This article looks specifically at double mug looks and how they cause problems with protections. The defense is hoping for full slide protection which means the line slides one way and the back is responsible for the defensive end. This creates a favorable matchup. You see more full slide protections in college than the nfl level as in the NFL they don't like to put the RB vs. the defensive end in protection.
The NFL will take one of the mug linebackers with the running back. They call it half man protection because they don't want this mismatch.
From a coverage standpoint, you can play any defense you want from these looks. You can also play some cover 2, 2 man which is nice because the mug look often forces teams to go 6 man protection and keep the back in. I think this allows you to play more cover 2 man and even send 5(blitz engage principle) and leave the hook open in 2x2 situations.
so for the article we will focus mostly on the protection issues the mug looks cause.
First lets look at the 2 protections you will see when blocking these looks.
FULL SLIDE PROTECTION
Here's 2 examples of Iowa State vs Louisiana-Lafayette. The protection is full slide on 2 of the clips below. The first time they get a hit on the qb, the next time Iowa State gets the sack.
Both times it was show and bail and rush 4, but they got the protection they wanted.
#1 They show pressure but bail on the snap. The RB is forced in a 1x1 situation against the running back and the RB whifs and they get the sack against the qb.
Force the slide
Get 1x1 RB on DE
#2 The same protection as the tackle tries to help late but to no avail as the de #9 comes clean and gets the sack. Nice job and execution by the Cyclones. Again, they force the matchup and get the sack.
They play cover 2 with the double mug look and get great pressure.
They bail with the inside linebackers again and La full slides.
DE on the RB
Pressure gets home.
The Titans used a similar concept 2x vs the Jaguars. They get an interception.
Scheme: Mug B gap but drop both LB. The Titans engage their 2 ILB and then drop them into the hook. It's successful as Lawrence doesn't see the Rat defender and gets a nice pick. They ran it because they knew the Jaguars were a full slide team in protection. Nice design and interception. The late drops causes issues.
They get the LBs engaged and drop them into slant windows.
Pressure leads to interception.
Man Protections
The most basic protection you will see in the NFL is 1/2 man protection.They don't trust a rb to block a de. The center will go to one side with the RB assigned to the mug lb. Sometimes the rb will have a double read but he has to block the inside 1st then outside. Below you see the 1/2 man concept. The Jets block big on big , man to the left and bring the center right to the other side. The other thing the pros will do is throw hot off the sam or outside pressure that may come. Without getting too complicated, this is a protection you will see in the pros.
RB and center are responsible for the 2 inside linebackers. Some teams like the Bears above will walk the RB up into the A gap.
RB steps up inside.
LB gets pressures #34 right away with the mug look.
Mug Cross Dogs!
Dolphins run a mug cross dog and it can cause confusion.
It acts as a pic play with the LB.
Here's what the 1/2 man concept looks like. Center makes a right call. Takes the lb on the right side. RB has the LB to the left side.
Here is the protection again but the Rams are one of those teams that will walk the RB into the gap and slide the center the other way. Here they make the right call but the OT doesn't get off and the sam LB comes clean. Goff should have been sacked but escapes the pressure. They play half coverage to the field and 1/4 to the boundary. Excellent design by the 49ers.
The pressure is a slot pressure!
Good disguise and cover 24.
They decide to swap the blitz and who is coming.
Sam comes free as the tackle never gets out.
Nice design
OVERLOAD PRESSURES
One of the most common pressure schemes you will see is 4 to a side pressures. Often times teams will try to send 4 depending on what they expect from the back. Here is a great example of this concept by the Vikings in 2019 vs. The Cardinals.
Zimmer made a living with these for years.
They send 4 to the weak side.
6 man pressures
the Vikings go 6 man with a read it concept. If the guard steps to you as a LB you bail and help underneath. It is a cover 0 concept on the backend. Nice design and scheme by Coach Zimmer.
Here is the look below
The Dolphins run a 6 man pressure against the Jets. With Frank Gore in the game, they decide to bring the pressure inside. Once he steps up the DE's dont have to peel and they get a great rush. They play man free on the back. end. Gore steps up to block, rush.
They run a 2 man game with the mug linebackers. They cause confusion and Gore takes one but knocks the center off so he can't help.
