Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Field Sim 3 is a simulated pressure call out of the 3-3 Dbl Mug set in Nickel personnel, showing a mugged look at the line before dropping into Cover 3 zone shell. Both inside linebackers show blitz at the snap with crossing paths (the red arrows) to disguise which one actually rushes, while the deep zone defenders drop into thirds and the underneath defenders sink into curl/flat and hook zones. This is a zone beater disguised as a pressure look, so the primary read progression is high to low: check the deep middle third first for a vertical shot, then work to the intermediate crossers settling into the vacated hook zones behind the simulated rush.
Defensive Reads
Watch for the offense sliding their line or adding a chip blocker toward the mugged linebackers, which shows they are respecting the sim pressure and opening up run lanes elsewhere. This call is strong against man beater route combos and rub concepts since the underneath zone defenders sit in the throwing lanes rather than chasing receivers man to man. It struggles against quick RPOs and screen game because the delayed zone drop of the mug linebackers leaves initial run support light for a beat. Post-snap, key the quarterback's eyes: if he stares down the deep middle third early, close hard since only one true deep defender covers that zone. Beware of a running quarterback scrambling immediately after the snap, since the simulated rush create initial gaps up the middle before the zone fully sets.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs or 2nd and medium when the offense expects a blitz and may check into a quick game or hot route protection, since the sim pressure often catches max protect calls off guard. Pre-snap, identify if the offense is sliding protection toward the mugged linebackers, which tells you they respect the pressure and are more vulnerable to the delayed zone drop. Bait the quarterback by showing both mug linebackers crashing, then drop the true zone defender late to jump underneath crossing routes. Pair this call with Nickel Dog 3 Buzz or SS Dog 3 in the same set so opponents cannot key on the mugged look and must respect an actual blitz coming from the same alignment. Save Field Sim 3 for third down passing situations where quarterbacks are anxious to identify pressure, since the disguise forces late decision making and often results in a checkdown into a sitting zone defender.
