Playing a 4-2-5 Defense

Lee-Davis High School

Confederate Football
Jason Meade Head Football Coach
Lee-Davis High School meade@leedavisfootball.com 804.513.2460 www.leedavisfootball.com

Chuck Noll
Head Coach Pittsburg Steelers 1969 - 1991

If you want to win, do the ordinary things better than anyone else does day in and day out. Were not going to fool people or outscheme them. Were just going to out play them. Because well know what were doing. When we get into a critical situation, we wont have to think. Well play fast and fundamentally sound.

BUILD
The deeper the foundation, the stronger the individual
This applies to life, academics, and football

The goal is for each player to be at his best on the final play of his football career
We will build on each rep, drill, practice, and game Constant improvement

BUILD
The product of our profession is BUILDING successful lives The byproduct of our profession is winning football games
The little things make this possible

Our role as coaches is to take our players to a level that was not possible for them to achieve on their own

Team Defense
Desire Relentless pursuit Team Defense
Know your role, understand your fits Control what you can control

Defensive Standards:
1. 2. 3. 4. Intelligent Hostile Tough Relentless

Pack Mentality Takeaways Spill Everything Great Angles (Inside out)

4 -2 -5
Started as an answer to two TE formations
Allowed us to be balanced

Allows us to be multiple
Even Front Under Front Odd Front

Allows us to get 9 players involved in the run game

Our #1 Goal is to stop the Run

Allowed up to keeps thing simple

4 -2 -5
STOP THE RUN We always work to get both Inside Linebackers on the playside
B Gap and a Free Hitter Run to daylight

We always want to force the pass deep and outside

Corners play with inside leverage

Principles of Pursuit

Accountability
We will be accountable to each other. All members of the defensive team will develop tremendous pride in the great effort that they give on every play.

Respect
Intense effort will bring about a sense of respect and accomplishment from within. This will create a bond between you and your teammates that is built on mutual respect, and these feelings will permeate through our defensive unit.

Aggressive attitude
There is no question that intense effort leads to an aggressive style of play. We will take tremendous pride in swarming to the football. This will have an intimidating effect on the ball carrier. Nothing is more demoralizing to a ball carrier than having to un-pile from under five defenders after every play, with the other six defenders forming a wall around him.

Confidence
The blend of accountability, respect, and aggressive play will lead to a strong synergy within our defense. The combination of these qualities will lead to success and with success comes confidence.

Base Package
Fronts
Base 4-2-5 Under Under Front Stack 3-3 Stack

Coverages
Cover 3 Robber Cover 4 / Double Robber Cover 1 / 0 Cover 3 Roll (Strong)

Tags
G X Wide UP

Disguises
Buzz Sugar Prowl Move

Stunts and Blitzes

Gaps
A B

Q Y D C B A A B C D

Lucky Call

Techniques
A B

Q Y T G G T Y

9 6i 5 4i 3 2i 6 4 2
1

0
1

2i 3 4i 5 6i 9 2 4 6

Communication
There is no huddle Everyone looks for the signals
Mike may echo the call to the front
Moving away from this practice

Dog will give the Down and Distance

Stud will make a RODGER or LUCKY call

The strength is determined by the TE If there is no TE, then to the side with the most recievers If it is balanced, usually a LUCKY call
Strength may be based on the back

There is no separate passing-strength call

Base

Base
vs. Pro
A B

Z Y

Q X

J 3x3 C 1x7

E 6i

T 2i S 30 D 8-10

N 2i M 30

A 5

R 4x3 C 1x7

Lucky Call

Base Responsiblities
End and Axe
6i or 5, C Gap, Chase into the line, Dive, O/S Rush lane - Contain pass rusher Axe may cock

Tackle and Nasty

2i, A Gap, Chase into the line, Dive, I/S Rush lane

Jack and Rover

3x3 or 4x3, Force Player, Fold for Cutback-BootReverse, Pitch

Stud and Mike

30, toes at 4, B Gap, Free Hitter, QB, Based on Coverage

Corner
1x7, inside
Depth depends on ability

Dog
7-8 yards deep

Base
vs. Pro
A B

Z Y

Q X

C Secondary Force

J D Force

E C S B

T A

N A M B

A C

R D Force C Secondary Force

D Alley

Lucky Call

Base
vs. Spread
Q A

Z Y

H X

J 3 x Apex C 1x7

E 5

T 2i S 30

N 2i M 30

A 5

R 3 x Apex C 1x7

D 10

Lucky Call

Base 3 vs Option
Base responsibilities:
Tackle and Nasty Dive End and Axe Dive (Spill everything) Stud and Mike QB Jack and Rover Pitch Dog QB to Pitch, Fit-in Corners Secondary/Late Pitch

