Normally when breaking down blitz packages, you’re looking at simple man blitzes or zone blitzes, but defensive coaches have become more creative in their sub packages. Now sim pressures, or creepers, are all the rage. A simulated pressure or creeper is simply when you show the offense multiple potential rushers pre-snap and then drop them into coverage while sending someone else. Unlike man and zone blitzes which seek to overwhelm with numbers, sim pressures/creeper seek to manipulate the pass protection with fewer numbers. The goal of a creeper is to mislead the blocking scheme and overwhelm them mentally instead of physically. You have the offensive line ‘seeing ghosts’ and waiting for a blitzer who never comes, forcing them to waste blockers while you focus your attack elsewhere. A&M added a bonus to a creeper by adding a spy to account for a dual-threat quarterback.
Play Concept
Like many of A&M’s third down sub packages, this creeper starts from a 3-2-6 dime package.
Defense shows six in the box out of a 3-2 front. Offense is in 10 personnel with the RB aligned to the right of the QB. Going L to R for the offense, potential blitzers are the weakside CB, WLB, MLB, and possibly the strongside CB. With five OL and the RB, offense has six to block seven. RB will do a check release, look for blitzers then release into a pattern. Defense is actually only rushing three on this play and dropping eight into coverage. WDE, NT, and SDE are all coming on the rush, but WLB is simulating a rush and then dropping into a spy position in the middle of the field. Auburn QB Bo Nix is a dual threat and if he decides to run up the middle, the spy is waiting for him.
At the snap, WDE goes into speed rush. SDE attacks B-gap and NT feints to A gap before stunting behind SDE to rush C gap. This stunt forces C, RG, and RT to all work to block two people. LG is sitting in space, waiting for WLB to blitz. LG is seeing a ghost.
WLB is spying the QB and MLB is covering the middle flats. Any short crossing route or hot route is covered. Defense has dropped right into coverage, meaning all four receivers and the RB are covered and there is nowhere to go with the ball. Coverage gives three-man rush plenty of time as WDE makes it home for the sack.
Executing Creeper Spy
Tyree Johnson is weak DE, DeMarvin Leal is NT, and Michael Clemons is the SDE in this sub package. Edgerrin Cooper is the WLB and Aaron Hansford is the MLB. At the snap, Johnson goes into his speed rush against the LT. Cooper shows blitz for two steps forward, then drops back behind Leal’s rush. Cooper is spying Nix. Leal engages the RG for three steps before stunting behind Clemons’ B gap rush. RG and RT take on Clemson leaving free to rush Nix. Nix moves right to escape Johnson’s speed rush but Leal is waiting. Pocket collapses on top of him as Johnson buries him for the sack.
