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defense / pressure
A five-man pressure presentation that overloads interior protection while defensive backs play tight man coverage.
Animated assignment view
Both linebackers threaten the A gaps, forcing the protection to account for six potential rushers before the snap.
Ball at the line
How it works
Two linebackers threaten the A gaps and one or both attack at the snap, compressing the quarterback's launch point. Five defenders match eligible receivers with one safety protecting the deepest middle.
Force an immediate protection decision and make the quarterback throw accurately before routes develop.
Extra defenders rush the quarterback while everyone else closely follows one receiver, leaving little time for the play to develop.
The pressure's value is often protection displacement rather than raw numbers; mugged linebackers can force a slide that isolates an edge rusher.
Call structure
Either mugged linebacker can drop while the other rushes, forcing protection to honor a six-man threat even when only five attack.
{
"schema": "openplay-football",
"schemaVersion": "0.1",
"id": "man-pressure",
"slug": "man-pressure",
"name": "Man Pressure",
"side": "defense",
"category": "pressure",
"personnel": {
"id": "dime-personnel",
"name": "Dime",
"grouping": "3 DL, 2 LB, 4 CB, 2 S",
"positionCounts": {
"DL": 3,
"LB": 2,
"CB": 4,
"S": 2
}
},
"formation": {
"id": "double-mug-front",
"name": "Double Mug",
"family": "pressure-front",
"strength": "balanced",
"description": "Two linebackers threaten the interior gaps while five defensive backs align in man leverage."
},
"situationTags": [
"third-down",
"pressure",
"man-coverage"
],
"players": [
{
"id": "le",
"position": "DE",
"label": "E",
"initialCoordinate": {
"x": 20,
"y": 1
},
"alignment": "Left edge",
"side": "defense",
"ratingRole": "passRush"
},
{
"id": "nose",
"position": "DT",
"label": "N",
"initialCoordinate": {
"x": 27,
"y": 1
},
"alignment": "Nose",
"side": "defense",
"ratingRole": "passRush"
},
{
"id": "re",
"position": "DE",
"label": "E",
"initialCoordinate": {
"x": 34,
"y": 1
},
"alignment": "Right edge",
"side": "defense",
"ratingRole": "passRush"
},
{
"id": "will",
"position": "LB",
"label": "W",
"initialCoordinate": {
"x": 25,
"y": 2
},
"alignment": "Left A gap",
"side": "defense",
"ratingRole": "passRush"
},
{
"id": "mike",
"position": "LB",
"label": "M",
"initialCoordinate": {
"x": 29,
"y": 2
},
"alignment": "Right A gap",
"side": "defense",
"ratingRole": "passRush"
},
{
"id": "lcb",
"position": "CB",
"label": "C",
"initialCoordinate": {
"x": 6,
"y": 4
},
"alignment": "Press left",
"side": "defense",
"ratingRole": "manCoverage"
},
{
"id": "ln",
"position": "CB",
"label": "N",
"initialCoordinate": {
"x": 17,
"y": 4
},
"alignment": "Left slot",
"side": "defense",
"ratingRole": "manCoverage"
},
{
"id": "rn",
"position": "CB",
"label": "N",
"initialCoordinate": {
"x": 37,
"y": 4
},
"alignment": "Right slot",
"side": "defense",
"ratingRole": "manCoverage"
},
{
"id": "rcb",
"position": "CB",
"label": "C",
"initialCoordinate": {
"x": 48,
"y": 4
},
"alignment": "Press right",
"side": "defense",
"ratingRole": "manCoverage"
},
{
"id": "match",
"position": "S",
"label": "S",
"initialCoordinate": {
"x": 31,
"y": 7
},
"alignment": "Back matchup",
"side": "defense",
"ratingRole": "manCoverage"
},
{
"id": "free",
"position": "S",
"label": "F",
"initialCoordinate": {
"x": 27,
"y": 15
},
"alignment": "Deep middle",
"side": "defense",
"ratingRole": "zoneCoverage"
},
{
"id": "off-x",
"position": "WR",
"label": "X",
"initialCoordinate": {
"x": 5,
"y": -1
},
"alignment": "Wide left",
"side": "offense"
},
{
"id": "off-h",
"position": "WR",
"label": "H",
"initialCoordinate": {
"x": 17,
"y": -2
},
"alignment": "Left slot",
"side": "offense"
},
{
"id": "off-y",
"position": "TE",
"label": "Y",
"initialCoordinate": {
"x": 36,
"y": -2
},
"alignment": "Right slot",
"side": "offense"
},
{
"id": "off-z",
"position": "WR",
"label": "Z",
"initialCoordinate": {
"x": 49,
"y": -1
},
"alignment": "Wide right",
"side": "offense"
},
{
"id": "off-rb",
"position": "RB",
"label": "RB",
"initialCoordinate": {
"x": 31,
"y": -6
},
"alignment": "Backfield",
"side": "offense"
}
],
"preSnap": {
"description": "Both linebackers threaten the A gaps, forcing the protection to account for six potential rushers before the snap.",
