Playbooks
Edge Blitz 0 is a five or six man pressure package out of the Nickel 3-3 Will that sends edge rushers off both tackles while the defense plays Cover 0 man coverage with zero deep safety help behind it. The blocking assignment for the offense becomes a pure man protection test since every eligible receiver is locked in man across the board, meaning this call is designed to win with pure speed off the edge before the quarterback can hit his first read. As the defensive caller, your primary read progression is to confirm both edge rushers get a clean, untouched path to the quarterback while your underneath defenders trail their man assignments tightly, forcing a turnover-worthy sack or an errant throw into tight man coverage.
Pre snap, identify if the offense has a running back or tight end staying in to block, since that extra blocker can pick up one of your edge rushers and buy the quarterback an extra half second to find a hot route beater. Watch the receiver splits and motion, because if the offense motions a receiver across the formation it can reveal man coverage and tip off that they plan to attack your Cover 0 shell with a rub route or pick concept. Post snap, key the quarterback's eyes immediately after the snap since Cover 0 gives him no deep safety to read, so he will likely go to his fastest one on one matchup or a quick game beater almost instantly. This call gets shut down hard by hot routes into the flat or quick slants that beat man coverage before your edge rushers ever get home, so respect the quarterback's ability to throw fast against zero blitz looks. It is also vulnerable to play action rollouts and RPOs since your linebackers are crashing downhill immediately, leaving cutback lanes and bubble screens wide open if the offense reads blitz correctly.
Call this on third and long or in two minute situations where the offense is likely to max protect or throw a quick concept, since Cover 0 has zero deep help and will get burned by any receiver who wins one on one deep. Before the snap, check for empty backfield or trips formations that signal the offense may pick up your edge rushers with extra blockers, and if you see that, consider audibling to Edge Blitz 3 instead to keep three deep zone defenders in place as a safety net. Use your user controlled defender on the most dangerous route runner or the running back leaking out of the backfield, since your zero coverage has no safety valve if he gets loose in the middle of the field. Mix this call in after showing Cover 1 Robber or Cover 2 Man on earlier downs so the quarterback cannot pattern read your pressure tendencies and gets caught off guard by the extra rusher. Hot route your slot corner or nickel defender into a tighter man alignment if you see a quick bunch or stack formation designed to rub off your press defenders at the snap.