Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mid Blitz out of the 2-4 Dbl Mug set is a five man pressure package that sends both mugged linebackers up the middle while the secondary rolls into a four man zone shell behind it. All six diagrammed defenders drop or attack downhill immediately at the snap, with the two safeties and two cornerbacks holding down deep quarters responsibility while the underneath defenders vacate to rush. This is a blitz play designed to collapse the pocket fast and force a quick, inaccurate throw, and the primary read for the defense is simply timing the blitz to beat the offensive line before hot routes or check downs can be completed.
Defensive Reads
Watch for the offense sliding protection toward the mugged linebackers pre-snap, which signals they have identified the blitz and you should consider checking to a coverage play instead. Man beater concepts with quick slants or shallow crossers can beat this blitz before the rush arrives, so avoid calling this against known man beater route combos on early downs. If the offense shows a lone running back and no tight end in protection, this blitz has a high probability of a free rusher and should be dialed up on third down. Post-snap, key the quarterback's eyes immediately since he will look to exploit the vacated shallow and intermediate zones left by the blitzing linebackers. Against empty backfield sets or four verticals concepts, this blitz can get exposed deep since the secondary is only playing four zone defenders across the width of the field.
Usage Tips
Use Mid Blitz on third and medium to third and long when you expect the offense to hold the ball for a deeper route concept, since the interior pressure gets home before those routes develop.
Pre-snap, identify if the offense is in a spread formation with empty backfield, because there is no extra protection to pick up the mugged linebackers and this play wins immediately.
Disguise this call by mixing it in after showing Cover 1 Hole or Cover 3 Sky from the same 2-4 Dbl Mug set so the quarterback cannot key on the mugged look pre-snap.
User the middle linebacker on a delayed spy or contain rush if you suspect a scrambling quarterback, since the interior rush lanes can open cutback lanes for mobile passers.
Pair Mid Blitz with Nickel Dog 3 Buzz or SS Dog 3 in the same set to keep offenses guessing between different pressure angles while maintaining a similar pre-snap picture.
