4-2-5 Defense
Clayt Birmingham
University of Wisconsin Stout
Defensive Coordinator
USA National Team
Linebackers Coach

Gaps
Gaps & Techniques
Gap Responsibility Defined

D C B AA B C D
Lineman Techniques of Alignment

8

6
9

4
7

2

5 4I 3 2I 1

2

0
1

4

2I 3

4I 5

6
7

8
9

What is a 4-2-5 Defense?
43

2 Back lig me t

2
1
1

2

B

E

A

N

T

H
S

M
AC

RC
FS

2 Back = 4-4 Alignment
Back 4-

What is a 4-2-5 Defense?
43

1 ack Alignment
2

2
1

1

E
RC

B

N

T
S

FS

A
AC

M

H

1 Back = 4-3 Alignment
4-

Why Play the 4-2-5?
4‡
‡
‡
‡
‡
‡
‡
‡

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 WINSµ then Design your defense for Speed =
² Aggressive Corners = Safeties
² Stiff Safeties = LB·s
² Oversized LB·s = Ends
² Oversized Ends = D Tackles
² Biggest D-Lineman = Nose (your anchor)

Personnel
Personnel Defined:
3

1 ack Alignment
2

2
1

1

E
RC

B

N

T
S

FS

A
AC

M

H

Run Fits with the 4-2-5
4Direct Flow A

ISO ST

A

N

T

H
Fold

E
B

M

S

Step to Stack
Full Flow

F

Run Fits with the 4-2-5
4ISO WK

Direct Flow B

A

N

T

H
M

E
B

S

Fold

Step to Stack
Full Flow

F

Run Fits with the 4-2-5
4POWE O ST

A

Direct Flow C

N

T

H
Fold

M

E
B

S

Set
Edge

Step to Stack
Full Flow

F

Run Fits with the 4-2-5
4Fast Flo

OUTSID ZONE

A

N

T

H
Fold

E
B

M

S

et dge F

Run Fits with the 4-2-5
4Split Flow

SPLIT ONE ST

A

N

T

H
Hold
Fold

M

S

Split Flow = No Flow
Hold your Gap
F

E
B

Run Fits with the 4-2-5
4ounter Flo

COUNTER OT STR

A

N

T

H
Hold
Fold

E
B

M

S

Rock n Roll

F

Run Fits with the 4-2-5
41 Back Flow

INSI E ONE

A

N
M

H

T

E

B

S
F

Pass Coverage vs 4-2-5
4‡ Split Coverage vs Full Coverage.
SPLIT overage
3
2

2

1

1

E
RC

B

N

T
S

FS

A
AC

M

H

Pass Coverage vs 4-2-5
4‡ Split Coverage vs Trips
S LIT Coverage
2
3

2

1

1

E
B

RC

FS

ZONE

T

N

A
AC
M

S

H

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.
Outla Indian ullets

T-G Out ullets /O
1

E

N

T
S

M

A

E

T
S

2

N
M

A

Smokes
‡ Edge Blitz

3

T-G Pi c Dbl Smoke 0
2
1
2

1

A
AC

T

N

H
M

E
S
FS

T-G I dia Dbl Lio 0

3

2

QB

2
1

1

B

E

T
S

A

N

H

M
C

C
FS

B

RC

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

TB

QB

B

E
B Gap S

T

A

N
M

H

Contact Information
Clayt Birmingham
University of Wisconsin - Stout
Defensive Coordinator www.uwstout.edu E-mail ² birminghamc@uwstout.edu