Playbooks
Mid Blitz out of the 3-3 Swap Dbl Mug set is a middle pressure package designed to overload the interior of the offensive line with a double mug look at the second level. Both mugged linebackers threaten the A and B gaps, and the defense sends a interior blitz through the middle while the secondary rotates into a man or zone shell behind it depending on your pre-snap adjustment. The primary read for the blitzer is the running back: if he stays in to chip or block, the free rusher continues to the quarterback, but if he leaks out to the flat, the defense needs a linebacker or safety to account for him in coverage.
Watch the running back at the snap since he is the key to whether the interior rush gets home clean or gets picked up. Read the quarterback's eyes immediately after the snap, since Mid Blitz creates natural pressure on quick game and can force an early or inaccurate throw over the middle. Identify if the offense is in a spread empty backfield look before the snap, since without a back to chip the rushers this play wins fast against empty formations. Beware of screens and RPO checks that attack the vacated middle linebacker zones, since sending extra rushers up the gut leaves natural voids against quick bubble or now screens to the perimeter. Against man protection schemes with a strong center anchor, this blitz can get picked up cleanly, so be ready to drop into the Cover 3 Match or Tampa 2 shell from this same set if the interior rush stalls out.
Bring this look on early down and distance or third and medium when you expect the offense to call a quick game or shotgun spread concept that relies on protection identification.
Disguise the mug alignment before the snap by walking the linebackers up late so the quarterback cannot get a clean pre-snap blitz read.
Pair Mid Blitz with SS Dog 3 and Blitz Loop 0 in the same set so the offense sees similar mugged shells but gets different pressure angles and coverage rotations behind it.
Hot route your slot corner or nickel defender into a shallow zone if you see a fast motion or trips bunch look, since the interior blitz can leave that void exposed to option routes.
Use this on a passing down when the offense has shown a tendency to check into hot routes against pressure, since Mid Blitz forces quick decisions and can bait a bad throw into a lurking underneath defender.