Adding a 4-2-5 defense to a 4-3 scheme.

Keep your 43 then.

425 Defenses are for 44 teams that want to go into a 2 deep shell.

ILBs are still stacked (as long as they can be), Cover 2 shell with the 3 db's and an OLB or Nickel that make up the 2-shell.

My 425 has 4 lineman, 3 backers on the 2nd level and a 2 deep shell (2 corners, FS, and OLB or Nickel if I can sneak him in).

43 has 4 linemen, 3 backers on the 2nd level and a 2 deep shell.

What can be different is the backers alignment to try to keep the integrity of the 44. Once you see a 2x2 set, I move the ILB's and put the Mike over the center and the other ILB in the apex between the EMOLS and the #2 receiver to the weak side. Strong side Apex/EMOLS is the OLB. Mike has the hole. Basiclly the 43 Cover 2 defense.

Jeff

2x2 set. Spread twins type set to both sides.

I have a couple options:
1. Cover 1. Keeps 6 in the box and one over the top. (what is "Auto" from FS)
2. Cover 2. 5 in the box BUT... I have 2 safeties hawking the Ace back and QB and they only have 5 blockers so in essence I got 7 with the two safeties. I can screw one of the two down and drop the one safety back in the middle. We call that "23 Screw" Its more like "43 Screw" as the corners drop deep. (this is called from the sideline)
3. Cover 4. Standard Cover 4 out of a 2-deep shell. (this is called from the sideline)


3x1 set. Pro Trips (with 1 TE) or a Bama set (w/o TE)

I have a couple of options:
1. Cover 1. Keeps 6 in the box and one over the top (what is "Auto" from FS)
2. Cover 1 Star. same as cover 1 but the High Safety robs the "Star receiver" (called from sideline)
2. Cover 2. Keeps 6 in the box too. (called frmo sideline)
3. Cover 21 Star. Cover 2 on the trips side, Hi/Low man against #1 weak. We play teams that love to put 3 to one side and put their Big X on the single side looking for a 1x1 with my "worst" db. Well I got 2 on him and they are driving hard on the cuts. (called from sideline) They love the slant because they think its wide open. My FS has the B-line to drive the slant and either pick for 6 or de-cleat the kid.

I TRY to stay Robber or Cover 1 to everything. WE HAVE the 425 package and an OKIE 3-4 package we use it as a change up, but numbers are numbers and we only have 11 guys. Having 4 linemen and 1 backer or having 3 linemen and 2 backers is still 5 guys in the box. I do agree that pulling my tackle out for another LB or DB and running a 34 has its merits BUT... its just one more thing to practice and all of us already do not have enough time. We do have it, we do install it in its basic format and use it as a CHANGE UP.

Every Offensive clinic I go into when they are talking about how their offense is hard to prepare for because they are either spreading the D out or jamming them down or they run an offense no one else does. Its my belief to stick to your defense whether it be a 44,43,52,53,33,34 and run with it. They got 11, we got 11. Its all about matchups, if that means replacing a lineman with a DB to put another spead kid against a spread team even when it means putting a DB on the LOS then do it. Don't redesign your Even front to an Odd just to get more backers or DB's out there. Hell, my little kids blew past guards and tackles before they even blinked because they always practice against other big fattys. Its HS football guys, not the SEC.

Thats what we believe and thats how we present it.

We tried all of the "Special" defenses and like I said... we have an Okie defense BUT... we use our base defense and believe we can play Robber to all two back sets and Cover 1 to all Ace sets and do more than well because our kids know it and there is no time waisted trying to EXPLAIN and TEACH a new system. We spen our time repping the hell out of their offense and creating teh best matchups and curveballs for their OC.

In HS football where our kids go both ways and our opponent is not the Penn State Nittany Lions where the QB looks out then calls the offense and after some losses we all agreed it was not the Jimmy and Joe's it was the x and o's that beat us. In essense we out coached ourselves. We play in the 4A division and now the 3A division in Pennsylvania that has prety good programs. We have little, slow, white, kids to work with. We do all of the basics and OUR KIDS LIFT and DO PLYOS and AGILITIES 12 months a year.

KISS, live with what ever system you have, believe in it, know its strengths and weaknesses and teach the kids how to play their position. YOU know where to put them, and they KNOW how to play the position regardless of the offense. Its an easy concept.

I will say this though with respects for "Special" defenses. ODP against all Double tight 3 back sets is devistating. Also against teams trying to run POWER down your throat out of 2 back sets. Its zero coverage balls to the walls but I out number them and they can't block enough guys. I got it from Oneback, installed it and its in as an auto. We practice it EVERY WEEK against EVERY offense we play just in case someone wants to throw a couple powers in there.

Jeff