Ben Bolling, Defensive Asst, Houston Texans
Watch the whole Glazier Drive presentation of Creating a Pressure Package
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MUG AWAY SHOOT Primary pressure where 3-technique takes two steps upfield then goes “up and under” while nickel/overhang fires off edge away from running back. Middle linebacker aligns to back side, forcing center to identify him as “mike” and slide protect that direction, potentially opening A-gap for penetrator.
DISGUISE TECHNIQUES
- Show both overhang players down with safety up for one-high look
- Show backside overhang off (coverage look) while back-side player shows down for “eye candy”
MUG STORM ZERO Same alignment but rush both A-gaps with mike and will linebackers. Post safety shows man coverage then steps down to cover tight end (“3 strong, 2 weak”). Creates 50/50 protection problem – back can’t account for both rushers.
KEY COACHING POINT Primary A-gap rusher must win “away” from his gap since other rusher comes opposite side. Winning inside puts both rushers same side, allowing quarterback escape.
MUG STRONG TWO SWITCH Same presentation dropping into inverted cover-2. Nickel wraps to B-gap with “swipe to boundary” coverage. Can drop defensive end as curl player or substitute fourth linebacker to rush B-gap.
OVERALL PHILOSOPHY System strength is identical pre-snap looks with different post-snap executions, forcing offenses to prepare for multiple possibilities without definitively identifying the call until too late.