4-2-5 Defense - The Defense of the Future - David Raley (OJW)

We're here.  Here's the clinic video of OJW talking about defenses and why he thinks the 4-2-5 defense is the defense of the future.

How You Sell It - OJW, Deuce, Vass

In today's economy, if you can't afford to go to a coaching clinic, you have to create your own.  I was able to get together and talk ball recently with three great friends and coaches.  As you can see from the video background, we spared no expense in accommodations for the clinic.  Seriously, good people, a whiteboard, video projector, and plenty of time to talk are all you need.  OJW (black hat), Deuce (red shirt), and Vass (ugly green hat) discuss in the video how coaches have to be salesmen at times in wording things to get players to fully buy in.

4-3 vs. the Flexbone - DE play

Introduction - Evolution of the DE

The keys and mistakes video cut-ups for the DE are the longest for any position group in the 4-3 defense, likely making it the most complicated position to play vs. the Option.  This position usually has a good athlete playing it (e.g. the basketball player who just came out for football), but Option teams historically have been able to take advantage of the lack of discipline and proper coaching at the DE position through the years.

What we are now beginning to see today is the athletic and well-coached 4-3 DE who can really wreak havoc on the Option offense—as a result there are many plays that are designed to confuse and slow him down.  Urban Meyer talked about how much of what they did in their Spread Option at Florida was designed to control the DEs, because they are such tremendous athletes that they can take over a game by themselves.

The 2010 Orange Bowl showcased the freakish talents and abilities of Iowa DE Adrian Clayborn, who just about shut down one half of the field vs. the potent 2009-2010 Georgia Tech offense.  Guys that are 6-4 250+ and can run as fast as many RBs are becoming entrenched at the top of the NFL draft and are becoming multimillionaires because of their ability to dominate and impose their will upon opposing offenses. 

The aggressive DL philosophy of the 4-3 Defense has allowed the DE to showcase his God-given talents.  Instead of being a "contain" guy, the 4-3 DE could really strike fear into the QB by coming down at him hard and following the Block-Down Step-Down rules that OJW talked about in the last article.  The switch from the 50 to the 4-3 Defense has allowed the DE to evolve from being stranded on an island to being a one-man wrecking crew vs. the Option when he is coached correctly.

Back for an encore presentation is the Outlaw Josie Wales—big thanks to him for sharing all of his great wisdom and experience with DL play.  He is an invaluable resource to other coaches on the Coach Huey site, and he has helped me tremendously over the years by patiently answering all my questions about the 4-3 Defense.

DE Fundamentals

The play of the Ends is similar to the play of the Defensive Tackles.  It is one of the important points of the 4-3: all four defensive linemen can be trained together.

The basic stances are similar.  However, most coaches say the closer a lineman is to the ball, the lower his tail needs to be.  All four linemen are trained to have their inside hand down and their inside foot back.  This is very helpful to staffs who only have one defensive line coach, as they can all be trained together.

With that in mind, the Ends are in what many call a sprinter's stance—tail is higher and the feet are closer together.  They are also angled inward so as to see the ball and get a good jump on the offensive player they are aligned over.

The importance of the 4-3 defensive linemen getting a jump on the offensive linemen cannot be overemphasized.  Most coaches teach that the first player to get their hands on the other player will be the winner.  Defensive linemen must work to get their feet into the LOS (line of scrimmage) before the offensive linemen can get their hands on them.  Take-off drills must be done every day.

The Defensive End attacks his offensive counterpart by moving as fast as possible to his landmarks.  His inside hand is on the middle of the breastplate and the outside hand is on the outside edge of the shoulder pads.  If this sounds familiar, it is.  It is exactly the same landmarks as the other defensive linemen (again, simplicity of training all four linemen the same).

It is best to not switch sides with the Defensive Ends, but to allow them to stay on the side that best suits their abilities.  Often a larger man will be used on the defensive left side and a faster man will be used on the defensive right.  However, this is simply personal preference by a coach.

The End attacks his man and sees and feels what is going on.  If his man blocks down (toward the Center) the End will feel this and then step flat down the line.  This is the use of the famous Block-Down Step-Down rule that he must obey.

It is also important to realize the angled Ends affect the blocks of their offensive counterparts—the TE release is slowed, as is the Offensive Tackle's release.

