Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 11 playbooks
Breakdown
Tampa Sim Pressure is a five man simulated pressure look out of the 3-3 Odd Nickel that disguises a Tampa 2 shell behind it. Both deep safeties rotate to the outside thirds while the underneath defenders drop into a four man zone spread across the shallow hook and curl areas, with the middle linebacker sinking into the deep hole to take away the seam and post routes. One defender rushes off the edge to simulate pressure and occupy the tackle, while the flat defender to the trips side flashes outside to wall off the boundary throw. This is a zone beater designed to bait quarterbacks into thinking a blitz is coming, so the primary read progression is to identify if the quarterback holds the ball expecting extra rushers, then attack the shallow curl to hook zones underneath before working to the deep middle if the linebacker widens out of the honey hole.
Defensive Reads
Pre snap, check if the offense has a single high safety look expecting man coverage or blitz, since the deep half rotation here will surprise quarterbacks reading Cover 1 or Cover 3 shells. Watch for trips or bunch formations attacking the flat defender who flashes outside, since that defender has to cover significant ground and can be beaten by quick out or flat routes if the throw is timed early. Key the middle linebacker's depth in the deep hole, because if he bites on a play fake or a deep crosser, the seam and post routes over the middle become live throws against this coverage. This shell shuts down quick slants and hitches into the shallow zone defenders but is vulnerable to sideline throws that beat the flat rotation before the safety can rotate over the top. Post snap, identify if the offense is running a hot route into the vacated area behind the simulated rusher, since only five defenders are rushing and the sixth underneath defender must account for late releasing backs.
Usage Tips
Show this look on early downs after running a real Cover 2 blitz earlier in the series so the offense respects the disguise and hesitates in the pocket.
Bait the quarterback into a check down or a hitch route by dropping softly at the snap, then close on the throw with the user controlled linebacker sitting in the deep middle.
Use this on third and medium when offenses expect pressure and are likely to throw quick game, since the shallow zone defenders can jump those routes.
Pair this with Tampa 2 and Tampa 2 Drop in the same set so the offense cannot distinguish between the simulated pressure look and the standard Tampa 2 shell pre snap.
Manually spy the running back out of the backfield with the extra rusher if the offense checks into a screen, since the underneath zone defenders are occupied with route responsibilities.
