Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 16 playbooks
Breakdown
Storm Brave 1 is a Cover 1 man blitz out of the Odd 3-4 Base 5-2 personnel, showing five rushers attacking downhill with red arrows while a deep single high safety sits over the top. The three underneath defenders on the arrows are man pressers crashing the box, with the two outside corners locked in press or tight man alignment and the deep safety serving as the robber over the top. This is a blitz package designed to bring extra pressure while still holding one deep defender responsible for any vertical shot, so the primary read is to identify the extra rusher and get the ball out before the protection breaks down.
Defensive Reads
Watch the offensive line splits and running back alignment pre-snap to identify if the offense is anticipating a blitz and sliding protection toward your pressure. Key on the number of receivers released versus blockers kept in, since this look is vulnerable to hot routes and quick game if the offense has a free access throw before your rush arrives. Post-snap, track the deep safety's drop to make sure he is not caught flat footed on a double move or deep crosser since he is your only true deep defender. This concept beats teams that hold blockers in max protect or run slow developing play action, but it gets exposed by hot route sight adjusts and screens that attack the space vacated by blitzing linebackers. If the offensive line is sliding hard to one side pre-snap, expect them to pick up your rush on that side, so look to loop or twist your rushers to the opposite edge.
Usage Tips
Use this blitz on third and medium to third and long when you expect the offense to hold protection or run a slower developing shot play. Pre-snap, count the box and confirm the offense has enough blockers to pick up the extra rusher before you commit to the send. If the offense audibles into max protect or shows six or seven blockers, consider backing out of the blitz into a standard Cover 1 look instead. Pair this with Cover 1 Hole or Cover 1 Robber in the same set so quarterbacks cannot key blitz tells off your pre-snap disguise. Mix in Saw Blitz 1 or Crash Blitz 3 from this set on early downs to keep the offense guessing about which gap the extra rusher is attacking. User the deep safety only if you are confident in your underneath defenders winning their man matchups quickly, otherwise spy a mobile quarterback with that safety.
