4-2-5 Resource Guide

Here are some good resources for coaches interested in 4-2-5 Defense

4-2-5 Articles here on Blitzology

Stuff from:
TCU here and here
Boise State here and here
Baylor here
Villanova here
Willamette here

If you are looking for a history lesson or you hybrid your 4-2-5 into a 4-4 you should definitely check out the old Virginia Tech stuff here and here.

Attacking BOB with the 3-4 part 1

This post will focus on attacking BOB protection when the offense has assigned both inside linebackers to the offensive line.

The first and simplest pressure plan vs. this protection is to rush both OLBs. Blitzing both should get the offense to throw hot.

The next strategy to attack this protection is to move 1 or both of the DEs to a 4i (inside shade) alignment on the OT.

 

Here the LT has the 4i DE 1 on 1. The DE is aligned inside and is on an inside pass rush. This creates a difficult block for the LT. This same pressure can be run as a 4 man rush with the LILB buffing pressure at or near the LOS in the A gap to hold the LG from helping with the 4i DE then bailing to coverage.

Another variation:

The Mike and Bob bluffing pressure holds the guards long enough for the inside pass rush by the DEs. The Nose jabs and loops for contain. After running this pressure once or twice the guards may decide to help with the Ends quickly as they see the inside backers drop. You can compliment this pressure with a bail and go concept which was previously discussed with video here.

The Mike walks up pre-snap to attract the guard's attention. Post-snap the Mike will start to bail then blitz the A gap. The coverage needs to be adjusted to a 3 under 3 deep because it is now a 5 man pass rush.

Another strategy involves using inside linebackers as outside pass rushers.

This pressure is just like the traditional NCAA blitz but with the two inside linebackers blitzing instead. The end is long sticking to the A gap. To pick it up the center must pass the Nose to the Guard and pick up the long stick. The guard must pass off the long stick to the center. The Tackle must pass off the long stick and pick up the edge blitzer. That is a high degree of difficulty for a single blitz. If the offense is able to pick up this pressure you can increase the degree of difficulty by adding a twist by the Nose and away side DE.

The jab and loop by the Nose helps keep the center from getting involved blitz side and creates a 2 on 1 vs. the guard (long stick and inside blitzer). Meanwhile the away side guard and tackle must handle a twist in man protection which always requires good technique and communication. Either of these pressures can be run with a 3 under 3 deep or a 4 under 2 deep coverage behind it.

More strategies for attacking BOB protection are on the way in the forthcoming posts. 

Good Reading

Two posts on the RUNCODHIT blog about Defending Bunch Formations and more info on the TCU coverage package vs. 3x1 sets.

A post from Brophy's blog about offensive game planning philosophy from Brian Billick. Always good to glean something about how the other side is thinking. I believe defensive breakdown and game plan for offensive openers (game, 2nd half, and of drives) is an under used planning opportunity for defenses.

And a book I just finished reading Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell. The book explores why people succeed and is a fascinating easy read.

TE and Dual Read OL in Pass Protection

I have received comments and e-mails pointing out the fact that I have not discussed the role of a TE or Dual read offensive linemen in pass protection schemes. I chose to focus on the basic version of protections in order to address the schemes coaches are most likely to see. As time goes by there will be posts on ways to deal with and attack the dual read of OL. Also the usage of TE in both zone and man scheme blocking as well as slam release schemes will be covered in the future at some point. First and foremost, I want to complete the series on 3-4 vs. BOB protection.

Blitz of the Week #11

Sorry for the lack of posting lately. I have been busy working camps. This week's Blitz of the Week is an X blitz by both inside linebackers in a 3-4 with fire zone coverage.

The timing and spacing of the Inside Linebackers and the Nose are the critical coaching points to this pressure.

• Ends - Contain Rush
• Nose - Weak Wide A Gap (Get to the inside Leg of the Guard)
• Mike - Walk up on LOS pre-snap (outside leg of the Guard, depth at the heels of the DL). Post snap dance (chop feet at LOS) with the guard then come tight of the Bob's butt once he clears. Blitz the midline
• Bob - Time is up and blitz the Opposite Wide A (Get to inside leg of the Guard). Hit the blitz at speed when the ball is snapped
• Sam & Will - Seam
• FS - 3RH
• SS - Middle 1/3
• Corners - Outside 1/3

This blitz is most effective vs. offenses with wider splits.

vs. 1/2 slide

If the slide is going to the blitz the Center is in a bind as the Nose goes away the blitzing Bob shows up in the A gap area the Center is responsible for in the slide. This is where the Bob must work to the widest part of the A gap to pull the Center out wider. The Mike should attract the attention of the Guard with his alignment and the dance. If the Bob is timed up on his blitz, the Mike should have a clean run on the midline. If the slide is going opposite the blitz the Center is stretched with the Nose and the Mike should have the same open rush on the midline.

vs. BOB this blitz can be effective vs. all three types of BOB mentioned in the previous post. If the 2 inside linebackers are the responsibility of the OL the Center and Guard must handle a difficult twist by the blitzers. If the OL is responsible for 1 inside and 1 outside the protection is just like the 1/2 slide example. Lastly, if the OL has both the outside linebackers the blitz will force a hot throw.

