Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Blitz Tex 3 is a Cover 3 zone blitz out of the Dime 2-3 Single Mug set, sending five rushers with the Mike and one edge defender crashing the interior gaps off the mugged look while the other rushers loop off the weak side. Behind the pressure, the defense drops into a three deep, three underneath shell with both cornerbacks and the deep safety splitting the field into thirds while the remaining underneath defenders wall off the shallow zones. This is a zone blitz designed to disguise pressure before the snap and confuse protection schemes on early to standard downs, not a man beater or coverage look built to match up one on one.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check if the offense is sliding protection toward the mugged linebackers, since that tells you the blitz is being picked up and you may want to check to a coverage play instead. Watch the running back alignment before the snap, if he is set to the blitz side he is likely staying in to chip or block, which confirms your rushers will get a clean lane. Post-snap, key the quarterback's eyes toward the deep middle third, since a lone deep safety in Cover 3 leaves seam and post routes vulnerable if he does not get enough width. This look beats offenses that rely on quick game and shallow crossers because the underneath defenders can jump those throws while the rush disrupts timing. Play-action heavy teams and rollout passes can exploit this blitz if the edge rusher is looped away from the roll direction, so account for the boundary if you see gun rollout formations.
Usage Tips
Show the mugged double A gap look pre-snap to bait the quarterback into thinking a max blitz is coming, then let the zone drops confirm the disguise post-snap.
Use this on early downs or second and medium when offenses are still establishing their run or pass tendencies, since the disguised pressure can catch a play call off guard.
Pair this with Cover 1 Games or DB Blitz from the same set so quarterbacks cannot key on one specific pressure shape out of the mugged front.
Hot route the underneath zone defenders to sink deeper if you anticipate a dig or curl route sitting in the intermediate window, since the base drop leaves that area thin for a beat.
Sequence this after a base Cover 3 Buzz Show call earlier in the drive so the same shell disguise sets up the extra pressure without tipping your hand.
