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Quick Reference
Not in any team playbook.
Breakdown
WS Blitz 1 out of Big Nickel Over G brings the weak safety off the edge as an extra rusher while the defense plays man coverage behind it, evidenced by the Cover 1 tag and the five red blitz arrows attacking downhill from the front five. The deep blue route shows a single high safety rotating over the top to help on the deepest route, confirming Cover 1 with one free defender in the middle of the field. This is a man beater killer designed to bring pressure fast, so the primary read is simply confirming the free safety alignment pre-snap, then trusting the man defenders underneath while the extra rusher forces a quick decision from the quarterback.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the offense is in shotgun spread with no tight end, since this blitz overwhelms light protection schemes that cannot account for the extra man off the edge. Watch the running back's alignment, if he is set to the blitz side he can chip or pick up the rusher, so consider looping the blitz to the opposite side with a pre-snap flip. Post-snap, the single high safety is rotating to help over the top, so any receiver running a deep vertical against man coverage is the quarterback's most likely answer if the blitz is picked up. If the offense audibles into max protect or a heavy formation with extra blockers, this blitz loses value and you should motion out of it or check to a coverage-heavy call instead. Watch for quick game answers like slants and hitches, since man coverage underneath with no zone help can be exposed by a fast three step drop before the rush arrives.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or third and medium when you expect the offense to attack out of shotgun spread with quick game concepts, since the extra rusher wins before deep routes develop.
Check the pre-snap alignment of the running back and slot receivers, if they show a check release or option route look, be ready to spy with your linebackers instead of sending everyone.
User the weak safety on the blitz to time the snap count and disguise the pressure, delaying your break until the ball is about to snap so the quarterback cannot slide protection pre-snap.
Pair this with SS Blitz 2 and LB Blitz from the same set so opponents cannot key on which defender is coming free, forcing indecision in pass protection.
Avoid calling this against heavy run formations or when facing a mobile quarterback who can escape the edge rush, since the single high safety has no help underneath if the pocket collapses late.
