What it is

A zone blitz sends a pass rusher from an unexpected place, such as a linebacker or a corner, while a lineman drops into a zone to cover the area he leaves.

In a game

The idea is to confuse the offense: the quarterback expects a rusher from a known spot, and the lineman who drops into coverage may take away the quick throw.

More detail

Fire zone is another name for it. The offense usually has to pick up an extra rusher while a defensive lineman is in coverage, which creates a problem for a quarterback who is not ready. It is most effective against a quarterback who is slow with the ball and against predictable protection.

Animated diagram

1. The defense looks like it will blitz, but the plan is different from a normal rush.
2. The defensive end on the left steps back into a short zone, while an outside linebacker blitzes from the other side.
3. The offense expects a different rusher. The quarterback is under pressure from a surprise direction and may throw into the zone where the lineman is waiting.