Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 11 playbooks
Breakdown
FS Zone Blitz brings the free safety off the edge as a fifth rusher while dropping the two linebackers and nickel defenders into a shortened zone shell behind him. The three deep defenders run vertical carry responsibilities in their thirds, the two purple flat/hook zones squeeze the underneath edges, and the yellow zone in the middle covers the intermediate crossing area vacated by the blitzing safety. This is a five man pressure package designed to disrupt timing on quick game and man beaters while still giving you three deep defenders to guard against explosive plays, so the primary read is to attack the vacated intermediate middle before the underneath zone defenders can fully rotate into it.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check the safety alignment and box count, if the offense shifts a tight end or back to the blitz side they likely have a protection adjustment ready. Watch the running back's eyes at the snap, if he stays in to chip or block the free safety rush you have won the leverage battle immediately. Post-snap, key the underneath zone defenders sinking into the yellow middle area, this play is vulnerable to deep in cuts and dig routes thrown before that zone fully sets. This look is exposed against quick slants and hitches to the field if the quarterback recognizes the blitz and gets the ball out in under two seconds. It shuts down man beater combos and mesh concepts well since the extra rusher collapses the pocket before crossers develop, but it can bleed yardage against draw plays if the linebackers bite too hard on the blitz call.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or third and medium when you expect quick game or shotgun spread concepts that rely on the quarterback getting the ball out fast. Identify pre-snap if the offense is in an empty or spread look, since the free safety blitz timer is tight and works best against sets without a lead blocker to pick him up. User the blitzing safety yourself if you want to control the free rush lane and bait the quarterback into an early throw. Pair this with SS Zone Blitz on the following snap so the offensive line cannot key which safety is coming, keeping run fits honest against play-action. Mix in Cover 3 Buzz Match or Cover 6 from the same set on early downs so the offense sees a similar shell before you dial up the blitz look.