"shifts": []
},
"assignments": [
{
"id": "lcb-man",
"playerId": "lcb",
"type": "man-coverage",
"targetPlayerId": "off-x",
"leverage": "inside"
},
{
"id": "left-slot-man",
"playerId": "ln",
"type": "man-coverage",
"targetPlayerId": "off-h",
"leverage": "inside"
},
{
"id": "right-slot-man",
"playerId": "rn",
"type": "man-coverage",
"targetPlayerId": "off-y",
"leverage": "inside"
},
{
"id": "rcb-man",
"playerId": "rcb",
"type": "man-coverage",
"targetPlayerId": "off-z",
"leverage": "inside"
},
{
"id": "back-man",
"playerId": "match",
"type": "man-coverage",
"targetPlayerId": "off-rb",
"leverage": "head-up"
},
{
"id": "left-edge-rush",
"playerId": "le",
"type": "pass-rush",
"path": [
{
"type": "straight",
"to": {
"x": 23,
"y": -7
}
}
],
"technique": "Speed rush"
},
{
"id": "nose-rush",
"playerId": "nose",
"type": "pass-rush",
"path": [
{
"type": "straight",
"to": {
"x": 27,
"y": -6
}
}
],
"technique": "Cross center face"
},
{
"id": "right-edge-rush",
"playerId": "re",
"type": "pass-rush",
"path": [
{
"type": "straight",
"to": {
"x": 31,
"y": -7
}
}
],
"technique": "Speed rush"
},
{
"id": "will-blitz",
"playerId": "will",
"type": "pass-rush",
"path": [
{
"type": "straight",
"to": {
"x": 25,
"y": -6
}
}
],
"technique": "Left A-gap blitz"
},
{
"id": "mike-blitz",
"playerId": "mike",
"type": "pass-rush",
"path": [
{
"type": "straight",
"to": {
"x": 29,
"y": -6
}
}
],
"technique": "Right A-gap blitz"
},
{
"id": "free-middle",
"playerId": "free",
"type": "zone-coverage",
"zone": [
{
"x": 8,
"y": 12
},
{
"x": 46,
"y": 12
},
{
"x": 53,
"y": 35
},
{
"x": 0,
"y": 35
}
],
"responsibility": "Protect the deepest middle against immediate vertical throws."
}
],
"timeline": [
{
"type": "pre-snap",
"atMs": 0
},
{
"type": "snap",
"atMs": 500
},
{
"type": "assignment-start",
"atMs": 520,
"playerId": "will"
},
{
"type": "play-end",
"atMs": 3800
}
],
"narrative": {
"summary": "A five-man pressure presentation that overloads interior protection while defensive backs play tight man coverage.",
"fullExplanation": "Two linebackers threaten the A gaps and one or both attack at the snap, compressing the quarterback's launch point. Five defenders match eligible receivers with one safety protecting the deepest middle.",
"strategicPurpose": "Force an immediate protection decision and make the quarterback throw accurately before routes develop.",
"idealSituations": [
"Third and medium",
"Against empty or spread formations",
"When protection communication is weak"
],
"strengths": [
"Immediate interior stress",
"Tight coverage",
"Can create free rushers"
],
"weaknesses": [
"Screens exploit vacated space",
"Crossing routes beat man leverage",
"Missed tackles become explosive gains"
],
"keyRead": "Rushers attack the protection declaration while man defenders maintain inside leverage and expect a fast throw.",
"watchFor": [
"Both linebackers in the A gaps",
"The center choosing a side",
"Receivers trying to create traffic"
],
"beginnerExplanation": "Extra defenders rush the quarterback while everyone else closely follows one receiver, leaving little time for the play to develop.",
"advancedNote": "The pressure's value is often protection displacement rather than raw numbers; mugged linebackers can force a slide that isolates an edge rusher."
},
"simulation": {
"difficulty": "advanced",
"conceptTags": [
"pressure",
"blitz",
"man-coverage"
],
"baseSuccessRate": 0.53,
"yardRange": {
"min": -18,
"max": 55
},
"turnoverRisk": 0.061
},
"defensiveStructure": {
"front": "Double-mug pressure front",
"personnel": "Dime 3-2-6",
"coverage": "Cover 1 man pressure",
"rushPlan": "Threaten both A gaps and send five rushers, using interior pressure to prevent the quarterback from stepping up.",
"runFits": [
"Interior blitzers attack A gaps",
"Ends squeeze perimeter runs",
"Man defenders replace against their keys",
"Deep safety is emergency support"
],
"disguise": "Either mugged linebacker can drop while the other rushes, forcing protection to honor a six-man threat even when only five attack.",
"strengths": [
"Protection stress",
"Fast pressure",
"Tight release leverage"
],
"weaknesses": [
"Halfback screen",
"Mesh",
"Quarterback escape"
],
"idealSituations": [
"Third and medium",
"Spread formations",
"Known pass"
],
"vulnerableConcepts": [
"halfback-screen",
"mesh",
"slant-flat"
]
}
}