3rd Down Defense 4-2 double mug pressures: Rams, 49ers, Michigan and more!

                                            DOUBLE MUG PRESSURE LOOKS

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.

Here’s a video that goes with the article.

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 clip below

#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.