Playbooks
Cover 2 Sink LB Blitz is a zone pressure package out of the Dollar 3-2 Big Dime personnel that sends a linebacker on a delayed blitz while dropping the safeties into a traditional two deep shell. The sink technique pulls the underneath zone defenders into deeper flat and hook drops than a standard Cover 2, closing throwing lanes over the middle while the blitzer works to disrupt the quarterback's timing. This is primarily a zone based blitz designed to beat quick game and man beater route combos, with the primary read progression being the blitzing linebacker first to force a fast decision from the quarterback, then the sink defenders sitting on any crossing routes or in cuts that try to exploit the vacated underneath area.
Read the offensive formation pre snap for stacked or bunch receiver sets, which often signal quick game concepts designed to beat the blitz before it arrives Key the running back's blocking assignment at the snap, if he stays in to chip the blitzer you have extra time to let your sink zones settle before the quarterback can find a soft spot Watch for post snap crossing routes from the slot since this is where the sink linebacker drops are designed to sit, jump the route early if you see the receiver break inward This play is vulnerable to well timed hot routes that convert underneath routes into deep outs or corner routes attacking the vacated area behind the blitzing linebacker, so keep an eye on receiver releases that push vertical before breaking outside Cover 2 Sink LB Blitz gets exposed by quick RPO reads and screen game since the blitzing backer can take himself out of the play, so if you see bubble screen action or a fast flare route, be ready to peel off with your defender immediately
Call this on early downs or third and medium when you expect the offense to attack the middle of the field with drag routes or slot crossers since the sink drops are built to squat on those throws
Disguise the blitz by showing a two high safety look pre snap and delay the linebacker's blitz timing with a manual jump on the snap to keep the offensive line guessing on protection assignments
Use this play after running Tampa 2 or Tampa 2 Drop earlier in a series so the offense has to respect deep middle coverage, then mix in this blitz to punish hesitation from the quarterback
Spy the running back's release out of the backfield with your user controlled defender if the offense shows empty or spread motion, since check release backs can beat the sink zone on option routes
Avoid calling this against heavy play action shots on obvious passing downs since the blitzing linebacker can be picked up easily by chip protection, leaving the deep half exposed if your safeties bite on the run fake