Are you running the 4-2-5 Defense this season? Want to be guaranteed for success? This is a checklist that will tell you exactly what you need do and prepare you for what you cannot do – to run a dominant 4-2-5 Defense.
There’s a myth that the 4-2-5 Defense is a ‘spread defense’. Let’s put that myth to bed right now. The 4-2-5 Defense is a variation on the 4-4 Defense. In High School Football, we’re putting the best 11 players on the field. This isn’t about hybrids and nickels. Call those outside guys safeties, so they feel faster. It all comes down to stopping the run first.
Do you have everything your football team needs to win with the 4-2-5 Defense? Let’s take a look at the personnel, the playbook, the coaches and the characteristics your defense needs to shut ’em down.
Personnel for the 4-2-5 Defense
It all starts with the players on your team. That old, overused saying – “It’s not the X’s and O’s, it’s the Jimmy’s and Joe’s.” These aren’t listed in terms of priority or importance, but the first 3 on the list are yourMust Have‘s for a great season.
These are theideal athletes for each position. It is unlikely that you’ll ever have every single one of them. But there’s a plan for that, too.This also isn’t a complete listing of personnel that I provide in the 4-2-5 Defense System. Just a look at some of the most critical spots.
Defensive Line
- One stud defensive lineman to play your strong side Defensive Tackle, the 3-tech. We teach all of our defensive linemen thatone man cannot block me, two men cannot move me. In reality, it needs to be true for this guy. He needs to win a 1-on-1 block against most offensive guards.
- The Strong Defensive End is a critical component in leagues where you still see plenty of Tight Ends. He’s your next best Defensive Lineman after the 3-tech. Look for a powerful defender who can hold his ground in C Gap, but also has the wheels to extend the edge on outside run plays.
- Contrary to what many coaches think, you do not need four traditional Defensive Linemen in the 4-2-5 Defense to be successful. There’s some flexibility at the weak side Tackle, but the fun comes at the Weak Side End. Find that wild man who can really run, because he does not need the traditional lineman size. I like a Safety body type who’s not as comfortable playing coverage, but can run and tackle.
Inside Linebackers
- A strong side Mike Linebacker that’s a hard-nosed run stopper. Not too concerned if he can cover the pass. He must fill the open doors up front. A traditional Inside Linebacker.
- The weak side Inside Linebacker (Will) depends on your coverage style. You could use another tackle to tackle backer, but more athleticism goes a long way. He may be responsible for covering the flats in a zone blitz, or tackling an athletic Quarterback on the Zone Read.
The Most Important Player on the Defense
- Your best football player at the Free Safety. The success of your defense is ultimately defined by the defender you have here. He’s your 9th man in the box against the run no matter what coverage you’re using. And he’s prowling the middle of the field , in yourNo Fly Zone.
- The Overhang Safeties are hybrid defenders. Depending on your coverage package, they may play more like linebackers or more like safeties. Either way, find players who can tackle. Along with the Free Safety, these guys are usually the leading tacklers due to the way football is played on the perimeters today.
The Reality of Coaching Football
You’re rarely going to have every single one of these players on your roster. And you still have a few more positions to fill. But look to fit the players you do have into these positions.
Even for those seasons where you’re missing an above average Defensive Tackle, a stud Mike Backer or a Free Safety terrorizing the middle of the field, the 4-2-5 Defense System gives you plenty of options to adjust and stay competitive without completely changing your defense.
It always comes back to the core philosophy. Coach Simple, Play Fast, Win. Sticking with concepts your players understand and your coaches can coach is much more important than the X’s and O’s in the playbook. Don’t change just because you’re missing one or two of those ideal personnel.
The 4-2-5 Defense Playbook
The X’s and O’s are important. Despite the emphasis on players, you can’t just overlook them and throw 11 athletes out on the field to just do their thing. To be successful, football coaches need to coach.
There’s a few critical elements your 4-2-5 Defense playbook must have if you’re going to compete for championships. Many coaches tend to have way too much in the playbook. To avoid that, we’ll just stick to those critical pages that any team following Coach Simple principles needs to have.
Defensive Fronts
- Ability to change fronts. There’s got to be a base front that defines who you are. But you’ll need a few different looks. Fronts are cheap to install if you’ve got the core principles of the defense nailed down. This doesn’t need to be complex. Sliding the weak side Nose to inside shade of the Guard (‘G’ Front) is a key front adjustment.Don’t go overboard and try to jump between odd and even fronts from day 1.
- Goal Line Package. At some point you may want to bring the overhang safeties, at least one of them, up on the line. You’ll probably want to do some personnel substitutions using extra Linebackers or Defensive Linemen for one or more of your safeties.
