4-2-5 or 43 help

if you want to shift into a 4-3 look, I'd take your strong side OLB, as he is often covering TE's as it is and is probably the best fit for a strong safety in terms of being able to cover. The other option that I've done is subbing a DB in for my weak ILB. As far as running a 42 C-2, I believe Coach Mountjoy (Oneback) has good experience with this D.

To play Cover 2 from a 4-2-5 - you roll up the Strong Corner on the flanker, play the F/S & WC in 2 deep, & play the OLB to the weakside ("WILL") as a Corner on the split end. The OLB to the strongside (TE side) is an "alley" player, & that REALLY HELPS vs. run OR pass.

Vs. a 2x2 set - the 4-2-5 is great. IF they play a 3x1 set - SLIDE the LBers to a 4-3 look.

Sorry I do not have more time to type the details of this - but I am sure that you know most of us are either still "in-season", or, in the playoffs. If you need further help - PHONE me at 804-378-0116 (between 6 PM & 10 PM/EDT) & I'll do my best to help you.

We take our force players when in cover 3(OLB's) roll them up hard on #1 and they remain the force players when we play cover 2. Our corners/cover guys which cover deep 1/3rd in 3 now play the deep 1/2 in 2. Our FS plays as the Nickel Back(Same alingment and reads as Robber vs. Pro) Vs. 2 x 2 Spread Dbl Slot FS will play to the wide side and play Alley Tech as we call it.(Read OT for run/pass. Attack all runs, run with verticals, rob curls and break on deep outs) Will Backer plays alley tech to the short side vs. 2 x 2.

This has been good for us as a change up and also we can easily line up in 2 and roll into 3 as a disguise. We have used this primarily to slow down the quick outs, hitches and screens vs. soft corner cover 3.

However, using Tigerone's philosophy from what I picked up in this forum last off season, by seasons end we were playing primarily cover 3 and man free. Then we could easily disguise between the two and take away the quick game in this fashion. We would play some tight man, some off man and even occasionaly just bail. Going into next season I am not planning on playing any cover 2, one less thing. This will be the 1st time in 10 years I have not but I believe I can get what I want with playing 3 and man free.

Coach Williams

If #1 is split wide to the short side of the field it does not matter. If he goes all the way to the sideline we will have to move our alignment to head up. If he splits to the wide side of the field and he is within 2-3 yards of the sideline we will then move inside 1 yard and back off 3 yards. Read OT for run/pass, if pass read, sprint straight back and play fade/vertical from #1 1st. If he is split that wide it is a longer throw and the deep 1/2 guy has more time to break on the ball. But we will move him in or otherwise he is out of position for run support.

The FS is playing as a Nickel Back to the 2-3 reciever side and the quick slant is not a problem. To the 1 receiver side you have a problem with quick slants. Just as you have a problem with quick outs in Cover 3. Our normal alignment for the deep 1/2 guy is 12, split your eligibles, but never more than 3 yards off the hash. On the backside vs. this situation we teach our deep 1/2 guy to cheat to 10 and play the quick slant 1st. They will still likely complete it but you want your deep 1/2 guy to hammer the WR.

From the 4-4 I believe this is the best way to play cover 2. Force guys stay force guys and range players stay range players. It also makes it very easy to disguise 3. Align in 2 and at the snap sprint into a 3 alignment. Might have to cheat the deep 1/2 guys a little to their deep 1/3rd. This has been a very effective disguise for us and have had success with this vs. Quick Passing Teams. On more than one occasion we have aligned in 2, they checked to a quick slant, we roll our OLB into 3 and get a pick.

Coach Williams