Bison Blitzes and Stunts: The Defensive Plays That Sealed a Semifinal Spot

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Dec 16, 2024

North Dakota State delivered another dominant performance at the Fargo Dome, punching their ticket to the FCS Playoff semifinals. Traditionally, the Bison relied on a straightforward defensive approach, leveraging their superior athletes to outmatch opponents. However, times have changed, and the top-tier FCS teams are more evenly matched than ever. Against Mercer, the Bison showcased an array of creative pressures and defensive line stunts that completely disrupted the Bears’ passing attack. Let’s dive into the details of how they executed these game-changing strategies.

Q1 | 2nd & 3 | 11:23 | 7-0 Bison

This pressure is a staple of the Bison’s defense, and if you’ve followed our content, you know it’s one we absolutely love. Facing Mercer’s Q Counter call, North Dakota State dialed up a 5-man corner blitz. This pressure is notoriously tough for offenses to account for and the Bears don’t touch the corner allowing him to make a tackle for a moderate gain.

Q1 | 3rd & 2 | 10:50 | 7-0 Bison

On this critical 3rd-and-2, the Bison opted for a simulated pressure, sending the Nickel while dropping the boundary defensive end into coverage. This concept, often called “Newton” in some systems and “Favre” by Aranda disciples, is a brilliant way to disguise intentions while maintaining structural integrity. Paired with Cover 3 behind it, the blitz created pressure for Mercer’s quarterback and forced a poor throw.

Q1 | 1st & 10 | 9:26 | 14-0 Bison

The Bison dialed up another corner pressure, this time combining it with a “Ton” stunt. Mercer runs pin & pull opposite the pressure, but the pressure allowed the linebackers to flow over the top, knowing the backside gaps were effectively sealed off.

Q1 | 3rd & 8 | 00:31 | 14-7 Bison

The Bison opted against bringing extra pressure on this 3rd-and-8, instead running dual “Jam” stunts with both defensive ends and tackles. This generated just enough disruption to force the Mercer quarterback into an underneath throw. With a Cover 2 shell behind the stunt, the Bison defense rallied to the ball, making a decisive tackle short of the sticks to force a punt.

Q2 | 2nd & 9 | 10:13 | 21-7 Bison

The Bison brought the Nickel on a 5-man pressure, pairing it with a Cover 0 look (Saban’s term for man-to-man coverage with a single high safety). Despite Mercer using max protection, the Bison’s line movement proved to be the difference. The 2i and 5-tech opposite the Nickel generated pressure, ultimately tipping the quarterback’s pass for an incompletion.

Q2 | 3rd & 9 | 10:07 | 21-7 Bison

The Bison went deep into their playbook on this 3rd-and-9, unveiling one of the most complex pressures they’ve shown all season—or at least that I’ve seen. They aligned in a “Boss” front to the field with mugged linebackers, giving the illusion of a field-side pressure. At the snap, the field defensive end and mugged linebackers bailed into a Cover 2 shell. Meanwhile, the two defensive tackles slanted toward the field, and the boundary defensive end worked a vertical rush, clearing the B gap for a boundary corner blitz.

In our circles, this simulated pressure is often referred to as “Bills” when run into the boundary and “Falcons” when it’s to the field. Despite Mercer’s quick throw to the flat, the Bison’s Cover 2 shell rallied to make the tackle and force a 4th down.

Q2 | 4th & 5 | 9:56 | 21-7 Bison

On the very next play, Mercer decided to go for it on 4th down. True to their aggressive identity, the Bison dictated the terms by bringing six defenders on a 6-man cross dog pressure. This is a classic call found in most playbooks, though often labeled differently. Paired with blitz coverage behind it, the pressure overwhelmed Mercer’s protection and showcased the Bison’s commitment to staying aggressive all afternoon.

Q2 | 3rd & 8 | 1:21 | 21-7 Bison

With Mercer looking to cut the lead to seven before halftime, the Bison dialed up the “Bills” simulated pressure once again. This time, the design created more disruption, forcing the quarterback to target an underneath route. The field defensive end, dropping into the hook zone, was able to swat the pass away, resulting in an incompletion and a critical stop.

Q4 | 1st & 10 | 14:55 | 24-7 Bison

The Bison dialed up another corner blitz, this time into a nub tight end set. The Bears run inside zone, but with no one accounting for the blitzing corner, it turned into an easy tackle for loss for the Bison defense.

Q4 | 4th & 3 | 8:02 | 24-7 Bison

This play wasn’t a blitz but a perfect example of creating pressure through movement. The Bison executed a “Ton” stunt, with the defensive tackle at the top of the screen setting a pick and occupying three offensive linemen. This freed the other defensive tackle to loop around cleanly on the wrap. While the play call itself is straightforward, what stands out is the relentless effort from all four defensive linemen, showcasing the unit’s discipline and tenacity.

Conclusion

This was one of the most dynamic performances from the NDSU defense all season. Under the direction of Defensive Coordinator Grant Olson, the unit brought a mix of creative, well-executed, and exotic blitzes and stunts that kept Mercer’s offense off balance all night. Olson deserves a ton of credit for dialing up these pressures and stunts at the perfect moments, showcasing his ability to maximize the talent on this defense. Having watched plenty of Bison games this year, it truly felt like the defense shifted into another gear this past weekend. I can’t wait to see what they, and Olson, have in store for the reigning national champions next Saturday at the Fargo Dome in what promises to be an all-time classic matchup in FCS history.