27 Tips for Game Planning Against the 4-2-5 Defense (2024)

It’s no secret. My football team runs a 4-2-5 Defense.

But we also play a bunch of them, too. I’d love to believe that it’s because of Coaching Football’s 4-2-5 Defense eBook, and the 4-2-5 Defense eCourse (both available exclusively as part of the JDFB Insider Membership.

It’s not. Maybe a small part, but not the big reason.

Why do we see so much? It’s a great defense.

The 4-2-5 Defense is the same as the 4-4 Defense. Probably the most common defense in High School Football.

Add in the TCU 4-2-5 Defense that has been the hot topic in football coaching circles for a long time.

Gary Patterson’s defenses have consistently ranked near the top of the NCAA. Patterson took the 4-2-5 Defense to the next level with split field coverages.

Before that, it was Virginia Tech’s 4-4 “G” Defense and Robber Coverage.

We see a ton of 4-2-5 Defense. There’s a wide variety of variations in the front that aren’t obvious to the untrained eye. Coverage variations add even more complexity to breaking down the defense.

So what do we look for, when we game plan for the 4-2-5 Defense?

Our offense is a 1-Back Offense. We run Power and Counter, Zone and Stretch (Inside and Outside Zone). We use simple passing concepts and play action passes, along with a selection of screens and draws.

That really doesn’t change what we look for. It’s the same as any offense wants to know about their opponent. Start from the back end, work your way forward, and get all the info you need to prepare for the 4-2-5 Defense.

1. How many deep safeties? 1 high or 2 high safeties. 1 high is Cover 3 or Cover 1. 2 high is either Cover 2 or Quarters.
2. How does the 1-high safety react on pass plays? If he stays deeper than the deepest, it’s Cover 3 or Cover 1. If he tries to undercut routes, you have Robber. Since we’re a 1-back offense, we need to trigger off the safety to work the other side in our passing concepts. Robber safeties are also aggressive against the run, which can open up your Play Action.
3. With 2 deep safeties, do the stay deep or react quickly to run? Cover 2 safeties stay back. Cover 4 or Quarters safeties are the force defenders (particularly weak safety). More on force defenders later.
4. What’s the depth of the corners? Are they giving you the flats (hitch)? Or are they pressed up playing man to man coverage (fades)?
5. Are the corners inside leverage or outside leverage? Outside leverage means Cover 2. Slants are a good if you can suck the Overhang Safeties into the box to defend the run.
6. Where are the eyes of the corners? Eyes on the QB indicate zone coverages. Eyes on the receiver is a dead giveaway for man coverage.
7. Who are the force players? Is it the overhang safeties? Normally in a 4-2-5 Defense, they will be the force players. Cover 2 is the exception, usually. Know who the force players are, and what their pass responsibility is. You can put them into conflict with play action passes.
8. What is the alignment of the overhang safeties against a slot receiver? Inside leverage, 3-5 yards depth indicates zone coverage. Outside leverage can be zone or man, but if they are only 3-5 yards, it probably is not man coverage. If they’re pressed, it’s man coverage but they could have a difficult time forcing the run outside run, so take advantage.
9. Where are they eyes of the overhang safeties? They should be in the backfield pre-snap. If they’re not, you have Cover 0. Or no force defender, or the Defensive Ends are force defenders. If the Ends are force defenders, kick them out with pulling guards or fullbacks. Note that if you have a fullback against us and it looks like Cover 0, the Ends are almost NEVER the force.
10. How does the coverage adjust to Trips formations? Do they go to a man coverage (mostly Cover 0) or are they using a Quarter-Quarter-Half concept? Or do they not adjust?
11. With the opponents Trips adjustment, do you get a numbers advantage? Where is the advantage? Are you getting 1 on 1 on the single receiver? That’s a numbers advantage because you can put your best receiver out there (if he’s better than their best corner – and he should be, since he knows where he’s going). If they give you 3 on 3, that’s a numbers advantage too. But don’t forget the Inside Linebacker.
12. What gaps are the Inside Linebackers playing? It should be A Gap or B Gap. But does their alignment put them there? If they’re playing too wide, take advantage by hammering up the middle.
13. What is the depth of the Inside Linebackers? Linebackers that are within 3 yards of the Line of Scrimmage can put the inside gaps on lockdown. But they can’t play the outside run plays well unless they’re headed for the NFL.
14. Who are the Linebackers keying? Are the reacting to the movement of the Guards or the action of the backfield? If they react solely to backfield keys, your Play Action Passing should opening up. Heavy Guard keys can open up your screens and draws.
15. What’s the alignment of the Defensive Ends? Wide alignments are great for rushing the passer, but they may be kick-out targets. Conversely, wide but tilted alignments are tough to kick out but easier to run around.
16. Are the Ends ever playing contain? That makes them a huge kick-out target for our Power attack if we can get a tendency on it. If they’re always the contain, you should win. Because in a 4-2-5 Defense, they’re turning the play back to only 4 defenders (the Tackles and Backers).
17. Who are the Ends keying? Are they hitting strike point and bending down the line? Or running up the field? Similar to 15 and 16, but you can use this. For example, a really good Defensive End will key strike point and see pass set, and immediately get into a contain rush. Great for running your Draw Play.
18. What do the ends do on pass plays? Can they contain your Quarterback? Or are they so focused on blowing up the run that the QB can break the pocket? If they can break the pocket, your QB can either run (if he’s athletic enough) or at least draw a Linebacker out of coverage to open up routes.
19. Are the ends attacking inside at all? Some teams will use a lot of B Gap slants (end slanting inside of the Tackle).

