Playbooks

Side Blitz

Nickel·Load Dbl Mug·Big Nickel 4-2-5

Blitz

Quick Reference

FormationNickel

SetLoad Dbl Mug

Personnel

Big Nickel 4-2-52 EDGE2 DT2 MIKE2 CBFS2 SS

In 6 playbooks

Chiefs DefenseDefense Saints DefenseDefense Texans DefenseDefense NFL Live Chiefs DefenseDefense NFL Live Saints DefenseDefense NFL Live Texans DefenseDefense

Breakdown

Side Blitz out of Load Dbl Mug in Nickel is a five man pressure look with two mugged linebackers showing double A gap heat pre snap. The diagram shows all five underneath defenders (three box defenders and two mug backers) firing downfield off the snap while four defenders hang back at depth to play the deep quarters shell, meaning this is a blitz play with man coverage principles behind it rather than a coverage or offensive concept. There is no route progression to read since this is a defensive call, so the "primary read" is your pre snap identification of which mugged backer is actually coming versus dropping to sell the disguise.

Defensive Reads

Pre snap, check if the offense is sliding protection toward the mugged side, which tells you they have identified the blitz and you should consider audibling to a different pressure look in the set. Look at the running back alignment, since a back staying home to block signals the offense expects interior pressure and confirms your disguise is not fully sold. Post snap, this call is most effective against man beater route combos and quick game since the coverage behind the blitz is thin, but it is vulnerable to hot routed slants and screens if the rush does not get immediate pressure. Watch for lurk threats from the deep defenders who are not part of the rush, they need to stay disciplined and not bite on run action or the offense will hit an explosive play behind the blitz. If the quarterback has a fast release or the offense shows quick game splits pre snap, this blitz can get exposed, so save it for down and distance situations where the offense is more likely to hold the ball or drop into a longer route concept.

Usage Tips

Use this on third and medium to long when you need a negative play, since the double mug disguise forces the quarterback to burn a hot route check or eat pressure.

Bait the offense by mixing this call with Cover 1 LB Blitz and LB Blitz 6 from the same set so quarterbacks cannot key on which backer is actually blitzing based on alignment alone.

User the interior mug linebacker closest to the wide open A gap to spy or delay against mobile quarterbacks, then let the scripted five man rush handle the rest.

Pair this with Blitz Loop 0 and Blitz Loop 3 in your call sheet so opponents cannot sit on the same rush lane and slide protection to it every snap.

Avoid calling this against empty formations or heavy shotgun spread with a hot quarterback unless you have a plan to jam the underneath outlet routes, since the quick game can beat the blitz before it develops.