4-4 defense against the off tackle

There are all kinds of alignment changes and/or stunts out of the 4-2-5 (AKA: 4-4).

The KEY factor is your DE's (especially the 7 technique who aligns on the inside eye of the TE with his outside shoe to crotch of TE) MUST be BETTER than the TE. We play our BEST "stud" at the 7. Size helps, but TOUGHNESS (actually close to "nastiness") & quickness are more important! IF their TE is better than your "7" - you WILL have problems!

Here are the coaching points for the "7" Technique DE:

PRIORITY = LINE UP TIGHT TO BALL. ATTACK! KNOCK BLOCKER BACK – STAND HIM UP!. CREATE A NEW L.O.S. – DOMINATE THE BLOCKER. GET OFF ON BALL MOVEMENT!

SEVEN TECHNIQUE: (TAKE A SHORT STEP WITH OUTSIDE FOOT READING TE – STAB WITH HANDS AND EXPLODE OUT OF HIPS). C GAP RESPONSIBILITY!
A. Vs. DOWN BLOCK OF TE: Squeeze TE over to D gap. Stay square and keep inside arm free. Control C gap and locate ball.
B. Vs. TURNOUT BLOCK OF OT: TE blocks out - dip inside shoulder and attack hip of OT. maintaining proper leverage. Keep outside leg and arm free. Bend to near back. Maintain outside leverage and bend to football.
C. Vs. TRAP (OR KICKOUT – BY ANY INSIDE BLOCKER): TE blocks out and OT blocks inside – point toe to OT, locating near back (if near back goes away, locate ANY OL coming inside out). Bend inside and treat kickout by near back and OL the same. Take out his inside shoulder with your outside shoulder. Come underneath kickout.

NOTE: A variation of the 4-2-5 we use in short yardage & goal line is GREAT vs off tackle. The ILB goes virtually unblocked. This is our "TIGHT" adjustment that is TOUGH vs inside runs!

OLB = 9 on TE (inside shoe to crotch). D Gap

DE = 5 on OT (inside shoe to crotch). C Gap

ILB's = 30 technique (inside shoe to crotch of O-Guard & 3+ yds deep) He is protected by the men on the TE, T, & G & is what we call a "HIT MAN"! B Gap to C gap on out (key the best back).

DT's = 1 on OG (outside shoe to crotch) A Gap

ALSO: If you have a "hitter" at F/S (which most 8 man fronts DO) he can play some form of MAN, or ROBBER - in which he lines up on the TE 7-8 yds deep & fills TOUGH OFF TACKLE in the C gap IF the TE blocks - added to the suggestions above - you will be OK!.

If you need to discuss any of this further - PHONE me at 804-740-4479 (up till 9 PM/EDT).