Playbooks
Breakdown
LB Blitz 3 out of the Bear 46 Base 4-3 sends a linebacker off the edge as a blitzer while dropping the remaining second level defenders into a Cover 3 zone shell behind it. The diagram shows three deep zone drops from the corners and safety, a middle linebacker sitting underneath in a hook/curl zone, and both flanking linebackers rolling out to the flats off the snap. This is a zone blitz designed to bring pressure off the edge while still protecting the deep thirds and underneath flat areas against quick game and shallow crossers.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, look for the offense sliding protection toward your blitzing linebacker, which signals they have identified the pressure and you should consider checking to a different play. This beats teams that rely on quick slants and hitches since the flat defenders and hook zone linebacker close passing windows fast. Watch for running backs releasing into the flat vacated by your blitzing linebacker, that is the first hot route quarterbacks throw against this pressure. Post-snap, key the tight end or slot receiver crossing the middle, since the lone hook zone linebacker can be stressed by two receivers occupying that same area. This play struggles against max protect play-action rollouts, so if you see run action combined with extra blockers staying in, be ready to convert your blitzer into a contain rusher.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or third and medium when you want to disguise pressure without fully exposing your defense to a busted zone assignment.
Pre-snap, check if the offense has trips or bunch to one side, since the flat defenders need to widen quickly to account for stacked receivers.
User the blitzing linebacker off the snap to time the pressure with the quarterback's drop, then peel off into a spy or contain rush if you read play-action.
Mix this in with Cover 3 and Safety Fire from this same set so quarterbacks cannot key blitz tendencies based on your pre-snap shell.
Avoid calling this against heavy four verticals looks unless you trust your deep zone defenders to carry routes, since the underneath blitz can leave the middle hook zone thin.
