Playbooks
Olb Strike 2 out of the 3-4 Predator set is a Cover 2 Zone Blitz that sends an outside linebacker off the edge while dropping the defensive line and remaining linebackers into short and intermediate zones behind it. The design is built to disguise a five-man pressure look with a two deep safety shell, so the primary read is the pre-snap alignment of the OLB rushers versus the underneath zone droppers to determine which gap the blitz is coming from. Since this is a Cover 2 Zone Blitz and not a man beater, the QB should key on whether the offense is running deep vertical routes at the two deep safeties or attacking the shallow flats where the OLB just vacated.
Watch the offensive tackle and tight end assignments pre-snap, since a chip block on the blitzing OLB signals the offense identified the pressure and will look to attack the flat immediately after the snap. Read the quarterback's eyes at the snap, since Cover 2 Zone Blitz is vulnerable to quick outs and flat routes thrown before the underneath zone defenders can fully rotate. Key the two deep safeties post-snap, since they are responsible for anything vertical down the numbers, and a hole between them and the underneath zone is where crossing routes will hit. If the offense comes out in a two-back or heavy run formation, expect the play to get gashed by inside zone or power runs since the blitzing OLB creates a numbers disadvantage against the run fit. Look for user lurk threats from the non-blitzing linebacker, since a smart user can sit in the shallow zone vacated by the OLB rush and bait the quarterback into a turnover.
Call this play on early downs when you expect the offense to run play-action or a shallow crossing concept, since the vacated flat zone from the blitzing OLB is the biggest exposure.
Before the snap, identify whether the offense has shifted into a bunch or stack formation, which often signals a quick game plan designed to beat blitz looks like this one.
User the far side OLB or a linebacker in the shallow zone to jump underneath routes, since the zone drop behind the blitz is the key coverage responsibility that offenses attack most.
Pair this call with Cover 2 Man from the same set on the next snap to keep the offense guessing between a zone blitz look and a straight man match, since both plays share a similar pre-snap picture.
Avoid calling this on third and long against mobile quarterbacks, since a delayed OLB rush can be picked up and exploited by scrambles or rollout throws to the vacated flat.