Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 11 playbooks
Breakdown
Edge Blitz 1 out of the Dime 3-2-6 set brings a single blitzer off the edge on a blue path while the rest of the front rushes their gaps, and the defense plays Cover 1 man behind it with a deep robber/rat defender showing over the middle. Four underneath defenders show press or man alignment on the receiver side, with two of them crossing paths in the middle of the field, indicating man match responsibilities rather than a static zone drop. This is a man beater blitz package designed to win with pressure first, so the primary read is get the free rusher home off the edge before the quarterback can hit a hot route or slant against the man coverage behind it.
Defensive Reads
Pre snap, check if the offense has a running back or tight end aligned to the same side as your edge blitzer, since that is the first threat to chip and slow your rush. Watch for a lone deep safety or two-high shell that rotates down to one high after the snap, which tells you the offense recognizes Cover 1 and may be calling a hot route beater like a quick out or slant. This play is vulnerable to quick game and spread empty sets that get the ball out before the edge rusher can affect the pocket, so respect three step drops and screens. It beats teams that love to sit back and read coverage in the pocket, since the free rusher forces an early or inaccurate throw against the man coverage behind it. Post snap, key the quarterback's eyes toward the crossing routes in the middle, since the man defenders crossing paths there can create a natural rub that occasionally springs a receiver open against tight man coverage.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or third and medium when you expect the offense to sit in the pocket and read man coverage rather than screen out of it.
Check the offensive formation pre snap for stacked or bunch releases near the edge blitzer's alignment, since a natural chip block can slow your rusher and blow the timing of the pressure.
User the deep robber defender if you see trips or a heavy passing look, since he is your eraser against digs and crossers if the rush does not get home in time.
Mix this with Cover 1 Robber Press and Zero Blitz from the same set to disguise whether you are sending extra rushers or dropping into a rat in the middle, keeping the quarterback guessing on hot route assignments.
Avoid calling this against empty or spread formations with quick game concepts, since the single edge rusher can be picked up easily and the man coverage behind it gets exposed on quick outs and hitches.
