Playbooks
CB Bench Sim 2
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
CB Bench Sim 2 is a simulated pressure blitz out of the Nickel 2-4 Load Dbl Mug set that shows two mugged linebackers at the line while dropping into a Cover 2 shell behind it. The corner to the closed side rides a deep bench route (cyan) toward the sideline as part of a zone blitz disguise, while the defensive backs drop into their zone drops underneath and split the field into two deep halves. This is a zone beater blitz package designed to sim pressure without a true corner blitz, so the primary read for the defense is getting the fire zone drop landmarks right so the underneath flat and curl zones are covered while the safeties hold the deep halves.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the offense is sliding protection toward the mugged linebackers, which tells you they expect pressure from that side. Watch the running back and tight end release patterns since check down routes into the vacated underneath zone are the primary answer to this sim pressure. This beats quick game and spread concepts that rely on rhythm throws into the underneath zones, since the disguise delays the quarterback's read. It gets exposed by quick slants or hitch routes thrown before the zone defenders reach their drop landmarks, so fast processing quarterbacks can pick it apart. Post-snap, key the deep half safeties since any late rotation or bust in the Cover 2 shell opens up the deep outside throw behind the dropping corner.
Usage Tips
Show the Mug look pre-snap to bait the quarterback into thinking a corner blitz or all out pressure is coming before dropping into the sim zone coverage.
Use this on early downs or third and medium when offenses expect a max protect or check down concept, since the disguised drops confuse hot route reads.
Pair this with CB Bench Sim 2 alongside Cover 3 Sky and Blitz Loop 3 in the same set to keep the mugged look consistent while varying which defenders actually blitz.
Manually spy the underneath crosser or drag route with your Mike linebacker if you see the offense attacking the seam vacated by the dropping corner.
Bait the quarterback into throwing the quick flat route by showing blitz, then user the underneath zone defender to jump the route once the ball is in the air.
