Tite/Mint Front Thread:

I’ve obsessively studied Tite/Mint package from various schools over the last 18 mos. I believe it is a great package, but I feel that you need certain things to make it really work. I will layout the pieces I feel you need to have, to maximize it (1/20)

From the Saban tree (Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee), to he Aranda tree/family (Aranda, Orlando, Roberts, Wilcox, Leonhard), to teams that have run variations of it (Colorado with McIntyre, Washington, TCU), I have studied all the components most of these teams have. (2/20)

1) BASE PACKAGE: Most of the teams either run Tite with an internal rush, or an adjustable rusher based on formation. In 2018, LSU based out of Tite and more often than not, brought Devin White because he was a beast. In 2019, they relied way more on Wizard which rushes (3/20)

the weakside Backer/Jack vs. 2x1 and 3x1 formations really anything besides 2x2. The Saban guys do this by default (Share 4 Mod). (4/?) Teams will mix up whether they play Quarters, Stubbie/Mini/Special, or 3 with strong rotation (usually with an insert) to Trips. (4/20)

2) VARIATIONS OF TITE: This includes Sliding or Eagle-ing the front vs. different looks and coverage adjusts off of 1/4s (Palms, "Cover 7," Clouding vs. 3x1), and one-wording calls for opponents with rule-breakers for certain teams (rushing the Jack and playing 3). (5/20)

3) OTHER ZONE CALLS: Most of the teams I studied run a version of weakside rotation Cover 3 with a boundary rusher (sometimes strong), Palms, 2 Deep Zone, Strong and Weak rotation 3 Cloud, Tampa, and Drop 8 variations with these listed coverages (6/20).

4) MAN COVERAGE & 5-MAN, MAN PRESSURES: Some of the teams I studied (Bama and Georgia) will shove the Nickel into the box and play a 3-on-2 funnel making it look like 5-3 Double Eagle and run double edge pressure with Cover 1 behind it (7/20)

5) EDGE RUSH WITH COVER 3: Every team I studied has an edge rush with Cover 3 behind it and will slant the front or play it static depending on the offense. The Saban guys love to package this with a 2x2 1/4 call, bringing the Nickel only vs. 3x1/Y Off 2x2 vs. Split Zone (8/20)

6) INTERNAL LB PLUGS : Every team I studied has a variation of plugging a LB into the B gap with the 4i slanting to the C gap, and a LB blitzing (Tolzien) into an A gap with the Nose opposite (Orton). Sometimes it's always Cover 4, sometimes they will play 3 vs. 3x1. (9/20)

7) FIREZONES: By far, the most popular FZ across the board was a rusher off each edge and playing 3 Deep MOF FZ. Next was the Corner blitz with either 3 Deep behind it or a combo call with 1/4s to the field and man to the boundary. (10/20)

FIRE ZONES (PART 2): The least popular blitz was the NCAA path from different places: the field, boundary, to the TE, to the RB, etc. I suspect these aren't as popular because you already have the inside gaps covered so you don't need to overload as much? Just spitballin' (11/20)

FIRE ZONES (Part 3): Some teams run the 'ol Shake 2 Trap, but only sparingly. It's the same path as it is in the 3-4: the Nickel and SS come off the edge and the FS plays the Field 1/2. This isn't used by everyone nor is it common... (12/20)

8) COVER 0: Rarely ever done... Out of the Tite presentation, I'd say the most popular ones would be an internal A gap plug with the LB stacked behind the Nose and an edge rusher coming, or the NCAA blitz with a super overload... (13/20)

These are the most common pieces by college teams, but if I was putting together a package for High School, the following are a must:

1) Base Call: I would base out of Wizard 4 or Mint 4 Mod Share... bring the Jack vs. x1 formations and an insert vs. 2x2 (away from RB). (14/20)

2) Variations: Slide the front based on problematic formations (G St 3x1 Y Off) with two or three different Trips checks.

3) Zone Calls: Would keep these to a minimum - run your coverages that are better vs. the pass with your Even fronts to generate a better pass rush (15/20)

4) Man Calls: I would have a way to get to Man-Free and slide to a 50-00-50 look and a double edge out of Man-Free.

5) Edge Rush Calls: Slant or Keep the front static and bring the Nickel off the edge preferably to 3x1 (switch the blitz to the Apex LB). (16/20)

6) Internal Plugs: I believe you MUST have a B gap plug to the TE and an A gap plug to and away from the RB for Zone and to take advantage of teams that want to release 5 out in the route and fan protect you (guaranteed sack) (17/20)

7) Fire Zone: This is where I would skimp. Although dbl edge pressure was the #1 pressure for all teams, if you don't run FZ, I would just do it out of Man-Free (how we did it). I would also slide to Under to run the Corner blitz with 1/4, 1/4, Man (less moving parts) (18/20)

FZ (cont'd.): I don't like the NCAA out of Tite unless you are running the @blitzologyblog version where you leave the 4i in the B gap and have the Backer read A to C based on OG's block, and Shake is too expensive. (19/20)

8) Cover 0: I would have the double edge pressure with an A gap plug to or away from the RB (think Bear plugs) for Short Yardage, Red Zone, Goal Line, 4 Minute, etc.

I hope this was helpful for you as it helped me organize my thoughts for helping teams I am consulting! (20/20)