The Aranda Creeper System
Simulated Pressures, Replacement Blitzes & The Front Mechanics Behind Them
Master the intricacies of Dave Aranda’s Creeper Package with this comprehensive manual on replacement (Creepers) and Simulated Pressures. Featuring detailed breakdowns of field and boundary concepts like Brady, Brees, and field concepts like Favre, this guide provides the alignment, stunt, and coverage rules needed to execute Aranda’s elite schemes from Peso and Tite fronts.
There is a comprehensive glossary at the end. Use Ctrl+F (search) to look up key terms as you go. In your browser, you'll see dashes to the left; click them and use headers to jump to different sections.
Images are from his 2019 LSU playbook.
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Cheat Sheet
There are several others, but the basic pressure structures are those illustrated in the “Cheat Sheet.” These are the “must-haves” when installing the system. Lastly:
If the OL blocks IN, we rush OUT
If the OL blocks OUT, we rush IN
Deep Dive Manual
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PRESSURE: WIZARD 4
The Core Concept A simulated pressure from a Tite Front that sends the Boundary OLB (B) while dropping the Field OLB (F) into coverage.
1. ALIGNMENT
Front: Tite Front (404).
2. THE BLITZER
Who: The Boundary OLB (B-Backer).
Technique: “Read It”.
The Read: Read the Offensive Tackle.
Tackle Sets TO You: Bend back to the Near A-Gap.
Tackle Slides AWAY: Come off his butt (Edge Rush).
3. COVERAGE
Base: Quarters (Split Safety).
Field Creepers
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PRESSURE: FAVRE 3
The Core Concept A 4-Under / 3-Deep Creeper from the Field. It overloads the field side by blitzing the Nickel and rushing the Field DE/OLB, while dropping the Boundary OLB to simulate a traditional four-man rush from a non-traditional angle.
1. ALIGNMENT
Front: Nickel, Peso, or Bear.
Structure: Field-focused overload look.
2. THE BLITZER
Who: The Nickel (Field Overhang).
Technique: “Bullet”.
Run Fit:
RB To Bullet = QB to Dive.
RB Away from Bullet = Dive to QB.
3. THE RUSH (”STUNTS”)
Field DE/OLB: “Track” (Loops inside).
Field DT/Nose: “Arrow” (Slants out to field).
Boundary DE/DT: “Hot” (Slants to field).
Simulated Drop: The Boundary OLB (B) drops into coverage (Weak Flat/Curl).
4. COVERAGE
Base: Cover 3 (3 Deep / 4 Under).
Rotation: “Sky” (Safety rotates down to the Field).
Field Corner: Plays “L/M” (Low/Match or Lock/Man).
Checks:
“Gone”: Check vs. normal/wide splits; uses MCD rules.
“Go”: Alert for LBs to account for the Safety in the box for run fits.
“Panther” tag if using a Nickel that travels to the passing strength, or a “Blitz-the-Formation” (BTF) to get the edge pressure to the passing strength, even if the formation is into the boundary. Can be paired with Brees.
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MatchQuarters Conversion:
Resources:
