Playbooks
Blitz Loop 3 is a five man pressure package out of the 2-4 Swap Dbl Mug front designed to disguise blitz timing with a mugged look at the second level before the snap. The loop element sends an interior rusher looping around the edge to confuse the offensive tackle's protection assignment while the back seven drops into a three deep zone shell behind the pressure. Your primary read as the user defender is the looping rusher's lane first, then peel to any check down or flare route if the quarterback tries to escape the pocket quickly.
Pre snap, identify if the offense shifts protection toward the mugged side, which tells you they expect the blitz and may be running a quick hitter or screen to beat it. Watch running back alignment since a back staying in to chip signals the offense respects the interior loop and plans to slide protection into it. Post snap, key the offensive tackle's first step, if he opens outside to take the looping rusher the interior lane is clean for a quick pressure win. This play struggles against max protect schemes with two backs and a tight end staying in, so if you see heavy personnel or a bunch of extra blockers, consider checking to Tampa 2 or Cover 3 Match for a safer four man rush look. Zone drops behind the blitz are vulnerable to fast in cuts and shallow crossers, so user the closest underneath defender to jump any quick out or drag route before the running back can settle into the void.
Show the double mug look pre snap and hold it as long as possible before the snap to bait the quarterback into thinking it is a six or seven man blitz. User the looping defender manually so you can adjust his path in real time if the tackle slides early to pick him up. This play excels on third and medium to long when offenses expect a stack drop off of the mugged look and instead get pressure with coverage behind it. Pair this call with SS Sim 2 or Nickel Sim 2 in the same set so opponents cannot key on the mug look as a pure blitz tell. If the offense audibles into a quick game or screen based on the mugged alignment, check to Cover 3 Sky or Cover 1 Games instead since those calls punish hot route beaters better than a loop blitz does.