TCU Cover 1 Dog

Here is an inovative 5 man pressure from Gary Patterson and the Horned Frogs. TCU is in a 4-2-5 personnel

The Rush:

This is an interesting variation on America's Blitz. The DE twists to the side of the dog an takes on the inside rusher role in the America's Blitz concept. 

The Coverage:

Cover 1 man free. 

The OL to the side of the edge rush LB do a good job of picking up the LB and passing the long stick DE. The RB is responsible for blocking the late inside rush threat but doesn't see the DE looping. The RB was looking at the Mike and Will. When the Mike doesn't blitz the RB looks to check release. The only other way for the offense to pick this up is to have the OL travel back and exchange all the DL as the twist action happens. The likelihood of communicating and executing that type of pick up is very low. This is a creative way to attack pass protection with a tried and true pressure concept but executed in a whole new way. Really good stuff. 

4-2-5 Basics: Run Fits vs. 2 Back Formations

People often ask me about how we fit the run in the 4-2-5. They say things like:

"4-2-5 is just a 4-4 with DB's at OLB, so you just fit the run like a 4-4?" or

"4-2-5 is just a 4-3 using nickel sub personnel on every play, so you fit like the 4-3?"

My answer is "Yes" to both. Part of the reason the 4-2-5 is popular is that it can fit the run like a 4-4 or like 4-3. Teams can tailor the fits to their needs. Take for example a basic two back 21 personnel pro formation.

The defense can align and fit the run like a 4-4. The SS and WS play force while the four down linemen and two inside linebackers account for all the interior gaps. 

OR

The defense can choose to fit the run like a 4-3 with a safety filling the role of the third linebacker.

In this example the defense bumps the linebackers (Mike & Will) strong and bumps the WS into the box in the role of the third linebacker. Against a strong or weak flow running play the Mike, Will, and WS fit the run like a Sam, Mike, and Will in a traditional 4-3 defense would fit.

Versus a strong flow run

Versus a weak flow run

The defense can alternatively choose to bump the SS into the box and the linebackers weak. The SS, Mike, and Will then fill the role of the three linebackers.

Versus a strong flow run

Versus a weak flow run

Lastly, the defense can drop the FS down into the box to fill the third linebacker role.

Versus a strong flow run

Versus a weak flow run

How can a defense use this multiplicity? 

Take for example:

Here is a standard Iso or Lead play from a 21 personnel Pro I formation. If the defense chooses to fit this play like a traditional 4-4 defense, it can become a stress play.

In this scenario the Mike LB fit the FB on the outside half. If the inside linebackers are expected to bracket the fullback, the Will has a difficult job. The Will needs to align wide enough to keep leverage on the guard in case the offense is running an outside flow run weak, like outside zone. This prevents the Will from cheating his alignment too far inside. The result is the Center and Guard can scoop the Nose up the Will, potentially cutting the Will off from his bracket responsibility. 

One alternative solution is to have the Mike spill the fullback.

The Will LB's job is easier because he doesn't have to bracket the FB with the Mike. The new challenge is if the Mike is fitting inside of the fullback's block, who is fitting outside? The offense has a good angle to use the TE to block the SS from folding into the box. That leaves the FS. The FS can make the tackle but not without issues. The RB vs. FS may be a bad match up.  The FS may have to make an open field tackle vs. a full speed RB. Requiring the FS to be hyper aggressive to fit the run also opens up play action risks.

Neither fitting the Mike inside nor outside of the fullback may be optimal for the defense.

Some coaches may say:
"The DT needs to squeeze the guard's block and reduce the A gap."
"The Nose needs to control the scoop block, keeping the offensive lineman on the line of scrimmage longer. That buys time for the Will."
"The Mike needs to be violent and jam the fullback back in the hole."
"The Will needs to read his key and be quick to attack the ISO."

These are all true. The issue is that may be easier said then done. Especially when playing good teams. If you want to compete for conference and post-season titles you are going to have to play and beat good teams. What is the solution when their fullback is better than your Mike? What if the guard is getting movement on the DT consistently? Being able to change how the defense fits the run can help give the defense solutions to these problems.

