Nickel 2-4-5 Inside Blitz 3

In this weeks edition of Kobra's Corner, I want to take a look at blitz out of the Nickel 2-4-5 that I have been using while running the Steelers defensive playbook. The name of the blitz is Inside Blitz 3. What I like about this blitz is it's pretty simple to set up, and coverage is solid.



By default, the Nickel 2-4-5 Inside Blitz 3 sends 5 defenders in to put pressure on the QB. There are 3 defenders playing hook zones, while three defenders play 3 deep. Notice the NB lines up inside. The reason is because the offense comes out in base formation. If a receiver was to line up in the slot, the NB would line up across from him. For this blitz to work, the NB must line up inside as shown in the screen shot above. This means you may have to manually move him if he lines up across from the slot receiver.



We take control of the RILB is move him so that he lines up across from the C.



We also hot route him to blitz. His blitz angle will not shoot straight through the C.



We then want to make sure that LILB is line up behind the SDT. If he not, we will have to move him to make sure that he is.



His blitz angle has him shooting through the A Gap between the C and RG.



The last pre-snap adjustment we must make for this blitz to work is to hot route the LOLB to blitz. We can do this globally or manually. His blitz angle will not shoot straight down at the RT.



The LT will look to block the NB, the C will block the RILB, and the RT will block the LOLB.



This allows the LILB to shoot through the A Gap between the C and RG to get pressure on the QB.



The QB is sacked in the end zone for a 2 point safety.

Key Points

    * Something else you want to consider trying is to take control of the RILB before the snap. Once the ball is snapped, let him engage the C. As soon as he does, take control of the RILB and drop him back in pass coverage. You may hot route him a hook zone and then manually rush him. Once he engages the C, release him or manually drop him back in pass coverage.
    * The flats are not covered with this blitz set up.
    * Be sure to watch the video breakdown for more in depth look at how this blitz works when an extra pass blocker is left in to pass block and how this blitz set up works against a Gun formation.