Nice game catches the Jets
On 3rd and 12. They show again and only send 5. This time the Jets somewhat pick up the pressure but the E and Tackle stunt gets home. Lewis gets beat by the defensive end and the help is too late with the rb.
The earlier pressure forces the Jets to go max protection.
The Dolphins bail and only bring 4 players. They essentially get 2x1 to the weakside and 4x2 to the strong side as they are playing 1/4, 1/4 , 1/2. Nice design but understand that sending 6 earlier got the Jets nervous, they go max and the Dolphins make them pay by only sending 4 and still getting home.
The game causes confusion with the LB blowing up the a gap.
The guard doesn't get off.
The looper flushes Flacco out of the pocket.
Nice design by Boyer and the Dolphins.
Good coverage downfield. No place to go.
Bengals Cross Dog
The Bengals run a similar blitz vs the Broncos in 2021. On a key 3rd and 5 they run a cross dog with their 2 LBs. They get the first LB to occupy both the center and the RB and the looper gets free.
Nice route by the Broncos
Pocket collapses before they get home.
Nice game inside with the 2 ILB
Nice stunt and the game.
Dolphins vs Rams.
Here the Dolphins go double b gap look ? Why double B, you force a slide protection and the end comes free. It's man free coverage on the back end.
They ran this pressure the first 2 times in the Ram game. One incomplete, one interception. The Rams have no other choice than to slide left or right because they are in empty. They feel they can match up with the Rams and they get great pressure.
Vikings
Vikings go double mug run a game and bring 4 to the formation.
Nice design with 3 under 3 deep coverage.
Vikings #2
Vikings bring 6 vs the Texans and play combo/man. They bring 2 off the edge and drop #90 the ILB. The Mike and the SS combo the TE and the #2 WR. Great job and pressure scheme designed by Zimmer.
They drop the Mike but still bring 6 with man free coverage
They get the free rusher home!
The aggressive combo coverage takes away the inside routes by 2 and 3 and Watson has no where to go with the football.
looks like 2 under 3 deep.
These are just some of the schemes and pressures you will see from mug pressure looks. Check back more for some other pressures and schemes.
Here is my youtube video that goes with the clip!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5qPKzISlJ4
Bills vs Steelers.
The Bills used 4-2-5 mug looks vs the Steelers in week 15. The Steelers were o of 7 vs Bills and the Bills got pressure several times. They sacked Big Ben 1x , got 2 interceptions with 1 for a td and also had 2 hits on him. They mixed it up but did an excellent job dropping def lineman underneath to take away the slants and short in routes the Steelers love.
Here are all 7 clips:
3RD AND 3 PATRIOTS VS TITANS.
Patriots show pressure but go cover 2 on the time of the snap with 6 underneath defenders.
Confusion leads to the coverage sack.
Michigan State uses it vs Pitt in the Peach bowl. Michigan State gives the appearance of sending 6 but drop the ilb and he gets the interception. The coverage was cover 0 with a rat lb. They do a nice job of selling the 6 man protection and getting the free rusher home. The rat Lb also gets the pick after faking pressure. Nice design by Mel Tucker and staff.
Dolphins vs Rams:
The Dolphins ran a 6 man pressure early in the game twice out of base personnel early in the game and the Rams checked to their quick passing game but get a pick later in the game by dropping the def lineman with the appearance of the same pressure.
6 man pressure- Man Coverage, cover 0
The 1st example is man to man and bring 6. Teams will bring double mug looks and mug the a or b gap with the linebackers.
Here the Dolphins go double b gap look ? Why double B, you force a slide protection and the end comes free.
They ran this pressure the first 2 times in the Ram game. One incomplete, one interception.
Here's a Bills mug pressure from a 3 hands look.
They mug the A and B with the LB while playing 3 tech and 5 tech on the other side. Very effective as the rb gets confused in protection. Guard takes the LB, the other bails, but the RB doesn't pick up the edge DB rushing.
Edge Db comes free, Guard and RB both take the LB,(RB probably on a dual read)
Tua gets sacked as he has no chance.
Film with the analysis above:
Wide Copy
TIte copy
The Giants run a 4 man pressure from a double mug look. They bring the sam and the play side LB on a delayed blitz. great design by coach Wink Martindale on 3rd down. Sam #39 and Mike #24 come thru the b gap with the DE opposite the pressure dropping.
Hope you enjoyed all the different mug looks and pressure packages off it.
