Playbooks
Breakdown
Field Sim 3 is a Cover 3 simulated pressure look out of the Dime 2-3-6 Big Dime 4-1-6 personnel. Pre-snap the diagram shows a four man rush look with the two inside defenders dropping into underneath zones while the two outside rushers on the edges execute the simulated pressure, sending only three or four true rushers depending on the stunt. Behind the sim pressure, the defense rolls into a three deep, four under Cover 3 shell with the outside corners playing deep thirds, the safety-turned-deep-defender bracketing the middle, and the underneath zone defenders (two hook/curl and two flat) reading the quarterback's eyes. This is a zone beater killer against quick game and hot routes since it disguises pressure while still getting three deep defenders over the top, so the primary read for the defense is to identify if the quarterback is going to a route breaking into the vacated underneath zones created by the stunting defenders.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap identify if the offense is in shotgun spread with quick game tendencies since this play is designed to bait sight adjust throws into the sim pressure voids. Watch the offensive line's protection slide at the snap, if they slide away from the stunt side the sim pressure will win clean and force an early throw. Post-snap key the quarterback's helmet, if he turns immediately to the flat or curl zone vacated by the stunting rusher, user that underneath defender to close the window. This look is vulnerable to play-action rollouts and RPOs that attack the flats quickly before the sim pressure gets home, so if the offense is calling boot action be ready to sink the flat defender immediately. Cover 3 beaters like deep out and go combinations to the boundary can stress the single high safety, so watch for the offense stacking or bunching receivers to that side pre-snap.
Usage Tips
Use this play on early downs or third and medium when you expect the offense to run quick game or hot route adjustments against pressure looks.
Disguise the sim pressure by showing a normal four man rush pre-snap and only declare the stunt at the snap to bait the quarterback into a bad read.
Pair Field Sim 3 with Cover 3 Buzz Mable or Cover 3 Sky in the same set so the offense cannot key on the sim pressure look from formation alone.
If the offense audibles into empty or spreads out with four plus receivers, consider switching to Nickel Sim 2 or Sim Pressure 3 instead since Field Sim 3 leaves only three true deep defenders against heavy vertical spacing.
User the underneath zone defender closest to the quick game strength to jump the hot route since the sim pressure naturally opens a passing lane there if not manned properly.
