Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Saw Blitz 1 is a five man pressure package out of the Odd Leo 4-3 Base 5-2 personnel that brings a diagonal blitz look from the defensive line and linebackers, with all five underneath defenders crashing downhill on the same angle. Behind the pressure, this is Cover 1 man coverage with a single deep safety playing the middle third and press or trail man assignments underneath, giving you a lurking robber if you keep a linebacker in a hole spy read instead of sending him. The primary read progression starts with confirming the deep safety stays true to the middle of the field, then working from the blitz's initial pressure point outward to see if the quarterback's first read window closes before he can climb the pocket.
Defensive Reads
Watch the offensive line's protection slide pre-snap, if they are sliding away from your overload side the quarterback likely has a quick game answer to that edge. Man coverage underneath means this beats teams that rely on zone beater route combos like flat curl or snag, since your defenders stay attached rather than sitting in zones. This play is vulnerable to quick screens and hot routes to the flat because your underneath defenders are locked in man and cannot immediately react to routes behind the rushers. Post snap, key the running back's release, if he stays in to block or chips a rusher the offense is worried about the same side you are attacking. Against play-action, trust your deep safety to stay on top of any vertical shot since the single high shell is designed to erase big plays over the top while the blitz forces a quick decision underneath.
Usage Tips
Call Saw Blitz 1 on early downs or short to medium yardage when you expect the offense to sit in the pocket rather than roll out, since the diagonal five man rush closes throwing lanes fast.
Check the offensive formation pre-snap for empty backfield or spread sets, which tell you there is no extra blocker to pick up the overload side of the blitz.
Use the flat and hole defenders as spies against mobile quarterbacks by manually spying with the user controlled defender if you see a designed quarterback run tag.
Pair this with Cover 1 Hole from the same set on the next snap so the offense cannot key on the single high safety look and has to respect a potential hole defender underneath.
Disguise the blitz by showing a two high shell pre-snap and rotating the safety down late, since Saw Blitz 1 hides well behind Storm Brave 1 and Pinch Buck 0 in the same play call sequence.
