Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mug Dt Loop 1 is a Cover 1 man pressure look out of the Dime 4-1-6 personnel. The diagram shows a defensive tackle line stunt with the interior rushers looping and crossing paths to confuse the offensive line's blocking assignments while the back end plays lockdown man coverage with a deep single high safety. The lone linebacker mugs the line pre-snap before working through the stunt lane, and the primary read is the interior DT loop getting a free rush lane as the offensive line gets caught in the wash trying to pass off the crossing rushers.
Defensive Reads
Check the offensive line splits pre-snap since wide splits usually mean the blocking scheme cannot pick up the DT loop in time. Watch the running back's eyes in the backfield, if he is scanning toward the mugged linebacker he is likely staying in to chip block the stunt. Post-snap, track whether the offensive tackle and guard both commit to the initial rusher on the DT loop since that leaves the looping tackle unblocked. This pressure gets shut down by quick game man beater combos like slants and stick routes that beat the corners before the loop finishes developing. If the quarterback checks to a hot route or screen immediately at the snap, the stunt is too slow to affect the play so be ready to rally to the flat or bubble.
Usage Tips
Bring this pressure on third and medium to third and long when the offense is likely to pass protect with a five or six man box.
Pre-snap, check if the offense is sliding protection toward the mugged linebacker since that tells you the DT loop will hit the opposite side clean.
Use manual control on the looping defensive tackle to time the exchange with the edge rusher and avoid running into your own teammate.
Pair this with Cover 1 Contain and Mug Sim Pressure in the same play-calling sequence so quarterbacks cannot key on the mugged look and start guessing blitz versus drop.
Avoid calling this against empty formations with quick game concepts since the stunt takes an extra half second to develop and slot man beaters can get open before the pressure arrives.
