Playbooks
SS Blitz 2 out of the Over G 4-2-5 Big Nickel personnel sends the strong safety off the edge as an extra pass rusher while dropping the defense into a two deep zone shell behind it. The underneath defenders sink into their Cover 2 zone drops to take away shallow crossers and hitches while the two deep safeties (in this case one of them replaced by the blitzing rush contribution being covered by rotation) bracket the deep thirds. This is a zone blitz beater killer for the offense to worry about since it disguises pressure while still keeping two high safety help over the top, so the primary read for the defense is getting the SS home before the quarterback can climb the pocket and find the seam or flat area vacated by the blitz.
Key the quarterback's eyes immediately after the snap since the SS blitz is designed to disrupt his first read before he can climb into a clean pocket Watch for the offense sliding protection toward the blitzing safety, if they pick it up cleanly bail into your zone drop responsibilities instead of chasing the play This look is vulnerable to quick slants and stick concepts that attack the vacated zone where the SS lined up, so user the nearest linebacker to rob that throwing lane Against four verticals or deep shots, trust the two deep safety shell to hold up over the top while your zone defenders funnel receivers back inside If the running back stays in to block or checks route into the flat, that is your tell the offense identified the blitz, so be ready to peel off with a linebacker in man coverage
Call this on early downs or second and medium when you expect play action or a slower developing dropback concept that gives the SS time to get home
Disguise the blitz by walking the strong safety down late or showing a two high shell before the snap so the quarterback cannot audible into a hot route beater
Pair this with Cover 2 and Cover 2 Contain from the same set so your pre snap look stays identical and offenses cannot key on the extra rusher
If the offense keeps checking into quick game or slot fades, mix in Cover 6 Trap or Cover 4 Quarters afterward to punish route combos designed to attack the blitz
User the underneath flat defender to jump shallow crossers since the zone drops behind the blitz are the most vulnerable landmarks against man beater combos