Playbooks
Mid Blitz out of Swap Dbl Mug is a five or six man pressure package designed to collapse the pocket up the middle before the offensive line can identify the extra rusher. The Mike and a slot corner or safety run interior blitz lanes off a mugged look at the line, while the secondary rotates into a Cover 1 or Cover 0 shell behind it depending on your pre-snap adjustment. This is a man beater blitz built to win with speed and confusion rather than scheme, so your primary read is simply getting the free rusher home before the quarterback can hit his first read, with the user defender spying the middle of the field as the backup plan if the blitz gets picked up.
Pre-snap, check for the running back's alignment and depth. An offset back to the blitz side often signals he is staying in to chip or block, which can neutralize your interior rush. Look at the offensive line splits. Tight splits usually mean the protection is anticipating pressure and will slide toward the mugged linebackers, so consider a hot route to bring pressure from the opposite edge. Post-snap, key the quarterback's eyes immediately. Against man beater route combos, if he double clutches or resets his feet, your interior rush is close to forcing a bad throw or sack. Watch for hot route adjustments from slot receivers releasing into the middle void. If the blitz does not get home, that void behind the rushed linebackers is the first place a quick slant or drag will hit. This call is vulnerable to quick game and RPOs since the linebackers are crashing downhill immediately. If you diagnose bubble screens or quick outs pre-snap, consider backing off into Cover 3 Sky instead.
Use Mid Blitz on third and medium or third and long when you have confirmed the offense is in a passing personnel package, since the extra rusher only pays off if the quarterback has to hold the ball.
Check the running back pre-snap. If he stays in to block, your interior pressure will likely get picked up, so consider audibling to SS Dog 3 or Blitz Loop 3 instead for a different rush lane.
User the Mike linebacker on the blitz to control the initial rush lane, then be ready to peel off into a shallow zone if you see max protect or a quick game concept like a stick or slant.
Disguise this call by mixing it into a sequence with Cover 3 Match or Cover 1 Games from the same formation so the offense cannot key on your mugged front and diagnose blitz versus zone drop.
Avoid calling this on obvious run downs against heavy personnel, since the blitzers can get sealed on down blocks and give up explosive runs to the perimeter.