There Is No "Contain" in the 4-3

There are several plays that will unfold when the End's man blocks down.  The most common plays he will see are the Counter-Trey play, the Power play, or the Option play.  In all these plays, the End must obey the "Wrong-Arming" rule as discussed in the DT article.

It is vital to the overall consistency and philosophy of the 4-3 for the End not to be trained in any type of contain principle.  It will be contrary to the other things that he must execute.

The long trap, or Counter Trey a.k.a. Counter-Gap play affects the Defensive End.  He will feel or see his landmarks move inside, usually that is the Tight End.  He must step inside and will see the Offensive Guard pulling toward him.  The Defensive End will attack the upfield shoulder—the shoulder closest to the LOS.  Often coaches describe this event as a "train wreck."  We desire to create a pile of bodies at the POA (point of attack).

Again, we do NOT want the Defensive End to have to worry about contain.  In the 4-3 defense there IS no contain.  The word "contain" isn't part of this defensive philosophy.  The End is attacking the pulling Guard and forcing the ball carrier to deviate from the place he wants to run.  This causes him to bounce outside and again, fall prey to Corner Force or Safety Force, depending on the secondary call.

The End will defeat the block of the Fullback on Power-O by attacking the same upfield shoulder that he attacks on the Counter-Trey play.  The only difference is that the Guard will be attempting to block in him the Counter-Trey play as opposed to the FB's block of the Power-O play.

DE vs. the Option

While correct End play is important in the previous two offensive plays, it is absolutely imperative in the Option.  A Defensive End must Step-Down inside as he recognizes the down block. This moves his gap-control one hole inside.  For the 9 tech End, in the case of the Triple Option Outside Veer coming his way, he will be in a position to take the Dive.  This allows the Sam Backer the ability to scrape around him for the QB.

The angled Defensive End is very important in defending the Option play.  For the 9 tech End, in the case of an arc-blocking TE, the End is able to slow the TE's release and still fulfill his duties of attacking the QB on the Option.

For the 5 tech End, if the Option play is directed toward the weakside of the formation, the angled 5 tech End attacks the Offensive Tackle and slows his release as he is attempting to block the Mike Backer.  This puts the End in position to take the Dive portion of the Triple Option and allows the Mike to scrape over the top and take the QB.  The Will Backer can assist  on  the QB or attack the Pitch phase.

Concluding Thoughts

It is important to remember that the 4-3 defense was originally organized to attack the Triple Option Wishbone offense.  While it is not possible to totally stop Option attacks, the 4-3 gives us a weapon against this offense.

With that in mind, it is important for coaches to learn, follow, and teach the rules that were laid out originally with this defense.  Every position and technique of the 4-3 Over has its important part to play if the Triple Option offense is to be held in check.  The 4-3 Over is best described as "a complicated dance" where everyone must do their part or the whole thing will come apart.  Coaches should be advised to learn the elements of Block-Down Step-Down, 1-gap 1/2 a man defensive line techniques, the idea of "Spilling" the ball carrier, and lastly Force vs. contain.

While the ideas of the 4-3 Over Defense were radical when they were first presented in the 1980's, they are now considered the basis for modern defensive football.  It is now the standard for defensive football at most levels and is an important weapon against the Triple Option offense.

DE Keys vs. Flexbone from Barry Hoover on Vimeo.

DE Keys

1.  Block-Down-Step-Down vs. Inside Veer

2.  vs. Run

3.  vs. Loop, take QB

4.  Run to You: Cross Face of OT

5.  vs. Rocket motion

6.  vs. Pulling Guard "Log" Block

7.  Run Away: Check for BCR (Bootleg, Cutback, Reverse)

DE Mistakes vs. Flexbone from Barry Hoover on Vimeo.

DE Mistakes

1.  Not Getting Hands on OT

2.  Not Crossing Face on Run to You

3.  Not Holding Your Ground

4.  Slow Off the Ball

5.  Not Taking QB vs. Loop

6.  False Step

7.  Not Looking Inside for Pullers

8.  Not Checking for BCR on Run Away

4-3 vs. the Flexbone - Schedule of Posts
Wed. January 12 - DT Play

Sat. January 15 - DE Play

Wed. January 19 - Mike Play

Sat. January 22 - OLB Play

Wed. January 26 - FS/SS Play

Sat. January 29 - CB Play

Feel free to ask OJW any questions about DE Play.