Responsibilities change with the coverage

Base 3
Run Fits and Pursuit Angles
A B

Force Secondary Force

Alley

E S

N M

A R

J C

C
Deep Pursuit Angle

Lucky Call

Base G
A B

Z Y

Q X

J 3x3 C 1x7

E 6i

T 3 2i S 30 D 8-10

N 2i M 30

A 5

R 3x4 C 1x7

Lucky Call

Base X
A B

Z Y

Q X

J 3x3 C 1x7

E 6i

T 2i S 30 D 8-10

N 2i 3 M 30

A 5

R 3x4 C 1x7

Lucky Call

Base Wide
A B

Z Y

Q X

J 3x3 C 1x7

E 6i

T 3 2i S 30 D 8-10

N 2i 3 M 30

A 5

R 3x4 C 1x7

Lucky Call

Under

Under
vs. Pro
A B

Z Y

Q X

J 9

E 5 S 30

T 1

N A 3 Loose M 20
5

R 4x3 C 1x7

C 1x7 D 8-10

Lucky Call

Under
vs. 3R
A B

Z Y

Q X

J 3 x Apex

E 5 S 30

T 1

N A 3 Loose M 20
5

R 4x3 C 1x7

C 1x7

D 8-10

Lucky Call

Stack
vs. Spread
B Q Z Y A X

J 3 x Apex C 1x7

E 5 S 40

N 0 B 00

A 5 M 40

R 3 x Apex C 1x7

D 10

Lucky Call

Blitzes
COMMUNICATION IS KEY Practice versus cans and bags Teach the linebackers to blitz a 1/3 of a man
Dip and Rip Body Positon

Run mostly with 3 (Cover 3)

Base Stud 3
Lucky Call
A B Z Q Y X

E J C
C/F

A R

M C
C/F

Stud
Hook

1/3 1/3

1/3

Base Mike 3
Lucky Call
A B Z Q Y X

E J C
C/F

A R

Mike
Hook

C
C/F

1/3 1/3

1/3

Base Sam 3
Lucky Call
A B Z Q Y X

E J C
C/F

A R

Stud

Mike
C
C/F

1/3 1/3

1/3

Base Guts 3
Lucky Call
A B Z Q Y X

E J C
C/F

A R

Guts
2nd

Guts
1st C/F

1/3 1/3

1/3

Base Jack 3
Lucky Call
A B Z Q Y X

E J

A R

Jack
C

M C
C/F

H/C

H/C

1/3 1/3

1/3

Base Jack Man

Lucky Call
B A Q Y X Z

E J C
#1 Str

A R

Bump Jack

#2 Wk

Back Go
D
#2 Str

Back

C
#1 Wk

Bump Communicate

Base Rover 3
Lucky Call
A B Z Q Y X

E J C
C/F H/C

A R

Rover
C

H/C

1/3 1/3

1/3

Base Junior Man

Lucky Call
A B Z Q Y X

E J C
#1 Str

A R

Share Backs

Jack

Rover
C
#1 Wk

D
#2 Str

Communicate
Blitzes

Base Jessie Man

Lucky Call
B A Q Y X Z

E J C
#1 Str

A R

Jack

M
Back

#2 Wk

Stud
D
#2 Str

C
#1 Wk

Communicate

Base Rambo Man

Lucky Call
B A Q Y X Z

E J C
#1 Str #2 Str

A R

Rover
D
#2 Wk

C
#1 Wk

Back

Mike

Communicate

Base Stack 3
Lucky Call
A B Z Q Y X

E J C
C/F

A R

M C
C/F

Stack
Hook

1/3 1/3

1/3

Base Money 3
Lucky Call
A B Z Q Y X

E J C
C/F

A R

Money
Hook

C
C/F

1/3 1/3

1/3

Base Monster 3
Lucky Call
A B Z Q Y X

E J C
C/F

A R

Stack

Money
C
C/F

1/3 1/3

1/3

Playing a 4-2-5 Defense

Lee-Davis High School
Confederate Football
Jason Meade Head Football Coach
Lee-Davis High School meade@leedavisfootball.com 804.513.2460 www.leedavisfootball.com