Playbooks

Overload 3

Quarter·Normal·Big Quarter 3-1-7

Cover 3 Overload Blitz Zone Coverage Blitz

Play diagram for Overload 3 from Quarter Normal in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationQuarter

SetNormal

Personnel

Big Quarter 3-1-72 EDGEDTMIKE4 CB2 FSSS

In 7 playbooks

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Breakdown

Overload 3 is a Cover 3 zone blitz out of the Big Quarter 3-1-7 personnel that brings a five man overload rush from one side while dropping into a three deep, four under shell behind it. On the diagram the two outside deep defenders run vertical routes to the deep thirds and the middle deep defender crosses the field to help replace the rotating safety, while the underneath purple defenders sink into curl to flat zones on both edges. The four rushers stack to one side pre-snap to create a numbers advantage against the protection, so the primary read progression starts with identifying where the overload comes from and then working from the deep middle zone dropper to the underneath flat defenders as the ball is forced to come out quickly.

Defensive Reads

Watch the offensive line and running back alignment before the snap, since heavier protection to one side tells you if the offense has already diagnosed the overload direction. Key the quarterback's eyes immediately after the snap, because Overload 3 wins fastest against quarterbacks who hold the ball and try to climb the pocket instead of getting the ball out on time. Read the flat and curl defenders on the overload side first, since that is where the rush is manufactured and where hot routes or quick outs will try to exploit the vacated space. Identify any tight end or running back releasing into the underneath zone on the overload side, since that is the primary answer offenses use to beat the extra rusher. Watch for a lurking user defender sitting in the deep middle zone crossing action, since that man can bait a throw into the void the deep third rotation creates.

Usage Tips

Use this call on third and long or in two minute situations where you expect the offense to take extra time in pass protection because the overload rush is designed to win with pure numbers before the deep zones ever get tested.

Check the pre-snap formation for max protect or extra tight end personnel, since those are the sets where the overload numbers advantage on one side becomes the biggest liability for the offense.

User the middle linebacker or the crossing deep defender if you want to jump underneath crossing routes, since that zone dropper is the key man responsible for replacing the rotated safety.

Pair this call with Cover 3 Mable or 3 Double Mable in the same set so quarterbacks cannot key the overload look purely off initial defensive line alignment.

Disguise the overload side with a pre-snap shift or by mirroring your alignment with Fz 3 Sky so the offense has to guess which edge the extra rusher is coming from until the snap.