Playbooks
Mike Sam Cross 3 is a blitz play out of the 2-4-5 Over Wide Big Nickel personnel that sends both the Mike and Sam linebackers on a cross blitz through the A and B gaps while dropping into a Cover 3 shell behind it. The interior cross creates a natural pick element for offensive linemen to track, generating quick interior pressure without sacrificing the three deep, three under zone integrity on the back end. Your primary read as the blitzing user is the running back's protection assignment: attack the gap the RB does not fill, then trust the Cover 3 shell to handle vertical shots while you close on the quarterback before he can climb the pocket.
Watch the offensive line splits and running back alignment before the snap, tight splits with the back offset often signal they are sliding protection away from your blitz side. If the quarterback is in shotgun with no chip help on the backers, the interior cross wins fast against man protection schemes that do not account for stunts. Beware hot routes and sight adjustments against empty or trips formations, since the RPO or quick slant can beat you before the cross blitz develops. Post-snap, key on any offensive lineman turning to pick up the second blitzer, that hesitation is your window to burst through the opposite gap untouched. This play struggles against max protect looks with a fullback or extra tight end staying in, since the numbers advantage disappears and the cross gets picked up cleanly.
Call this on passing downs where you expect five or six man protection, since a cross blitz eats up interior gaps that slide protection struggles to pick up cleanly.
Check the running back's alignment pre-snap, if he is offset to one side he likely scans that gap first, so send your user blitzer to the opposite crossing lane for a free run.
Use the Mike and Sam cross timing to bait quick game throws, then jump underneath routes with your zone defenders since the three under coverage stays intact even with both backers vacating.
Pair this with Cover 3 Sky or Cover 3 Sim Pressure from this set to disguise pressure looks, since all three show similar shells pre-snap but bring different rushers.
Best used on second and long or third and medium when offenses are more likely to keep extra protection in and run shorter route concepts that your underneath zone can undercut.