Playbooks
CB Bench Sim 2
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
CB Bench Sim 2 is a simulated pressure package out of the Nickel Load Dbl Mug front that shows a mugged look at the second level before dropping into a two deep zone shell. Both deep defenders bail into deep half responsibilities while the underneath defenders spin into zone drops, including a corner who sinks into a flat or curl zone off the bench technique, and only a portion of the front generates pressure with a corner blitz off the edge. This is a zone coverage disguise built to bait the quarterback into thinking pressure is coming from depth, so the primary read for the defense is to identify whether the quarterback attacks the vacated middle hole or tries to throw hot into the blitzing corner's landmark before the underneath zones settle.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify the mugged linebackers and blitzing corner alignment since offenses will often shift protection or motion to declare the blitz before the snap. Post-snap, watch for the two deep safeties bailing into their halves and squeeze any vertical shots down the seams since that is the primary vulnerability of this shell. This beats quick game and hot route concepts designed to attack straight man pressure because the defense actually rotates into zone coverage underneath. It struggles against smart quarterbacks who recognize the bench technique corner sinking and immediately attack the flat vacated by the blitzing corner. Watch the running back check release on the blitzing corner's side, that is the built-in answer offenses use versus this simulated pressure look.
Usage Tips
Show the mugged second level pre-snap to bait the quarterback into a hot route or sight adjustment before you bail into the two deep shell.
Use this against offenses that love quick game and hitch or curl concepts since the underneath zone rotation clogs those windows immediately.
Mix this with Blitz Loop Sim 3 and Nickel Sim 2 from the same set so quarterbacks cannot key on which simulated pressure look is dropping versus rushing.
Save this for passing downs like 2nd and long or 3rd and medium where offenses expect five or six man pressure and will throw hot into what becomes a manned zone.
Manually spy the running back on the blitzing corner's side after the snap since the corner blitz can be exploited by check downs if you drop too fast into your zone landmark.
