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 6 4 2 0 2 4 6 8
9 7 5 4I 3 2I 1 1 2I 3 4I 5 7 9
 What is a 4-2-5 Defense?
3
2 Back Alignment
2

1
2 1

E T N A
B H
S M

RC AC
FS
2 Back = 4-4 Alignment
 What is a 4-2-5 Defense?
3
1 Back Alignment
2 2

1 1

E T N A
RC B S M AC

FS H
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 = LB’s
– Oversized LB’s = Ends
– Oversized Ends = D Tackles
– Biggest D-Lineman = Nose (your anchor)
 Personnel Defined:
3
1 Back Alignment
2 2

1 1

E T N A
RC B S M AC

FS H
 Run Fits with the 4-2-5

ISO STR Direct Flow A

A N T E
H B
Fold M S
Step to Stack
Full Flow

F
 Run Fits with the 4-2-5
ISO WK Direct Flow B

A N T E
H B
M S Fold
Step to Stack
Full Flow

F
 Run Fits with the 4-2-5
POWER O STR Direct Flow C

A N T E
H B
Fold M S Set
Step to Stack
Full Flow Edge
F
 Run Fits with the 4-2-5

OUTSIDE ZONE Fast Flow D

A N T E
H B
Fold M S Set
Edge
F
 Run Fits with the 4-2-5

SPLIT ZONE STR Split Flow

A N T E
H B
Hold M S
Fold Split Flow = No Flow
Hold your Gap F
 Run Fits with the 4-2-5

COUNTER OT STR Counter Flow

A N T E
H B
Hold M S
Fold Rock n Roll
F
 Run Fits with the 4-2-5

INSIDE ZONE 1 Back Flow

A N T E B
M S

H F
 Pass Coverage vs 4-2-5
• Split Coverage vs Full Coverage.
SPLIT Coverage
3
2 2

1 1

E T N A
RC B S M AC

FS H
 Pass Coverage vs 4-2-5
• Split Coverage vs Trips
SPLIT Coverage
2
2 3

1 1

E T N A
AC
RC B S M

FS H

ZONE MAN
 Develop Blitz Concepts
• 6 Man Pressure Package
– Bullets – Both inside LB’s 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

E T N A E T N A
S M S M
 Smokes
• Edge Blitz T-G Pinch Dbl Smoke 0
3

1
1 2
A N T E
AC H B RC
M S
FS

T-G Indian Dbl Lion 0 3 2

QB

2
1 1

B E T N A
H
S M
C C
FS
 Dog
• 4 off Edge Blitz
– TE, Split, Wide, Short, Left, Right, Tag

T-G Army T Dogs B

TB

QB

E T N A
B
H
B GapS M
Contact Information
Clayt Birmingham
University of Wisconsin - Stout
Defensive Coordinator
www.uwstout.edu

E-mail – birminghamc@uwstout.edu