Zone Coverages For the 4-2-5 Defense

Until recently, we had always been a 4-4 defense. With the arrival of various types of spread offenses and playing very different offenses week after week, we found that we needed to be more flexible to defend all of the different looks. We didn’t want to change our philosophy nor our 4-4 rules or principles too drastically. So, instead of switching to a 4-3 we decided to implement the 4-2-5. We found that we couldn’t just run Cover 3 or man-free anymore. We just didn’t have the athletes at every spot to man-up every play and we couldn’t just sit in Cover 3 all the time. We had to vary our looks by providing different zone looks as well.

Role of the Safeties/OLBs

Before talking about the different coverages, I want to talk about the position group that makes this defense work. That would be our OLBs who we call the ‘Outside Safeties.’ We started to look for free safeties to play the position; that is, athletes that were physical enough to play the run but that could also backpedal and play on the hash. We even changed their name. They weren’t OLBs anymore but Outside Safeties. Simply put, the best athletes on our team play the position and they also must love to hit.

Shell

When an offense breaks the huddle they come to the line and see a 4-2-5 in front of them. This is the look we try to give every play and then roll and shift to different looks from it. Our FS aligns at 12 yards, the safeties align at 10 yards over a #2 receiver or splitting the difference between the #1 receiver and the OT if there’s no #2, and the corners align at 7 yards, inside #1 (See Diagram 1). Our two middle linebackers are always lined up in B-gap, playing run first and they are called Mike and Will.

Cover 3

Cover 3 has always been our base coverage and still is. Very simply put, from our shell look our two outside safeties walk down and rob just like we would in a 4-4 (See Diagram 2).

Responsibilities for the back seven include:

FS - 12 yards playing middle third.

Outside Safeties - 4 yards off over a #2 WR. If no #2, splitting difference between #1 and end man on the LOS. Jam #2 and play flat vs. pass.

Corners - 7x1 over #1 receiver playing outside third.

M & W - Drop to #2, look to wall crossers.

Cover 2

Cover 2 was something we really felt like we needed to add. In Cover 3 the weak area is your flat coverage. With Cover 2 we have that problem solved. The FS is always one of the half players and one of the two Outside Safeties takes the other half. The FS goes to the strength which is a Roger/Lucy call. You can determine the strength a number of ways. A few that we have used are: field or boundary, # of receivers, set up for a star receiver, or it may be the QB’s arm. However you determine your strength, the Outside Safety opposite the call must go back and play the hash (See Diagram 3).

Responsibilities for the back seven include:

FS and Outside Safety - 12 yards playing their half.

Outside Safety robbed down - over #2 jamming and sitting.

Corners - funnel and sink with #1, read #2 and play first route in flat.

M and W - ILB to Roger/Lucy drops in the hole looking for crossers or screen/draw. ILB away from Roger/Lucy drops to #2 and sits.

Cover 2 Stack

When we play Cover 2 stack, the stack call tells the FS to stack behind the Mike and Will at seven yards. We do this if we’re playing a team that has a great running QB and we need to put our best athlete, the FS, to either spy him or have an extra player in the box. Essentially, he’s a hole player as Mike was in Cover 2. Now, both of our Outside Safeties play the deep half and our Mike and Will widen and both are #2 droppers (See Diagram 4).


Cover 3 Cloud

We like this look against a passing situation. It is also our prevent defense. We can take away the sideline and keep the receivers in bounds but we’re protecting the deep ball as well. Our corners play cloud and our Outside Safeties drive to the outside third while the FS plays the middle third. Mike and Will are #2 droppers (See Diagram 5). You could also play your Outside Safeties regular Cover 2 and let them know they have help on the post from the FS.

These are just a few of the things you can do with your zone coverage. If you’re a quarters coverage team, the coverages are very easy to do out of the Cover 2 look. Your stunt package with different types of man coverage behind it can also be very impressive. You also have different looks you can show when you change up your fronts as well. p