Here the defense bumped the linebackers strong and is using the WS as the third LB.

With the Will bumped over the Center the Mike and Will have much easier time bracketing the fullback's block. The offense does not have an easy angle to block the Mike or Will.

More examples:

When the offense is using an offset fullback or an unbalanced set, the defense can sure up run fits by bumping to a 4-3 run fit.

Having the linebackers bumped can help get players to the point of attack. The offense most likely wants to run toward the offset fullback. It makes sense to get extra defenders where the offense wants to run the ball.

Here is an unbalanced formation. The offense most likely wants to run toward the unbalanced side. Being able to bump to a 4-3 run fit can help the defense remain gap sound even against the extra gaps created by the unbalanced formation. TCU coach Gary Patterson wrote about the concept of bumping in the 4-2-5 in his article for Nike Coach of the Year. On pages 6,7,8 of the article Coach Patterson explains TCU's slide and scoot concepts. 

There are other times when the defense wants to fit like a 4-4.

Here the defense is in a 4-3 run fit. If the offense is running a read power to the weak side the defense may have difficulty. The WS has a poor angle to force the wide path of the lead blocker. If the End steps down with the down block of the OT, the Will LB ends up in a 1 on 1 foot race with the RB. This may be a bad match up. 

If the defense is fitting the run like a 4-4, the angles are much easier for the defense. The WS has a natural force leverage from width on the lead blocker. The Will LB can much more easily scrape over the top of the DE and pursue the RB. 

The 4-2-5 has the added advantage of disguise. On any play the LB's could bump during the cadence. Any of the three safeties could move into the role of the third linebacker. The defense can also show a 4-3 fit and bump back into a 4-4 run fit. The result is offenses being forced to constantly identify, communicate, and react to a defense changing it's run fits.

The versatility and flexibility are major contributing factors in the success and popularity of the 4-2-5. I'm going to continue the Basics of the 4-2-5 series this off-season as I have time. If there is anything you would like to see, drop a comment or send me an e-mail.

A Simple Adjustable 4-2-5 Zone Blitz vs. Spread Offenses

The 4-2-5 has evolved from two places the 4-4 and the 4-3 nickel sub package. The 4-4 background of the 4-2-5 provides great solutions for loading the box to stop the run as well as dealing with two back formations. When dealing with spread formations however, it is often helpful to draw on the 4-3 nickel roots of the 4-2-5. The following zone blitz comes directly from traditional 4-3 thinking.

Blitz terms defined:
Boss - Backer or SS blitz
Boss Back - Backer or SS to the back blitzes
Boss Bob - Backer or SS opposite the back blitzes

Coverage Terms defined:
Back Spin - Safety to the back Spins down to the Seam
Bob Spin - Safety opposite the back Spins down to the Seam

This naming system is built similarly to the TCU concept of building sentences.

G tells the Nose to align in a 2i

Tag - Tackle move to A gap

Boss - The Backer or SS aligned to the back blitzes. In this case the SS is the blitzer. The SS must make a "Fire" call to tell the End to his side to go inside. The Backer who is aligned away from the back has the Seam.

Back Spin - The high safety to the Back spins down to the Seam. The high safety away from the back has the middle 1/3

Spin - tells the Corners to play Tight 1/3 technique and the Mike to play the 3 Receiver Hook drop

Here is the same blitz vs. a 3x1 formation.
The only adjustments are the alignments of the inside linebackers. The Mike must widen his alignment to handle the 3RH drop. The Will can tighten his alignment to the core with no split #2 pass threat. The Will can now defend the open B gap opposite the blitz.

If the back is aligned to the Backer (Will) the backer is the blitzer and the SS is a Seam dropper. The Will backer must make a "Fire" call to the end to his side telling him to go inside. The high safeties know the spin is going to the back. The Weak Safety spins down to the Seam while the Free Safety rotates to the Middle 1/3.

In this example the blitz is now being run opposite the back (Bob = Blitz Opposite the Back). The Backer is opposite the back so the Will blitzes. The SS is aligned to the back making him a Seam dropper. The high safeties spin opposite the back.

