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About Football Glossary - Red Dog

From , former About.com Guide

Definition: A defensive strategy in which a linebacker or defensive back vacates his normal responsibilities in order to pressure the quarterback. The object of a red dog is to tackle the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage or force the quarterback to hurry his pass.
Also Known As: blitz
Examples:
When a defensive line is having trouble putting pressure on the quarterback, the defensive coordinator may decide to help them out by sending one or more linebackers or defensive backs on a red dog.
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