Playbooks
Hot Blitz 3 is a five man pressure package out of the 3-3-5 Big Nickel look designed to bring an extra rusher off the edge while dropping the back seven into a Cover 3 style shell behind it. The blitz sends a linebacker off the weak side edge while the three high safeties rotate down to a single deep look post snap, giving you numbers against inside run and quick game while forcing the quarterback into a fast decision. Primary read for the defense is the running back or first man in the backfield since this is a run blitz first design, but if the offense drops back you key the underneath hook defender to react to any check down or drag route working across the middle.
Read the offensive line splits and back alignment pre snap to confirm run versus pass since this blitz is optimized to stop inside runs and quick game. Key the fullback or lead blocker path immediately after the snap, if they climb to the second level attack the blitzing linebacker's gap before the double team sets. Watch for hot route beaters like a quick out or flare to the running back, since the vacated blitz gap creates a natural check down window against man and zone alike. Against empty or spread formations, identify if the offense is running a slot fade or seam route into the vacated zone left by the blitzing linebacker, this is the primary weakness of the call. If the quarterback shows play action, trust your edge defender to stay disciplined on contain since blitzing linebackers can be pulled out of position by misdirection and rollout action.
Use Hot Blitz 3 on early downs when you expect inside zone or gap runs since the extra blitzer fills the box immediately and disrupts the mesh point.
Pair it with Edge Blitz 3 and LB Blitz 0 in your play calling sequence so opponents cannot key the pre snap alignment and diagnose which gap the pressure is coming from.
Watch the running back's initial alignment and offensive line splits before the snap, tight splits with a single back usually confirms a run look that this blitz is built to blow up.
If you user the blitzing linebacker, delay your rush by half a second to sell coverage before crashing the edge, this disguises the blitz longer against play action.
Avoid calling this on clear passing downs against empty formations since the extra blitzer becomes a liability in coverage and leaves the deep middle exposed to seam and post routes.