Other situations that must be addressed with this type of variable blitz are:
1. Where is the blitz coming from if the offense does not have an offset back (pistol or under center)?
2. What to do if the offense moves the back? Can we reset the blitz or do we lock it on?

The Boss concept can also be used vs. TE sets.

In this example the blitz is being run to the Y or TE. All of the rules remain the same.

The naming structure of building sentences is designed for a wristband driven defense. This system allows the defensive coordinator the flexibility to have multiple variable blitzes on any given wristband. The Boss blitz can be used to bring pressure where ever the defense wants to bring it with a simple tag word.

Making It All Look The Same

One of the first things I noticed when looking at the TCU pressure package was the simplicity. The terminology and organization made understanding who was blitzing a breeze. The deeper beauty is how blitzes like TCU's Double Smoke concept compliment the alignments of their split field safety zone coverages to create an easy built in disguise.

Smoke tells the defense a safety is blitzing and Double Smoke means 2 safeties are in the pressure. Here the SS and WS are both blitzing off the edge. Both blitzers will give a "Fire" call to tell the DE to go inside. On all smoke calls the blitzing safety will make a "Fire" call because where there is smoke there is fire. Against a 2 back formation the defense is aligned in a 4-4 look which is identical to their alignment if they were in their Cover 2 (Robber) zone coverage concept.

The offense cannot readily tell if the defense is running double smoke or Robber coverage which creates a natural disguise element for the Horned Frogs without any extra effort. The natural disguise isn't limited to 2 back formations, it extends into TCU's alignments vs. spread formations as well.

With a split #2 receiver to the weak side the WS will make a "Switch" call alerting the ILB to blitz instead.When playing zone against the same formation TCU can play their Blue (Quarters) concept with very similar alignments. 

Lastly, against trips the pressure adjusts again to compliment a zone trips adjustment (Special).

And the zone compliment (Special).

For more information on TCU be sure to check out the 4-2-5 resource guide. A helpful resource when looking at TCU's defense is the Boise State playbook from 2000. Brent Guy (Boise State Defensive Coordinator in 2000) was on the defensive staff with Gary Patterson at Utah State which is why you see basically identical terminology.  Also for more info on the "Special" trips adjustment and the split field safety concept check out Run COD Hit Blog and his articles on TCU's coverage package.

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.

TCU's Thunder Concept

TCU is known for converting big athletic linebackers and even running backs to defensive linemen. The Horned Frog's defense under Gary Patterson has featured multiple slants, twists, and blitzes that capitalize on the athleticism of their front 4. The Thunder concept TCU employs is just another way for them to utilize their athletic defensive linemen. The blitz that will be the focus of this post is Bullets Thunder Zero Cop which can be found in the TCU Playbook. The front is set Tite with the 3 technique to the TE.

The Bullets blitz sends both inside linebackers straight ahead into their gap responsibilities (A for the Sam, B for the Mac). TCU also tags the blitz multiple ways to send the ILB's to different gaps.

The next aspect of the call is Thunder which tells the Safety (SS or WS) to the TE to blitz outside. The final part of the call is Zero Cop. Cover Zero is straight man coverage with no safety help and Cop is a tag that tells the DE to the coverage to man the TE. This is where the Horned Frogs utilizing athletic DL allows them to be creative.

The corners are responsible for the #1 receivers while the 2 safeties have the backs. The right DE is man on the TE.

vs. a Twins set

The Corners are responsible for the split receivers, the safeties have the backs, and the right DE has the TE.

Against a team that flexes their TE or a no TE set the SS has to make a "Switch" call to the DE and play man coverage on a split receiver.

 

The "Switch" call by the SS puts the DE back in the pass rush. The corners and safeties keep their coverage responsibilities.

Against one back formations with or without a TE the safeties make the adjustments to cover the extra receivers.

This blitz concept allows TCU to rush 6, bring simultaneously pressure to the TE side and inside, load the box with 2 safeties manned on running backs, and utilize the athleticism of their defensive ends.