Playbooks
Will Sam 1 out of the Bear 46 3-4 Base 5-2 personnel is a Cover 1 man coverage blitz look that sends pressure off the weak side (Will) while the Sam backer and secondary hold man coverage responsibilities underneath with a single high safety. The blocking scheme on the offensive side is irrelevant here since this is a defensive play, but the design pairs a five man rush with tight man matchups across the formation to force quick decisions. The primary read for the defense is to identify the offensive line protection slide first, then key the running back for a leak or check release before committing eyes downfield to your man assignment.
Watch the running back release out of the backfield first, since man coverage assigns a defender to him and picking him up late is the easiest way to give up a checkdown conversion. Read the slot receiver or tight end stem at the top of their route, if they break inside quickly toward the middle of the field you are likely seeing a man beater like a slant or drag designed to exploit the leverage of your underneath defenders. Key the single high safety depth pre-snap, if he cheats toward one side it signals the quarterback may attack the opposite numbers, so rotate your user defender accordingly. This play struggles against quick play-action rollouts and RPOs since the man defenders bite on run fakes, so if you see run heavy personnel with a fullback or extra tight end, be ready to sit back and read the mesh point before committing. Beats West Coast style rub routes poorly if your corners are in soft man, so switch to press alignment pre-snap when facing bunch or stack formations to disrupt the timing of pick routes.
Call this play on early downs or third and medium when you expect the offense to run quick game or shallow crossers that man coverage can suffocate at the catch point.
Pre-snap, check the offensive formation for stacked or bunch sets since man coverage can get picked on rub routes, and consider audibling your corner alignment to press if you see a lone receiver isolated.
Use your user controlled defender on the most dangerous route threat, typically the slot receiver or tight end running a seam, since your linebackers in man will be vulnerable to speed mismatches.
Sequence this call after showing Sam Mike 1 or Pinch Mike 0 earlier in the series so the offense sees pressure shells that look similar pre-snap but disguise different blitzers and coverage rotations.
Avoid calling this on obvious passing downs against spread formations with four wide receivers unless you have elite corners, since one on one matchups against speedsters can get exposed deep.