Wow, good find and great read. Ernie is right - much of the onus for diagnosing the play is placed on the LBs.
Based on that playbook (which admittedly is from UVA 2004 and not from Miami 2013), there are a LOT of base Cover 2 looks and variations ("Nail", "Okie", "Tampa", and the "Stack 2") used particularly to defend spread/shotgun formations without the blitz. Many of the blitz packages appear to be Fire Zone/Cover 3, or Cover 0.
Since any kind of comprehensive discussion of the entire playbook would be a massive waste of time and finger strength, I'll examine one match-up specifically for both the base and blitz scenarios - the "Stack Cover 2/Colt" vs. Trips Mid (page 35-E if you're keeping score) for a basic Cover 2 look, and the "Cover 9/99" Fire Zone Blitz (pg. 39). I'll then offer a brief opinion on these coverages based on our current back 7 personnel.
Stack Cover 2
In this instance, the CBs are responsible for the flats while the safeties split the deep halves. The SAM and MIKE backers play the curl and hook, shading toward the slot receiver/TE, while the JACK backer (the other ILB) plays the weakside curl. The WILL is the 4th rusher in this scenario.
With our current makeup, I think you'd see Gunter and Crawford playing the CBs (not sure if they're jamming the WR at the line or just holding position, but either way, that's who I'd have out there in this instance.) Perryman and Gaines would play SAM and MIKE respectively. JACK backer I'm thinking Armbrister, and McCord/Figs at WILL. This gets our more experienced backers playing the zones, and allows McCord/Figs to create pressure off the weak side.
Cover 9/99 Fire Zone Blitz
As the playbook says, this is a Zone Blitz using the 3 down linemen and two "other rushers" to create a 5-man rush, the combinations of which are identified by different animal names. The advantage here is that, depending on the animal name (or whatever identifier they're using now), you can disguise the pressure.
In the basic setup, both CBs and the SS bail out to the deep 1/3s. What's interesting to me are the footnotes at the bottom of this page which indicate the CBs need to be savvy enough to turn and drive on a 3-step drop/curl, and switch to man coverage on routes over 10 yards. The SS must be the deepest defender, help out on post patterns, and keep his eye on the QB as he scans the field ("see the throw.")
The SAM backer and FS's primary responsibility is to the seam route. If the #2 receiver goes inside, they play the curl/flat, if outside, they man up and watch for wheel routes. They also must be aware of any audibles/"hot" receivers. (WHEW!)
The MIKE's first job is to defend the middle hook/crosses/quick throws, and then to read the QBs eyes for deeper patterns.
The JACK and WILL backers rush the QB from the weak side in this instance, while the 3 down linemen crash the strong side.
Needless to say, the lion's share of the decision-making in this defense rests with the SAM backer and free safety (Perryman and Rogers/AJ.) I can hear the groans already about Rogers/AJ, but I feel like in this particular situation, you need some heady experienced players playing the seam. Bush will be the SS playing centerfield, though I could certainly see an argument to switch Bush and Highsmith in this look. You want your CBs to have speed but also play-recognition skills here, so Gunter and Crawford again would be my choices, though if you switched Howard for Gunter, I wouldn't complain much.
As for the other LBs, I think Gaines still plays MIKE here, and then you can get a nice combination of McCord, Figs, even check Gilbert in at WILL for the pass rush and have Chick, Porter, and Kamalu as the DL.
As always, I end with the massive caveat that I may very well be talking out my ***, but I welcome any and all discussion.
