Playbooks
Breakdown
DB Strike 1 is a Cover 1 DB Blitz out of the Big Quarter 3-1-7 personnel that sends a slot defensive back on a hard downhill blitz off the edge while the rest of the underneath defenders play man coverage on their assigned receivers. The deep safety rotates to the middle of the field as the lone high defender, holding the top of the defense while five underneath defenders press their assignments and the blitzing DB attacks the backfield untouched if the protection does not account for him. This is a man beater blitz package designed to create a hot pressure look, with the primary read being the free rusher off the slot and the secondary read being the man matchups underneath once the quarterback is forced to throw early.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify where the running back or check-release blocker is aligned, since he is the key to whether your blitzing DB gets a free run or gets picked up. Watch the slot receiver alignment closest to your blitzer, because if the offense shifts a tight end or extra blocker over the top, the blitz can get chipped and delayed. Post-snap, key the quarterback's eyes immediately since Cover 1 man concepts are vulnerable to rub routes and crossers if your underneath defenders lose contact at the line. This play shuts down quick game concepts and shallow crosses that rely on rhythm throws, since the free rusher disrupts timing before routes develop. It is vulnerable to hot route sight adjustments and slants against man coverage if your DB blitz is picked up cleanly, so be ready to user a linebacker into a shallow zone drop as a spy if you sense the offense is calling a max protect scheme.
Usage Tips
Call this on third and medium to third and long when you expect the offense to pass, since the free rusher off the slot creates immediate pressure that forces quick, inaccurate throws.
Check pre-snap for stack or bunch formations that can create natural picks against your man defenders, and be ready to user the blitzing DB manually to time the snap and beat any late-blocking back.
Use the single high safety pre-snap to bait the quarterback into thinking it is Cover 1 or Cover 3, then rely on the underneath man defenders to stay glued in phase since there is no deep help over the top on quick in-cuts.
Mix this in with Cover 1 Thief and Man Up 3 Deep from the same set so opposing quarterbacks cannot key on the single high shell and start assuming pressure every snap.
Avoid calling this against empty backfield spread formations with a check-release back, since the extra blocker can pick up the free rusher and buy time for receivers to work against your man coverage.
