Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 17 playbooks
Breakdown
Sam Mike 3 Press is a Cover 3 zone blitz look out of the Penny 3-3-5 Big Nickel package. Both outside corners press at the line and carry deep thirds while the middle safety runs a deep third down the seam, giving you a standard three deep shell. Underneath, the diagram shows a five man rush with the nickel and a linebacker both attacking downhill off the edge alongside the interior rush, leaving the remaining underneath defenders to spot drop into short zone drops. This is a zone pressure package designed to disguise where the extra rusher comes from while still keeping three deep defenders over the top.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the offense is running four verticals or deep crossers, since the three deep shell is vulnerable to a well timed seam throw between the corner and the deep middle defender. Watch the running back and tight end release patterns immediately after the snap, they are the primary hot route targets against the extra rusher. If the quarterback sees the blitz coming and checks to a quick screen or draw, the aggressive downhill rush leaves the box light, so user a linebacker to stay home on early recognition. This beats teams that hold the ball for double moves or deep developing concepts, but it can be exposed by rub routes and quick game targeting the vacated underneath zones. Man heavy or option route based passing attacks will find soft spots since no underneath defender is manned up, so trust your zone drops and do not bite on the first move.
Usage Tips
Use this call on passing downs where you expect quick game or spot routes since the underneath zones are thin with only a few defenders dropping.
Check the offensive formation pre-snap for trips or bunch looks and consider sliding the zone coverage or motioning your nickel to match numbers to the field.
Because the corners are pressing, this play hits hard against teams that rely on quick outs and slants, so bait quarterbacks into throwing hot against the disguised pressure.
Pair this with Cover 3 Sky or Cover 3 Buzz from the same set so quarterbacks cannot key on the underneath rotation just from the deep look.
Save this for third and medium to long situations where the added rush defender can force a hurried throw before deep routes develop.
