Playbooks
Field Sim 3 is a simulated pressure call out of the 3-3 Will Nickel front that shows a blitz look pre-snap but drops into a Cover 3 zone shell behind it, with only a designed rush number bringing pressure while the rest of the front bails into coverage. The back end plays three deep zones with underneath defenders sinking into curl and hook zones to take away the quick game, so this is a zone beater against man-heavy route concepts and a defense that punishes hesitant quarterbacks who hold the ball. Primary read progression starts with identifying which underneath defender bailed into a zone drop versus which one actually rushed, then working from the deep middle third to the sideline curl-flat combo based on which zone shows the biggest void.
Watch for the offense sliding protection toward your simulated rush side pre-snap, which tells you they read the disguise and you may want to check to a different call. Post-snap, key the running back and tight end release patterns since Field Sim 3 is vulnerable to quick flare routes and seam routes that attack the void left by the dropping defender before he settles into his zone. If the quarterback is in shotgun with three or more receivers to one side, expect quick game concepts designed to beat zone drops before the underneath defenders get depth, so jump the shallow crosser or flat route with your user. This call shuts down hot route conversions and man beater combos like slot fades or drag and wheel combos since the disguised zone confuses the quarterback into throwing into coverage. Be alert for deep shots down the seam since the single-high safety in the deep third has to cover significant ground, and a well-timed vertical route can split the seam if the linebacker drop is too slow.
Use this on early downs or second-and-medium when you want to disguise pressure without fully committing your entire front to the rush.
Pre-snap, put your user on the most dangerous simulated rusher and manually spy or drop him into the throwing lane to bait a bad read from the opposing quarterback.
Pair this call with a hard blitz like FS Will Blitz 0 or Edge Blitz 0 earlier in a series so the offense cannot key on your pre-snap look and guess simulated pressure every time.
If the offense audibles into a max protect or empty formation, check to a coverage call like Cover 3 Sky or Cover 4 Palms since Field Sim 3 loses value when there is no blitz to disguise.
Bait shotgun spread quarterbacks into hitting the flat or curl zone quickly, then use your user defender to jump the route since the underneath zone drops are disguised as blitzers until the last second.