The Total Package
- Basic Defensive Line stunts. Especially if you’re lacking the big 3-tech. Don’t always be where the Offensive Line expects you to be. While complex twist games can get you in trouble and cause confusion, simple slanting goes a long way on the line.
- A simple blitz package to bring pressure. Bring a Linebacker here and there to mix it up. Have at least one 6 Man, Cover 0 Pressure each game, too. If your kids can handle it, and your coaches can coach it, get into some Zone Blitzes. But don’t become reliant on blitz calls to make something happen. Focus on your base package first.
- One primary coverage, and one secondary coverage. That’s it. Bloated coverage packages are a recipe for disaster. Decide what you need to stop. A combination of Cover 3 and Cover 1 is suitable for most programs, while Split Field Quarters Coverage is a great answer when you see more passing. Be great at one call, and adequate enough at the other to use it for a change-up.
The Coach Simple philosophy that all of my coaching systems are built on is described in depth in this episode of The Football Coaching Podcast.
The Coaching Staff
Every coach on staff is important. They must work together as a unit. Selfish coaching staffs destroy the football season for their players.
By following the Coach Simple philosophy, you can get all of your coaches to excel. Not only does keeping it simple help your players, it helps your coaches to understand the skills and techniques they need to teach within the system.
Must-Have Coaches
- The most important coach on the defense is the Safeties coach. Fast run-pass key reads get the athletes where they need to be. We teach a high hat, low hat read that has been a great adjustment for this. The safeties have the hardest job since they’re nearly as important defending the pass as they are defending the run. They’ll also be making a lot more adjustments to account for the huge amount of variety we see from Offensive Coordinators these days.
- Your dedicated scout team coaches are critical. Scout teams can make your football team better, or make your practices miserable. Disorganized or disinterested scout team coaches usually make it miserable. Your defense can be helped by enthusiastic scout team coaches on both sides of the ball. The defense needs the offensive scout team to play with high energy and simulate this week’s opponent. The defensive scout team is a great opportunity for younger players to get reps and get better. But they must be coached.
Working Together as a Staff
- On game day, you need coaches in the box who are focused on helping the play caller. Assign each coach available with what they need to watch so that the play caller has all the information he needs. You’ll need a coach to give the spot quickly, and coaches to watch positions that you can’t always see from the sidelines. Do not let coaches stand up in the box on a head set and be fan.
- Every coach needs to be on the same page. Using different terminology, having a different vision, and infighting among the staff will destroy your 4-2-5 Defense’s ability to dominate on game day.
On The Field
You’ll get more results if you demand specific characteristics in your game play on the field, than if you constantly run a bunch of wacky drills that just waste practice time. Be sure you’re seeing the type of play listed here. If you’re not, start asking for it now.
Critical Football Skills
- Speed kills. Get your fastest players on the field. Pursuit falls into this category as well. Instill a passion to get to the football on every single play for your defenders. It always comes back to Coach Simple, Play Fast, Win. If your players are confused, they play slow – no matter how much speed they have.
- Ability to get off blocks. Do not make play calls hoping someone goes unblocked. Block Destruction is critical in stopping the run or pressuring the passer. You’ll have to defeat a block to make most plays. Defensive Coordinators usually lose in the ‘Chalk Wars’ game because offensive players never miss a block on the napkin.
- Emphasis on takeaways. Get our ball back! Teach your players that the most valuable object on the field is that football. If it goes on the ground, it’s ours. If it goes in the air, we have as much right to it as the Offense. Defensive Coordinators who emphasize takeaways in practice always see more takeaways on game day.
The Mental Game
- Discipline. Clearly define the roles your players need to fill. Cut out as many ‘If-Then’ statements in your key reads so that players can just get where they need to be. For best results, teach the Umbrella Run Fits so that your players always know how they fit into the defense.
- A short memory. Bad things happen because the opponent practices hard, too. Learn from it, then forget about it. Line up and play again. No finger pointing. Don’t drop your head. Players and coaches have to move on to the next play or a shift in momentum could destroy your night.
- Leadership. At every level of the game, leadership is critical. For starters, it trickles down from the Head Coach to the coordinator and the position coaches. Then the teams who compete for a championship give ownership to the players, too.
If you’re tired of watching your defense play slow, soft and sloppy football on game day, you need to check out my free 3 video series on Coaching the 4-2-5 Defense System: click here to get instant access now at no cost, exclusively as part of JDFB Foundations of Coaching Football.
This post was updated June 17, 2020 as my views on coaching football and the 4-2-5 Defense are constantly evolving and improving. The article was originally published on August 28, 2012.
