Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
LB Dogs out of Bear Under (46, Base 4-3) is a five man pressure look built off the linebacker blitz tag. The diagram shows all three linebackers and both edge defenders crashing downhill with vertical arrows while the defensive line and secondary hold their alignment, leaving man coverage responsibilities on the back end. This is a blitz play designed to overload the box and force a quick throw, so the primary read is simply winning the rush lane fastest, either off the edge or through an interior gap created by the stacked front before the quarterback can climb the pocket.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check if the offense has extra pass protectors such as a fullback or tight end staying in, since that numbers advantage can pick up your extra rusher and neutralize the blitz. Watch running back alignment: if the back is set to the blitzing side, expect a chip or full block that delays your linebacker, so plan your user rush to the opposite gap. Post-snap, key the quarterback's first step: a quick three step drop means the hot route or check down beats this blitz, so close on the shallow crosser immediately after your rush commitment. This dog package beats teams that hold protection with only five blockers and try to run intermediate routes, but it gets shredded by screens, RPOs, and quick play-action since your linebackers are already flowing away from the line of scrimmage. If you see a stacked or bunch formation pre-snap, expect natural picks against man principles on the back end, so be ready to pass off assignments quickly once the ball is snapped.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or short yardage when you expect a run or a quick game pass, since the linebacker dogs commit hard downhill and are vulnerable to play-action. Check the offensive personnel pre-snap: if they show 3 or more receivers, consider audibling to Cover 1 or Cover 2 Man from this same set instead so you are not exposed on the back end. Use your user-controlled defender on the most obvious rush lane, usually a stacked interior gap, and let the CPU logic handle the linebacker dogs so you can time a jump on a lane the offense is not blocking. Disguise this call by mixing it in after showing Cover 3 or Engage Eight from the same Bear Under set, so the offense cannot key on your front alignment pre-snap. Best used on 3rd and long or in two minute situations where the offense is likely to sit in the pocket rather than roll out, since any play-action rollout or bootleg can gash this blitz.
