Playbooks
Free Fire is a five-man pressure package out of the 4-2-5 Under Big Nickel look that brings both the Mike and Sam linebackers off the edge while the secondary rolls into a Cover 1 style fire zone shell behind it. The defensive line games with the blitzing linebackers to create free rushers off the corner, and the free safety plays the deep middle alone while corners and the nickel play man across from their receivers. Primary read for the user is to trigger the blitz timing off the snap, then flash to the underneath hole defender if the quarterback tries to check it down before the rush arrives.
Check the offensive formation for max protect looks such as two backs or extra tight ends staying in, since that neutralizes the free rusher advantage this blitz is built on Read the quarterback depth of drop, if he is in shotgun with a quick three step drop, expect hot route beaters like slants and stick routes to attack the vacated underneath zone Watch for the running back leaking out to the flat immediately after the snap, that is the first checkdown answer against this blitz and the underneath defender must react instantly This play beats teams that hold protection and try to throw deep into single high coverage, but it gets shredded by quick game concepts and screens if the offensive line picks up the rush cleanly Post snap, track any user controlled receiver working across the middle since the single high safety has no help over the top and a broken coverage rep turns into a explosive gain
Call this on third and medium to third and long when you expect a quick game or shotgun spread look from the offense because the extra rusher wins before protection can adjust
Check the running back pre snap, if he stays in to chip or block, your blitz timing gets delayed so consider audibling to a delayed spy or a different pressure look
User the blitzing Sam linebacker through the tackle-end gap since offensive lines often slide protection toward the Mike side, leaving that edge cleaner
Pair Free Fire with Cover 1 Hole and Cover 1 FS Fire in your play calling sequence so the offense cannot key blitz tells off your pre snap safety rotation
Avoid calling this against empty formations unless you have a plan for the extra eligible receiver, since the one deep safety can get exposed on vertical shots if the rush does not get home fast