly.
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The [[West Coast Offense]] is an offense that focuses on ball control and short [[Forward pass|passes]]. This is a well timed offense where the [[quarterback]] throws the ball quickly to avoid the rush, but still allow the [[wide receiver]] to get behind the blitzing players.
==See also==
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