double-a-gap-mug-nfl-offense
double-a-gap-mug-nfl-offense originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Imagine walking up to a poker table and watching two players push all their chips to the middle before the dealer even flips the cards. That's what a double A-gap mug is. A bluff, a bet, and a dare — all at once, except with linebackers.
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Popularized by Mike Zimmer in the early 2010s, the double A-gap mug became a go-to for defensive coordinators who were tired of sitting back and letting opposing offenses dictate everything. The quarterbacks who were well-prepared mentally could show up on game day largely stress free and knowing exactly what to expect.
The result of the game (or at the very least the success of the offense) largely boiled down to execution.
It's a much different game now and this is one of the three most significant ways defensive coordinators are taking things in their own hands.
Here's the setup: two linebackers hover right over the center, lined up directly in the A-gaps (the spaces between the center and each guard). They're just standing there — staring the quarterback down like bodyguards outside the club.
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But here's the kicker: they might blitz.
They might drop back.
One might go while the other stays.
Or they might just force the center to slide protection that way, opening up chaos elsewhere.
It's stress. It's confusion. It's control. And it's why your interior offensive line better be as solid as your blindside tackle.
And how do the Dallas Cowboys combat all of this? Three ways ...
1 - Trust in the intellectual acumen of QB Dak Prescott? Check.
2 - Invest in guard play. Tyler Smith and Tyler Booker? Double-check.
3 - Rely on the creative experience of new head coach Brian Schottenheimer, an offensive mind? We can't "check'' that box yet ... but we are hopeful.
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In today's NFL, pressure doesn't always come off the edge. It comes right up the gut — sometimes disguised, sometimes delayed, and often times deadly. Defenses are no longer passive.
They're aggressive. And that means the offense needs to be aggressive in fighting back.
Related: NFL Is Ever-Evolving And The New Dallas Cowboys Are Changing to Keep Pace
Related: Dak Still Developing' Quote Getting Twisted by Cowboys Haters
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
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