Playbooks
Show SS Sim 2 is a simulated pressure package out of the 3-3 Over Jack Nickel 4-2-5 personnel that disguises a five or six man rush look before dropping the strong safety into a Cover 2 shell underneath. Up front, the defense shows an overload blitz look pre-snap, but at the snap the strong safety and one designated rusher bail into zone drops while the remaining front generates pressure with a mug look at the line. This is a zone based coverage disguise designed to confuse quarterback pre-snap reads on RPOs and quick game concepts, and the primary read progression for the defense is to identify verticals and seam routes first, then work down to the flat and curl zones as the play develops.
Key the quarterback's eyes immediately after the snap since Show SS Sim 2 baits hot reads and quick game throws into zones that are about to be occupied. Watch for the strong safety's drop timing, if you user him too early you open up a seam or crosser behind him, so stay patient and read the number two receiver's release before committing. This call beats quick game and RPO heavy offenses that expect a blitz and throw into what they think is man or a vacated zone. It struggles against quick out and flat concepts run to the field before the shell fully rotates, and it can be exposed by play action rollouts that hold the disguised rushers accountable to contain. Pre-snap, look at the offensive formation strength and receiver alignment to anticipate whether the strong safety drop will be attacked with a slot fade or quick slant, and post-snap track any running back leaking out to the flat since that is the first outlet against simulated pressure.
Show SS Sim 2 works best on early downs and third and medium situations where offenses expect a heavier blitz look and try to attack with quick hitters or hot routes. Bait the quarterback pre-snap by showing the overload blitz alignment, then user the strong safety on his drop to jump underneath crossers or slants that are designed to beat blitz. Pair this call with Nickel Sim 2 and Cross Sim 2 in the same set so offenses cannot key on the mugged look and start guessing which simulated pressure is coming. Use this on passing downs against offenses that rely on RPOs, since the disguised rush forces the quarterback to hold the ball a beat longer while the zone drops settle underneath. Against spread formations with bunch or stack releases, motion your slot corner or user the flat defender to stay disciplined on quick outs since the shell can be vulnerable to fast flat throws before the drops fully set.