Playbooks
CB Bench Sim 2 is a simulated pressure package out of the Nickel 4-2-5 personnel in the Swap Dbl Mug set. Pre-snap it shows a double mug look at the second level to threaten a five or six man blitz, but at the snap the defense drops a cornerback into an underneath zone while sending an interior rusher on a delayed loop, creating a simulated pressure disguise. The primary read progression for a defender or user player is to identify the mugged linebackers first, confirm the simulated drop of the CB into the shallow zone, then work through the underneath curl or flat zone before checking deep for any post-snap rotation into a two deep or three deep shell.
Read the double mug alignment pre-snap and note that both linebackers are showing blitz, which forces the quarterback into a fast pre-snap decision. Post-snap, key the cornerback who bails into the underneath zone rather than blitzing, since this is the tell that separates this call from true sim pressure. This play beats quick game concepts, shallow crossers, and hot route throws designed to attack a blitz look because the CB drop sits right in those windows. It is vulnerable to deep shots and vertical route combos if the safety rotation is slow, so watch for four verticals or deep comebacks attacking the space behind the dropping corner. Man beater route combos with immediate breaks can exploit this if the offensive line picks up the delayed interior loop cleanly, so track the loop rusher's timing to know if extra pressure is actually coming.
Show this look on early downs when you want to bait the offense into thinking a heavy blitz is coming while still playing sound zone coverage underneath.
Use the double mug pre-snap alignment to disguise which gap or rusher the sim pressure is actually sending, then confirm your CB drop assignment before the snap resets.
Pair this call with Blitz Loop 3 or Blitz Loop Sim 3 in the same set so the offense cannot key on mugged alignment alone, since some calls bring real pressure and others drop into zone.
Against spread formations with three or four wide receivers, this play is effective on third and medium because the underneath CB drop can jump shallow crossers and quick outs.
User the mugged linebacker who shows blitz but drops into a shallow zone to jump hot route conversions and RPO quick game throws before the quarterback commits.