Making the front fit with the back, and vice versa

I've seen teams have problems with this when they run a few different defensive fronts on a regular basis. An OLB in a 4-4 has contain, and the OLB in 4-3 usually doesn't. Same idea but other way around with Free Safeties. In a 4-3 a Free Safety has contain and in a 4-4 he doesn't. These changes I think their can be confusion between your front and secondary.

There are a lot of factors when it comes to what dictates the fronts, pressures and coverages you are in. Some defensive coordinators dictate what they are going to do no matter what and others who may not have the players need to change from game to game how they are going to play match up wise. Some teams you can go man against, others calling man coverage is a death wish.

I personally will change my play call style during a game and I'll admit sometimes it's dictated by of the offense which most defensive coaches hate to allow. When running a 3-3 basically vs. spread offenses I generally feel comfortable bringing 5 or 6 in a cover three style look. When bringing pressure I'll either play man or a coverage in the cover 3 family generally. If I've gotten burnt enough or the opponents are hitting short exterior routes. I may have to switch to cover 2, which basically means I personally will only send 4 because I need my outside backers under the number two receivers, and I'll have to get more creative with my 3 or 4 man rushes to get pressure.