Playbooks
LB Blitz out of the Even 4-2-5 Big Nickel package sends both linebackers off the edge or through interior gaps to create immediate pressure while the defense rotates to a Cover 3 or Cover 1 shell behind it. This is a five or six man pressure look designed to collapse the pocket before protection can set, forcing the quarterback into a rushed decision or a coverage sack. The primary read for the defense is the offensive line's protection slide: attack the side that shows the widest gap or the running back who stays in to chip, and if the quarterback hot routes into a quick screen or slant, your underneath defenders need to squeeze those throwing lanes immediately after the snap.
Watch the running back's alignment and depth presnap, if he stays in as a check release blocker he will likely pick up one of your blitzing linebackers and slow the pressure timing. Identify the offensive line's protection scheme immediately after the snap, a slide protection toward the blitz side means you should user the backside rusher to loop around unblocked. Read the quarterback's eyes on the drop, if he is looking to a hot route or bubble screen on the perimeter, your remaining underneath zone defenders need to close on the flat immediately since the blitz opens grass there. This beats teams that rely on five step drops and deep dropback passing, since the extra rusher disrupts timing routes before receivers can uncover. Empty backfield formations and quick game spread concepts shut this down fast, with no back to block, the offense gets extra protection help identified instantly, and quick out or slant throws beat the blitz before it arrives.
Call this on third and medium to third and long when you expect a dropback pass, since the extra rusher gets home faster than the offense can max protect against unblocked linebackers.
Check the offense's personnel and formation width before the snap, if they show three or more receivers spread wide there is more space for your zone defenders to cover once the blitz occupies blockers.
User the second level linebacker who is not blitzing to spy the quarterback on rollout designs or to rob the middle of the field against crossing routes, since your zone shell is thinner with two defenders vacating.
Mix this with SS Blitz 2 and WS Blitz 1 in the same set to disguise which side the pressure comes from, keep the same pre-snap alignment across all three calls so the quarterback cannot key blitz direction from formation.
Avoid calling this into empty backfield sets or against quarterbacks who beat pressure with quick game, since the extra rusher does nothing if the ball comes out in under two seconds.