This blitz can be used successfully vs. zone read as well. If the blitz is opposite the alignment of the back the center must block the blitzing Bob linebacker in the inside zone scheme. The blitz of the Bob linebacker and the block of the Center should push the Bob into the initial path of the back which should cause the RB to cutback. If the Mike has done his job he should be coming over the top at the same time the RB is cutting back and be unblocked to make the tackle.

This blitz can also easily be converted to a 4 under 2 deep pressure.

 

Understanding BOB vs. the 3-4

In the earlier post on understanding BOB protection (here) the focus was on 4 man (even) front defenses. Now the focus will shift to 3 man (odd) front defenses. As previously discussed the offensive line in a BOB protection vs. an even front must declare a "Mike" and account for the 4 down linemen and the "Mike" in protection. Similarly, versus an odd front defense the offensive line must account for the 3 down linemen and 2 linebackers. Which 2 LBs the offensive line is responsible for depends on the offensive philosophy. The 2 linebackers can be the 2 inside, 1 inside & 1 outside, or both outside.

In this example the offensive line is responsible for the two inside linebackers. This creates a 3 for 3 scenario for the Guards and Center vs. ILBs and the Nose. The backs are responsible for the outside linebackers.

Here the LG, C, and RG have the two ILBs and the Nose.

If the offense went to a one back formation the single back would have a dual read on both outside linebackers.

The second BOB scheme the offense can use vs. the 3-4 is to have the offensive line responsible for 1 inside linebacker and 1 outside linebacker.

 

In this scenario the offense has a 4 for 4 match up vs. the defense (LT, LG, C & RT for Left DE, NOSE, LOLB, & LILB). This protection scheme shares many similarities to 1/2 slide protection. The RT is manned up and the 2 backs have the RILB and ROLB. If the formation is single back the one back would have a dual read on the ILB to Outside linebacker.

The third protection option for BOB teams is to assign the offensive line both outside linebackers.

   

The OGs and OTs are working together for the DEs and OLBs, the Center has the Nose and the backs are on the ILBs. If it were a single back formation the one back would have a dual read on the two inside linebackers. For more information on this version of BOB be sure to check out posts on Brophy's Blog here and here.

The first step to attacking BOB with the 3-4 is determining which 2 linebackers the OL are responsible for and which ones the backs are responsible for. The up coming post will focus on each of the three versions of BOB and strategies for attacking them.

Blitz of the Week #10

The 10th installment of Blitz of Week comes from Coach Saban's 2001 LSU playbook. Over Python (page 156) is a 7 or 8 man pressure adjusted based on the backfield set.

The front is set with the 3 technique and Sam to the TE.

Vs. an I backfield.

• Call End - Heavy 9 technique, Bull*
• Tackle - B gap
• Nose - A gap
• Away End - Bull
• Sam - Key Blitz** the TB or near back
• Mike - Man FB in an I backfield
• Will - Key Blitz TB/Near back
• SS - Key Blitz TB/ Near back
• FS - Man TE
• Corners - Man receivers

*Bull (page 133) - "(2 Gap) Power the Tackle Alert for Screen"

** Key (page 135) - "Peel on Back"

This blitz overloads the offense. The three blitzers share man responsibilities on the TB.

The TB is accounted for if releases strong (SS), middle (Sam), or weak (Will).

Over Python adjusts if the backfield is not the I.

Vs. Near I the check is "Plus"

The Plus check tells the SS, Mike, and Will to handle the key blitzes. The Sam has the offset FB. The away End is no longer Bull technique he is now Lion technique. Lion (page 139) = "Alert for flare back".

Vs. I Far and Split backs the check is Reno.

The Reno check gives both Ends the Bull technique. The Mike and Will key blitz the offset (near) back while the SS and Sam key blitz the TB. The same principle is applied to split backs.

Vs. 1 back sets the check is Cop

In the Cop check the Away End is a Jam technique. Jam (page 131) = Inside move to the B gap. The Sam and Will are outside while the Mike blitzes the call side A gap. All three are key blitzing the single back. The safeties adjust to the extra receiver.

The key blitz concept can be incorporated to any style of defense. The key concept allows for max pressure as well as being able to handle routes/screens by the RB. Also the Bull technique Ends can make getting the OT out to block for receiver screens more difficult.