Wild Wings Preview Part 2: The TCU Blitz Scheme

     In our second post previewing the matchup between TCU and Michigan State in the 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl we are going to take a quick look at the extensive blitz package employed by the Horned Frogs.  I believe TCU's ability to pressure Andrew Maxwell will be key to deciding who will win this matchup.

     The Horned Frogs of TCU have an extensive pressure package that can bring six man pressure up the middle or off the edge while playing Cover 0 in the secondary.  By rushing 6 and playing Cover 0, TCU can cover the threat posed by five possible receivers while overwhelming the pass protection.  The weakness to this scheme is a mobile QB who is by design unaccounted for by the defense.  Andrew Maxwell is definitely not a mobile QB and should pose little running risk to TCU's scheme.  The offensive line's ability to protect Maxwell and his ability to deliver the ball in the face of unblocked defenders will be crucial in Sparty's ability to maintain a balanced attack.

     I am not going to go into a ton of detail in the descriptions here.  The diagrams are pretty self explanatory.  Purple lines mean the defender is blitzing.  Dotted black lines connecting a defender to an offensive player mean that defender is responsible for covering that offensive player man-to-man if he releases for a pass.

• Bullets - Both Linebackers Blitz
• Smoke - Both Outside Safeties Blitz
• Dogs - Safety and Linebacker to Call Side Blitz
• Thunder - Safety to TE Side Blitzes
• Mob - Both Linebackers and Outside Safeties Blitz (8 Man Blitz)
• Cop - Defensive End Covers TE man-to-man (allows for Thunder or Mob Call)