Pass Pro vs. odd 7 man box

Throw Purdue's "BUBBLE SCREEN"!!!!!!

Coach, we haven't come up against this situation, but I've given a little thought to what we'd try to do (which seems similar to what you were thinking in your post), so please bear with me.

Formation: (1) I would try to stay in the gun, which will give more time and space to the QB to see the blitz and coverage. (2) If in 2X2, I would tighten my slot receivers into something similar to Mouse Davis's run and shoot or the Airforce flexbone. This has 3 advantages: First, it will likely force the 5 tech to widen to a 7 or even 9 tech, which creates a longer pass rush lane for the DE to get to the QB while also opening up the off tackle passing land for the QB. If the 5 techs don't widen, run pitch or outside zone with the slot cracking the 5 tech, then they'll widen. Second, if they are bringing 6 so much, that puts them in cover 0, so by tightening the slots, you will likely force the safeties to tighten which will give the SE's lots of space to work their routes v. the CB's in single coverage. Third, by using the tight slot, you can have one slot chip the DE, then run the hot route, while the other slot gets a free release to run your primary combo route on the other side, without giving away which side is hot and which side is primary. (3) If in 3X1, I would have the #3 receiver in a tight slot for the reasons outlined above. In this formation, your hot side and primary combo route side are the same (#3 is hot, #1 and #2 run primary combo).

Hot Side Protection: I would (1) have the G take the 2 tech, (2) have the slot chip the DE, then run the hot route if the LB's blitz or run the called route, if they don't, and (3) have the C and hot side T read the NG and Hot side LB, respectivey (If the NG comes and the LB stays, the C stays with the nose, and the T turns out to block the DE after the slot has chipped him because the LB hasn't blitzed; if the NG drops out, the C peels out to block the DE after the slot has chipped him, and the T blocks the LB blitzing the B-gap; if they both come, C stays with the NG, T locks on the LB because he is the inside most threat and the DE has been chipped by the slot, and the QB throws the hot read right now because the DE will come unblocked late).

Backside Protection: I would (1) have the G take the 2 tech, (2) have the T take the DE, (3) have the RB check release off the LB (NOTE: If you're concerned about the defense figuring out which side is hot based on which side of the QB the RB lines up on, you can have him line up on the hot side, then cross in front of the QB after the snap. He should have time to get to the blitzing LB).

You should have everyone accounted for unless all 7 come, so the QB should first look for the hot read if they do. Otherwise, you can run your normal passing game, just with a delayed route from the hot side slot. I don't know if this fits into your current system, but after looking at this defense, I understand your concerns, so I tried to come up with something that addressed them. Hope this helps.