Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Edge Blitz 3 out of Penny 3 High brings a five man edge pressure look with the SS and both outside linebackers crashing off the edges while the middle backer spies the box, sending five red blitz arrows into the backfield. Behind the pressure, the defense drops into a Cover 3 shell with three deep zone defenders (the two CBs and deep safety marked by X) and underneath zone defenders at the flats and hook areas covering the purple and blue zone drops. This is a zone blitz designed to disrupt the quarterback's timing while still keeping three deep to prevent explosive plays, making it a strong answer against man beater route combos and quick game concepts. The primary read progression for the defense is edge contain first (force the QB to step up into the pocket), then eyes to the shallow crossers and flat zones before working back to the deep thirds if the ball holds.
Defensive Reads
Watch the offensive line's protection slide pre-snap, if they slide toward the edge rushers the interior should stay clean for a free run at the QB. Key the running back's release, if he chips an edge rusher and then leaks into the flat, the underneath zone defender in that flat drop needs to widen quickly to prevent an easy checkdown completion. Post-snap, track the QB's eyes toward the shallow crossing routes, since Cover 3 zone blitzes are most vulnerable to a receiver settling in the void between the underneath zone and the deep thirds. This call is most effective against man beater combos and drop back passing since the edge pressure disrupts timing, but it can be exploited by quick screens or RPO tags that get the ball out before the rush arrives. If the offense spreads into four or five wide receivers, be ready to sink the deep third defenders immediately since the extra vertical stress can overload the three deep defenders if underneath help is late.
Usage Tips
Call Edge Blitz 3 on early downs or third and medium when you expect a quick game passing attack, since the edge pressure forces the QB to speed up his internal clock before shallow routes develop.
Pre-snap, check for two backs or extra protection on the offensive formation, if the offense has a max protect look, consider audibling out since the edge rushers will get chipped and delayed.
User the middle linebacker spy to jump underneath crossers or spy a scrambling QB, this gives you a rover to erase the shallow crosser or drag route that offenses use to beat Cover 3 zone blitzes.
Mix this call with Cover 3 Sky and 3 Double Buzz from the same set so offenses cannot key on the Cover 3 shell purely off pre-snap alignment, disguising whether pressure is coming.
Avoid calling this on obvious passing downs against empty formations, since the five man rush leaves fewer underneath defenders to match extra receivers out of the backfield.
