Playbooks
SS LB Blitz is a five man pressure package out of the 4-2-5 Even set that sends the strong safety and both linebackers downhill to attack the pocket while the secondary rolls into a man under shell behind it. This is a blitz play designed to win with numbers up front, using the SS as an extra rusher off the edge or through an interior gap depending on the offensive line's protection slide. The primary read for the defense is presnap identification of the running back's blitz pickup responsibility, then postsnap tracking of whether the QB has a free hitter coming or if the protection holds up long enough to force a checkdown.
Watch the running back's eyes and shoulders presnap, if he squares up on the strong safety's alignment the offense has identified the blitz and will likely check to a quick game beater Track the slot corner and nickel defender depth at the snap, if they sit too shallow in man coverage a slant or drag can beat the rush before it arrives This blitz is most vulnerable to hot route conversions on quick slants and stick routes, since the underneath defenders are occupied with man responsibilities and cannot help in the throwing lanes Look for offenses to counter with max protect or play action, if the RB stays home to block instead of releasing it usually means the blitz has been diagnosed and you should consider a spy adjustment next snap This package shuts down teams that rely on deep dropback passing concepts and five step timing routes, since the interior pressure collapses the pocket before routes can develop downfield
Call this on third and medium to third and long when you expect a pass, since the blitz timing needs a dropback to fully develop before the QB can escape the pocket
Check the offensive personnel and backfield alignment presnap, if there are two backs in protection consider audibling the SS rush lane to attack the side with fewer blockers
User the SS at the snap and delay your rush by one count if you see the running back staying in to chip, this baits the QB into thinking he has time before the second wave arrives
Mix this in after showing Cover 2 Man or Cover 2 Contain from the same formation so the presnap picture looks identical and the offense cannot key on the extra rusher until it is too late
Avoid calling this against empty backfield sets, since the extra blocker in protection often neutralizes the fifth rusher and leaves your underneath zones exposed on quick game