20. How does the Defensive End play on a Tight End? If he plays in a 7-tech, inside shade, your Off Tackle run game is tougher but your outside run game is better. 6-techs that are really good are tough. If not, you might be able to base block him with your Tight End and really open up your Off Tackle game, or kick him out if he lets the Tight End easily release inside. If he’s in a 9-Tech, outside shade, you have a 4-3 Defense. I’m not having this argument again. If he’s in an outside shade and the Sam Linebacker is outside of him, run to C Gap all day long. Sign the Defensive Coordinator of your opponent up for a 14 Day Free Trial to Football-Defense.com as a courtesy after the game.
21. What’s the alignment of the Defensive Tackles? If they’re head up, you have a slanting front. If they’re shaded, you have a pretty good idea where they will be on most snaps.
22. Traditional alignments have the weak side Tackle (which we call the Nose) playing the A Gap. That opens up your B Gap Iso. Can the Will Backer take on the Iso?
23. Do they use any twists? You need to prepare your Offensive Line to pick up twists in the pass game as well as the run game. It can really open up your inside rushing attack if you know how to pick up the twist game on run plays.
24. Are they pinching the A Gaps? Cancel out your trap plays and your QB Sneak (not entirely, but it’s going to be limited). At the same time, they’ll be ineffective against off tackle runs, particularly Power – since the 3-tech is down blocking himself.
25. Check the stance and alignment. They can be tells for the Defensive Tackles. Often, tackles are slower moving and have to cheat their alignment to execute stunts and twists.
26. What do the Defensive Tackles like to do on pass plays? Bull rushers are tough. Your Center and Guards are going to need to know how to reset their feet. If they’re trying to rush gaps, use your screens and draws to slow them down.
27. Is the Defensive Front disciplined on the snap? Are they keying the ball or are they listening to sound? If they’re listening to sound, have a No Play ready. No Play is a hard count for situations like 3rd and 4 or less where you might get a cheap first down. If not, have a Check With Me or a Timeout ready.

That’s just looking at the opponent’s personnel and techniques. We haven’t even talked about tendencies like down and distance blitzing or coverages. Field position coverages. Zone blitzes, man blitzes, and on and on and on.

Personnel study is going to tell you who gets tired. Who do they want off the field on 3rd Down? Who do they want on the field for 3rd down?

When does the coach change his play calling? What makes him more conservative? What makes him get his Goal Line Defense on the field?

If you’ve got a 4-2-5 Defense coming up, be sure to go over this checklist when you watch the film! It will definitely help prepare your players and your play caller, and make your Offense more successful on game day.