Pressuring Y-Off/Sniffer Formations

Y-off creates some challenges that an inline TE doesn't. For an inline TE the pressure concepts tend to focus on Closed or Open side pressures. With a Y-off one issue can be the unknown of where/how the Y-off will block. The Y-off may block his side as a point of attack blocker on power or wide zone. The block on the side of the Y-off's alignment may also be a cutoff block on zone away. The Y-off may block across the formation on split zone or counter concepts. The Y-off may block inside on insert and wham schemes. Add the Y-off release schemes to block 2nd level players or run routes in RPO concepts and there is alot to sort through to pressure Y-off. There are many strategies that work. One we've used the last few seasons is having our edge blitzer read the Y-off to determine his pressure pattern.

The Rush:
The Nose is crossing face with both DE looping to the C gaps. The ILB is pressuring the A gap to the side of the Y off. The Sam is a read pressure reading the Y-off to determine the pressure pattern.

The Coverage:
3 Under 3 Deep

The Read:
The Sam aligns at the heels of the DL reading the Y.

If the Y blocks to the side of his alignment the Sam pressures outside setting an edge and accounting for the extra gap created by the Y. The 3RH ILB can shuffle to the side of 3 on runs and fit the open B gap. The Seam dropping OLB can fold on runs to the open B gap opposite the Y.

If the Y blocks across the formation the Sam blitzes inside. The 3RH and Seam dropper can account for the gaps opposite the pressure including the extra gap created by the block of the Y.

The offense is running a split zone concept with the Y blocking across. The Sam reads the Y across and pressures inside. The 3RH and Seam droppers fitting opposite the pressure. 

Reading the Y-off can be a strategy to handle the unknown of where to pressure a Y-off formation.