Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
SS Dog 3 is a Cover 3 zone blitz out of the Nickel 2-4 Dbl Mug set, sending the strong safety off the edge as a fifth rusher while dropping the underneath defenders into a three deep, four under zone shell behind it. The diagram shows both outside cornerbacks sinking into deep thirds while the slot corner and one linebacker wall off the underneath flats and hook zones, with the deep middle defender bailing to the post area. Since this is a defensive play call there is no route progression, the primary read for the defense is to trust the extra rusher to collapse the pocket quickly while the zone defenders squeeze any crossing routes and flat concepts underneath the deep thirds.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check if the offense has a running back or tight end releasing quickly to the flat, since the zone defenders on that side are already leveraged to jump those throws. Watch the offensive line for slide protection toward the strong safety's alignment, if they slide away from the blitz the free rusher will have an unblocked lane to the quarterback. Post-snap, key the quarterback's eyes to the deep middle, since the zone defender rotating to the deep third can be baited into a post route if he opens too early. This play beats quick game and shallow crosser concepts that try to exploit blitz vacated zones because the underneath defenders are still sitting in throwing lanes. It gets exposed by max protect play-action or hot route sight adjustments where a receiver breaks outside toward a deep third defender who has to hold his zone against the extra rusher.
Usage Tips
Call SS Dog 3 on early downs or third and medium when you expect a quick game passing concept, since the extra rusher forces the quarterback to speed up his internal clock. Disguise the blitz by showing a two high shell before the snap and rotating the safety down at the snap so the quarterback cannot get a pre-snap key on the pressure. Pair this with Cover 1 Hole or Nickel Dog Meg from the same set so offenses cannot sit on the same shell after seeing man or zone pressure looks. User the strong safety blitzer if you want to control the free rusher and time your jump off the edge, or spy the middle if you suspect a quarterback scramble concept. Use this on passing downs against offenses that rely on quick slants and flat routes, since the underneath zone defenders are sitting in those exact throwing lanes.
