Pressure is the defining characteristic of Brian Flores’ defense. And he’s got so many ways that he uses it to put the offense in a seemingly lose-lose situation.
This breakdown will focus on his double-mug 4-man “pick” pressures that helped get the Vikings 2 key sacks in the 4th quarter of a tight Week 3 game against the Buccaneers.
On this first play, with the Vikings leading 17-13, the Buccaneers faced a 3rd-and-2 from their own 24-yard line. Below, you can see the “double-mug” look (linebackers threatening pressure in both A gaps):
You never know if defenders showing pressure in Flores’ scheme are going to rush, drop out, or read the protection and make their decision accordingly. But no matter what, offenses always have to account for potential pressure in the A gaps.
The Bucs chose to handle it here with a 3-man slide to their left to account for one of the A-gap linebackers and two down linemen. That left running back Kenny Gainwell responsible for the linebacker in the A-gap to his side: