Playbooks
Nickel Blitz 3 is a five or six man pressure package out of the 2-4 Wide Nickel that drops into a Cover 3 shell behind the rush. The blitz sends extra defenders off the edge or through an interior gap while the remaining four defenders spin into a three deep, three under zone shell to guard against the big play over the top. This is a blitz-and-zone hybrid, not a man beater, so your primary read as the defender is simply trusting the pressure to disrupt the quarterback's timing while the underneath zone defenders squeeze any crossers or shallow drags entering their landmarks.
Watch the running back pre-snap, if he stays in a max protect look expect a slower developing shot play designed to counter the blitz. Key the offensive tackle depth at the snap, if he sets hard outside the extra rusher may be picked up cleanly and you will need to spy the middle of the field. This call is exposed against quick game and RPO concepts since the zone defenders are still sorting out their drops as the rusher arrives, so anticipate a fast bubble screen or slant if the offense audibles at the line. Look for the offense to attack the seams between the deep thirds with a skinny post or deep out, since the three deep shell has natural gaps near the numbers and the hash. If the quarterback checks to a quick out or hitch route immediately after the snap, that is a sign he identified the blitz and is throwing to the void before your underneath defenders can settle into their zone.
Use this on early down and distance situations where you expect a run heavy personnel package or a play caller who likes to sit in the pocket and go through a long progression.
Disguise the blitz by mixing this call with Cover 3 Match and Cover 3 Sky from the same set so the offense cannot key on your pre-snap look based on defender spacing.
Bring the extra rusher off the weak side edge if the offense has a tight end or running back staying in to chip block, since that side usually has a lighter protection count.
After the snap, immediately widen your zone drop if you see the quarterback look to a flood concept, since the three deep shell is vulnerable to any three level stretch on the boundary.
Pair this call with Nickel 2 Trap and Dbl Safety Blitz in sequence on third and medium to keep the offensive line guessing on protection identification and prevent them from sliding help to one side.