Playbooks
Breakdown
Overload Blitz 3 is a Cover 3 zone blitz out of the Nickel 3-3-5 that brings four rushers to one side while dropping the rest of the defense into a three deep, four under shell. The three deep defenders carry the top of the field while the underneath zone defenders squat on the flats and hook/curl areas, and the overload look sends extra pressure off the edge to force a quick decision from the quarterback. This is a zone blitz designed to disrupt the pocket on early downs and long yardage passing situations, with the primary read being the quarterback's blindside protection sorting out the extra rusher before checking down to the shallow underneath zones.
Defensive Reads
Watch for the offense sliding protection toward your overload side pre-snap, if they do the blitz will be picked up so consider a hot swap or audible to a different blitz angle. Identify empty backfield or spread formations pre-snap, since a lack of extra blockers means the overload rush will almost always win one on one against the tackle or slot defender. Post-snap, key the quarterback's eyes toward the underneath hook and curl zones, these are the first throws that beat the blitz if the rush does not get home in time. This play struggles against quick game concepts like slants and stick routes that get the ball out before the fourth rusher arrives, so avoid calling it against offenses that rely on rhythm passing. Look for user-controlled lurk defenders sitting in the shallow zone, if the human defender bites on play-action or the run fake, backside crossing routes and deep outs behind the overload rush become the counter.
Usage Tips
Call this on obvious passing downs where the offense is likely to max protect or run a slower developing route concept, since the overload rush wins fastest against seven man protection.
Check the running back and tight end pre-snap to identify which side they are aligned to, then bring the overload rush to the opposite edge to attack away from extra blockers.
Use pre-snap motion from the offense to confirm man versus zone, if the defense does not adjust to the motion you are likely seeing this Cover 3 shell so trust the deep thirds and underneath zone drops.
Pair this with Cover 3 Drop or Cover 3 Sky Drop KO in your play-calling sequence so the offense cannot key on the extra rusher every time you show this personnel and shell.
User the backside underneath defender to rob shallow crossers or spy the quarterback on scrambles while your AI zone defenders handle the flats and curl zones.
