Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 16 playbooks
Breakdown
1 LB Dog is a five-man pressure package out of the 3-3 Single Mug look in Nickel, sending the mugged linebacker off the ball on a downhill blitz path while the defensive line crashes their gaps to collapse the pocket. Behind the pressure, the defense plays Cover 1 man across the board with a single deep safety (the blue zone drop) rotating over the top as the last line of defense against a vertical shot. This is a man beater blitz designed to win with pure numbers and speed on early downs, and the primary read is simply to get the mugged backer through his gap untouched to force a quick, inaccurate throw before the man coverage gets exposed.
Defensive Reads
Read the running back pre-snap, if he stays in to block your mugged linebacker you need to win with a swim or speed rush move immediately off the snap. Watch the single deep safety alignment, if he is shaded to one side of the field that tells you which vertical shot the offense is more likely to test against your man coverage. Post-snap, key the quarterback's eyes for a hot route beater against your blitz, quick slants or stick routes into the vacated blitz lane are the fastest way offenses counter this call. This play gets shut down by quick game concepts like snag or spot that get the ball out before your rush arrives, so if you see bunch or stack formations pre-snap consider checking to a coverage call instead. Trust your man corners on the outside since they have no help underneath, if you see a receiver stemming inside look for a natural pick or rub route designed to spring him open against the blitz.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or short yardage situations where the offense is likely to run or take a quick five step drop, since the extra rusher removes a blocker from picking up the blitz.
Check the offensive formation pre-snap for max protect or heavy personnel, this play struggles if the offense keeps two backs in to chip the mugged linebacker.
User the mugged backer at the snap and manually time your blitz to hit the gap right as the ball is snapped, since a delayed rush lets the tackle or guard climb and pick you up.
Pair this with Cover 1 Hole out of the same 3 3 Single Mug set to disguise your single high look, showing the same shell pre-snap while dropping the extra hole defender instead of blitzing on the next snap.
Avoid calling this on third and long against trips or empty formations, since the one on one man matchups on the perimeter can get isolated and beaten deep if your rush does not get home fast enough.