4-3 vs. the Flexbone - DT Play

Introduction - Defending the Flexbone with the 4-3 Defense

The Flexbone is a difficult offense to slow down, much less stop.  Defensive players must be disciplined and fundamentally trained to be automatic in their responses to what the offense is doing.  This automaticity that is required to defend this offense does not occur in one week of practice—rather,  it  must be practiced against at the beginning of the year in spring football, fall camp, and in small segments throughout the year.  

Paul Johnson and the Georgia Tech coaching staff do a phenomenal job of coaching the Option, and in his second year at Georgia Tech, the Flexbone averaged 35.3 points per game for the 2009 regular season.  They won the ACC with an 11-2 record and faced Iowa in the Orange Bowl.  Iowa DC Norm Parker took full advantage of the added preparation time for the bowl game to thwart the Georgia Tech attack.  Iowa's scheme was simple, disciplined, and very effective in holding the vaunted Georgia Tech offense to only 14 points.

I was the Offensive Coordinator for a team that started out running the Option this year, but the Flexbone offense has fascinated me for years from a defensive standpoint on how to defend it.  My film study this past off-season started with investigating the Iowa game and expanded to a study of the Georgia Tech offense vs. 4-3 teams for the 2009 season.  The cut-ups are a great teaching tool in themselves, but to top it off, I have assembled a dream team staff of defensive coaches to talk about the fundamentals for each of the positions in the 4-3 Defense: DTs, DEs, Mike LB, OLBs, FS/SS, and CBs.  The best thing about this great collection of coaches is that these guys are all about helping other coaches and they have been more than willing to share all they know in these articles.  The result will be something that I hope will be an invaluable resource for coaches.   

Cripes!  It's All about Fundamentals!

The emphasis of the film study and these articles will be on fundamentals, not on scheme.  There is no one defense or exotic blitz that can be installed in one week's time that will magically shut down the Triple Option.  Any success had by 4-3 defenses vs. the Georgia Tech Option in 2009 was due to a focus and emphasis on defensive fundamentals for each position.  

The best coaches also know that the emphasis on fundamentals must be season-long.  Teams cannot stop working once they reach a certain level of fundamentals and expect those fundamentals to last for the rest of the year, for they will certainly atrophy and waste away.

The guest writers have an expert knowledge and experience in defending the Option and they will talk about the fundamentals for each position as well how to teach them.

We will start this series with the defensive line.  Deuce says that, "You build a house from the foundation up...the line is YOUR foundation..."  The play of the DTs in the 4-3 is where we will start building this house and I got the best six-shooting 4-3 DL guy I could to write up on it...the grey rider himself, Outlaw Josie Wales. 

History of the 4-3

Back when I started the 50 and the Split-4 were the standard defenses for most schools.  The 50 dominated college ball.  The 50 in particular was not designed to stop the Triple Option, it was designed in the 1950's to stop the T and the Wing-T offenses by reading the Guards.  However, the 50 was out of its element in trying to stop the Triple Option offense.

The Defensive Tackle sat on an island and was the object of the 1st phase of the Triple Option—meaning the Veer and the Wishbone attacked the Tackle in the 50 and worked from there.

When I first learned the principles, rules, laws, and philosophy of the 4-3, I found it very radical to everything I was taught.  So much so, that I had a hard time convincing staff members to accept the ideas.

Also, remember that the "newest" competing defensive idea was the "46" or Bear defense,  with the success of the Chicago Bears defense in the mid to late 1980's—the very time that the U. of Miami was developing their ideas of the radical 4-3 defense.

The 4-3 defense was developed to stop the Wishbone Triple Option offense, it was later found to work on everything else.  However, as I was taught, it was has a weakness in the Off-Tackle area—a reason the that Power-O has become a favorite play with power-running teams.

However, the Miami 4-3 was a defense that was created in our generation.  Its principles and philosophy guide most football teams in America.

