Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
LB Blitz 1 is a Cover 1 man blitz out of Dime 4-1-6 personnel that sends the lone linebacker off the diagram straight up the middle while the four defensive linemen work a mix of contain and interior rush lanes, with two defenders angling outside to squeeze the edges. Behind the pressure, the deep safety runs from the hash to the opposite numbers to play the single high robber role while the remaining five defensive backs lock up in press or trail man coverage underneath. This is a blitz beater killer designed to bring extra heat while still maintaining a true Cover 1 shell, so the primary defensive read progression starts with the deep half safety rotation and then keys the linebacker blitz path to confirm the pressure package before locking eyes on the receiver you are tasked to trail.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check the offensive formation for empty backfield sets since that forces your blitzing linebacker into man coverage responsibility on the last back out, weakening the pressure. Watch for a single high safety adjustment from the offense such as a hot route to a slot receiver running a seam route right up the middle where the blitzing linebacker vacated. Post-snap, track the quarterback's eyes to the boundary since your press corners are on an island with no safety help on that side once the blitz is called. This play shuts down slow developing man beater concepts like drag and crossing routes because the extra rusher forces the ball out before those routes fully break. This play is vulnerable to hot route slants and quick game concepts since the blitz eliminates a coverage defender and leaves rub route combinations open underneath.
Usage Tips
Use this on third and medium to third and long when you expect the offense to hold blockers in for protection since the extra rusher can overwhelm a five man protection scheme.
Check the backfield pre-snap for running backs staying in to block, if the RB releases into the route concept you may need to hot route your blitzing linebacker to spy instead of sending him.
Pair this with Cover 1 Contain and Cover 1 Robber Press earlier in the series so quarterbacks cannot key the blitz off your single high safety alignment alone.
User the deep safety here to rob any deep crossing routes since your zone shell is thin and a big play over the top is the main risk if the blitz does not get home in time.
Audible your press corners to off man if you are worried about getting beat deep on a fade or go route since the extra rusher removes your safety help on the outside receivers.
