4-2-5 Defense

Clayt Birmingham University of Wisconsin Stout Defensive Coordinator USA National Team Linebackers Coach

Gaps & Techniques

Gap Responsibility Defined

D C B A A B C D
Lineman Techniques of Alignment

8 9

6
7

0
1

4
7

6
9

5 4I 3 2I 1

2I 3 4I 5

What is a 4-2-5 Defense?

2 Back Alignment
1 2 1 3 2

T S

N M

A H AC

RC FS

2 Back = 4-4 Alignment

What is a 4-2-5 Defense?

1 Back Alignment
2 1 3

2 1

E RC B

T S

A M AC

FS

1 Back = 4-3 Alignment

Why Play the 4-2-5?

Nickel Defense = Fast & Aggressive Cross between a 4-4 and a 4-3 Easy adjustment to Formations / Personnel Gap Controlled Defense with easy defined run fits. Good Blitz Angles Good angles to set the edge! Allows us to run split coverage defense. Allows us to get to a 4-4, 4-3, 3-3, & 3-4 with same personnel.

What Personnel is Needed?

If Speed WINS then Design your defense for Speed =
Aggressive Corners = Safeties Stiff Safeties = LBs Oversized LBs = Ends Oversized Ends = D Tackles Biggest D-Lineman = Nose (your anchor)

Personnel Defined:
1 Back Alignment
2 1 3

2 1

E RC B

T S

A M AC

FS

Run Fits with the 4-2-5

ISO STR

Direct Flow A

A H
Fold

N M
Step to Stack Full Flow

T S F

E B

Run Fits with the 4-2-5

ISO WK

Direct Flow B

A H M

N S
Step to Stack Full Flow

E B
Fold

Run Fits with the 4-2-5

POWER O STR

Direct Flow C

A H
Fold

N M
Step to Stack Full Flow

T S F

E B
Set Edge

Run Fits with the 4-2-5

OUTSIDE ZONE

Fast Flow D

A H
Fold

N M S

E B
Set Edge

Run Fits with the 4-2-5

SPLIT ZONE STR

Split Flow

A H
Hold Fold

N M S

E B

Split Flow = No Flow Hold your Gap F

Run Fits with the 4-2-5

COUNTER OT STR

Counter Flow

A H
Hold Fold

N M S

E B

Rock n Roll

Run Fits with the 4-2-5

INSIDE ZONE

1 Back Flow

A M H

N S

Pass Coverage vs 4-2-5

Split Coverage vs Full Coverage.
SPLIT Coverage
3 2 1 2 1

E RC B

T S

A M AC

FS

Pass Coverage vs 4-2-5

Split Coverage vs Trips
SPLIT Coverage
2 2 1 3 1

E RC B FS

T S

N M

AC

ZONE

MAN

Develop Blitz Concepts

6 Man Pressure Package
Bullets Both inside LBs Blitz (Sam / Mike) Smokes Double Edge Blitz (Baron / Hornet) Dogs 4 off Edge Blitz (LB / Safety)

5 Man Pressure Package

Zone Blitz Field and Boundary Blitzes Pressure 5 Cover 1

Bullets
LBer Pressure in some way. End & Attack = Expect QB to try to leave pocket.
Outlaw Indian Bullets B
T-G Out Bullets A/O 1 2

T S M

T S

N M

Smokes
Edge Blitz
T-G Pinch Dbl Smoke 0
3 2 1 1 2

AC

A M

T S

RC

FS

T-G Indian Dbl Lion 0

2 1

QB

B C FS

E S

N M

H C

Dog
4 off Edge Blitz
TE, Split, Wide, Short, Left, Right, Tag T-G Army T Dogs B

TB

QB

E
BGap

T S

N M

A H

Contact Information
Clayt Birmingham
University of Wisconsin - Stout Defensive Coordinator www.uwstout.edu
E-mail birminghamc@uwstout.edu