Block-Down Step-Down (BDSD), Spilling, and Wrong-Arming -                   The Philosophy of Defense That Holds the 4-3 Together

The origins of Block-Down Step-Down (BDSD) are murky to say the least. However, up until I was taught the 4-3 by Tommy Tuberville in the late 1980's, the entire idea was only thought of as "squeeze down."  Even then, it wasn't a hard and fast rule, more of a suggestion.

I think that the 4-3, which I affectionately call the Miami 4-3, is the defense of our generation.  The other defenses that dominated football when I got in were from a previous age.  The 4-3 was codified by the coaches at the University of Miami back in the mid 1980's to do one thing: stop the Wishbone offense of Barry Switzer.  More than X's and O's were at play here—lots of history between Barry Switzer and Jimmy Johnson.  Out of this grudge-match came a defensive idea that took the world by storm: the Miami 4-3.

It was the first defense that I actually learned on paper. The other defenses that I coached were taught to me through other coaches through the years.  It was very radical and violated most of the philosophies that I was trained in, both as a player and as a young coach.

That being said, I think that the "glue" that holds the entire thing together is the idea of closing down all the inside gaps and forcing the ball carrier to run where he doesn't want to go.  This has been labeled "Spill" by most coaches.

The 4-3 defense has "Spill" philosophy as its main theme, however it doesn't actually work unless the defensive linemen obey the "Block-Down Step-Down" law.  Since the 4-3 is a gap-control or 1-gap defense, the defensive linemen absolutely must maintain their control over the gap they are aligned in.  This is the reason that the defensive linemen must be coached on maintaining their fundamentals.

It is important for coaches to learn these basic tenants and then teach them to their defensive linemen.  Every part of a defensive lineman's individual technique goes together in an exact way to give him his best chance for success—everything from his stance all the way to his tackling technique is important to make this entire defense function.

Block-Down Step-Down comes from a defensive lineman's hand landmarks. The lineman will come out of his stance aiming his inside hand at the middle of the breastplate and the outside hand attacking the outside edge of his particular offensive lineman's shoulder pad.

As he is going for his landmarks, he will see or feel his offensive lineman doing something.  This "doing something" is his clue. I use the word clue because so many defensive coaches do not use the work "read."  They think that "read" is a bad word because they say they are NOT a reading defense but an attacking defense.  This is totally semantics.

A defensive lineman "reads" at the snap.  His clue is what the offensive lineman is doing.  If that offensive lineman down blocks, also known as blocking toward the Center, the defensive lineman will react to this move and Step-Down hard inside.

The next part of BDSD that works together with the Spill concept is called "Wrong-Arming."  The idea is that the defensive linemen or End attacks the upfield shoulder of the trapper.  Even if the "trap" is a kick-out block by the Fullback.  The term "Wrong-Arming" comes from the act of doing the opposite of what was taught by defensive coaches for ages.  It means to attack the trapper with what would naturally seem to be incorrect.   In fact, it is incorrect, if you are running a 50 front defense as it was originally taught.

All three of these concepts work together to operate under the 4-3's philosophy of "Spilling."  It all must work together.  The 4-3 is a system that is held together by a philosophy of defense.

BDSD - The One Little "Trick" That Changed Option Football

In the past, the Wishbone offense would put the Defensive Tackle "on an island" and whatever he did created the actual offense.  Wishbone offenses ran roughshod over the 50 defenses of the 1970's.

BDSD defeated the blocking of the Wishbone offensive line by successfully moving inside by rule and not by choice.  The defensive linemen no longer had a choice of going to the FB or QB; his rule was to Step-Down inside, every time.  The Triple Option then became a double option by rule.

The Defensive End also followed BDSD and this stopped both the Outside Veer dilemma and the QB keep on the Triple Option.  QBs had to begin to fear a fast onrushing Defensive End essentially stunting toward him every play.

The Defensive Tackle shutdown the Dive and the Defensive End shutdown the QB Keep.   This left the Pitch as the only play left in the Triple Option playbook. Coaches who know the Wishbone realize that this is actually the weakest part of the Triple Option—the ball simply isn't pitched that much.

This fulfilled the philosophy of shutting down all the inside gaps and forcing the ball carrier to the edge where the Cover 2 Cornerback would cut down the Running Back.

Without BDSD, you cannot shutdown all the inside gaps and force the ball to the edge—it cannot be done.

The new trend of Midline is essentially a Trap play, much akin to the Wing-T Fullback Trap.  The rules of BDSD tell the defensive linemen to step down hard inside if his lineman is blocking inside toward the Center.  BDSD works well against a standard FB Trap.

On the Trap, the defensive lineman attacks his offensive lineman and feels that lineman blocking down toward the Center.  He immediately steps down into the gap.  In fact, he is literally dragged into that gap if he is properly attacking his offensive lineman.  His landmarks move inside, therefore he moves inside also.  This also has the added effect of keeping that offensive lineman off one of the linebackers.  In the 4-3 it is usually the Mike Backer that  the linemen are attempting to block.

DT Play vs. the Flexbone

 
Defensive linemen in the 4-3 must stay within the principles and the overall philosophy of the defense: stance, inside hand down, inside foot back, get-off faster than the offensive linemen, and proper hand placement to the landmarks are all very important in making the 4-3 defense work.  This defense has a greater dependence on defensive linemen getting all parts of their fundamentals done correctly than any other defense.  It is very linemen-centric.

Also at issue is that the Flexbone isn't an offense that is seen very often.  The spread offenses, with their emphasis on the pass, have caused defensive coaches to spend most of their practice time on pass rush and pass rush schemes.  Because of this emphasis, many 4-3 philosophy fundamentals have been neglected.

There are two other areas that a pass-rush mentality of defense causes poor Dline play:

1) Playing too high and getting pushed off the LOS (line of scrimmage) and 2) not dealing properly with double team blocks.  With emphasis on the speed rush needed to stop the spread offense, linemen are simply getting knocked off the ball.  A defensive lineman CANNOT allow himself to be pushed out of his gap.  This is an idea from a "bygone" day, however, the Flexbone thrives on pushing defensive linemen off the ball.  A linemen must attack quickly, this is true; however, he must NOT give up his gap.

A defensive coach must practice a Dlineman defeating a double team. The Flexbone will double team at the POA  (point of attack).  While there are many strategies and methods, a particular method must be adopted and worked.  (Ed. note - Both DTs in the 4-3 will end up facing double teams vs. Inside Veer to their side—surprisingly Georgia Tech ran this play a lot to the 3 technique side in 2009 and it was very effective.)

Coaches and defensive linemen must remember that the 4-3 defense was developed in the mid 1980's to stop the Wishbone offense and was very successful at doing so.  The Flexbone is a form of the Wishbone offense.  However, the fundamentals that made this defense work when it was originally developed must be learned and adhered to at all levels.

The concept of Block-Down Step-Down is a very important element in attacking Triple Option offenses, however many coaches do not spend the proper time on BDSD with their linemen.  Plainly stated—you cannot run the 4-3 Over Defense properly without adhering to this concept.  The defensive lineman MUST step flat down the line when his corresponding offensive lineman blocks inside toward the Center.  That "inside" block is the "Block-Down" portion of the equation, and the corresponding action by the Defensive Lineman is to "Step-Down" inside and take away the Dive portion of the Triple Option.  The 4-3 defensive lineman is not given a choice which player to attack vs. the Triple Option Offense—he simply obeys his rule.

Defensive linemen not following the Block-Down Step-Down rule make the entire 4-3 Over Defense untenable.  This seemingly small mistake causes the 1-gap "Spill" philosophy to be nullified and the entire defense to collapse.  It only takes one defensive lineman not doing his part for any Triple Option Offense to become successful.

Here is the video:

DT Keys and Mistakes vs. Flexbone from Barry Hoover on Vimeo.

DT Keys

1.  Block-Down-Step-Down vs. Midline
2.  vs. Run
3.  vs. Double Team
4.  vs. Sprint Pass

DT Mistakes

1.  Not squeezing down hard enough

2.  Not getting hands on OL

3.  vs. Double Team, must put hips in the hole

4.  Don't go behind the play

5.  Slow off the ball

6.  Too high

4-3 vs. the Flexbone - Schedule of Posts
Wed. January 12 - DT Play

Sat. January 15 - DE Play

Wed. January 19 - Mike Play

Sat. January 22 - OLB Play

Wed. January 26 - FS/SS Play

Sat. January 29 - CB Play

Feel free to ask any questions for OJW or any of the other guest writers to answer.