4-4 ILBs

We prefer to read guards. I feel it gives us a true read to the offense. If a guard influence pulls, it will leave one of our inside linebackers unblocked.:beer;:brokenheart;:camera;:brokenheart;:beer;

we use flow first, guards second. The near back gives them a direction and the guards give the 'green light' (or 'red light' if they're pulling / misdirection).

Reading guards soley, I find limits the HS athlete because 1) you're not going to get a great read from them in a 40 defense and 2) it can be difficult to read / decipher = hesitation

In the 40 defense, the ILB only needs to be concerned about a quick frontside attack (ISO/TRAP) or backside scrape.

additional thought- My thought above was a little scrambled. To be more precise, we read flow ALSO, but we read guards first! A KISS phrase that serves pretty much as a rule of thumb unless a false key is given, has always been to me, "if the guards come straight ahead, here comes the dive back. If the guards pull, there goes the ball wide. If the backside guard pulls only, here comes power or counter" If the frontside guard combos in any fashion the ball will be run, usually, from the B to the C gaps. These don't always hold up, but I think as general rules you will find that they do.
Coach Easton

Hey Coach,

As we have talked before, you know my 4-2-5 schemes. But, even though it is our base, and has been for 10 years, when facing a power I you had better get right out of it and jump into your favorite 50 look! You can stem easily out of the 4-2-5. You had better do your best to keep 8 in the box or 9 if you can scheme it correctly and expect power all night long (power,Iso, counters, sweeps, lead dives, loads, lead loads, etc. as that is what you are going to see all night long). Compress your D and don't let them spill to the perimeters! The backside CB may have a WR on him and they will run you off with him. The Playside CB will be able to reduce and if the TE runs any kind of flat route, speed out, etc. he then belongs to the CB. If he runs anything inside or under he belongs to a LB. If he goes vertical he is jumped in loose man by your playside SS. Just my way Coach. I don't believe in taking my FS out of the middle of the field and have him ready to come rolling down an UNDER CONTROL fill the alleys!

J.c.Easton

Get film of how Notre Dame beat Alabama (& knocked them out of National Championship in 1974 & 1975. EQUALLY as good vs Power-I as Wishbone (ANY full backfield) "OKIE DOG PINCH". Line up in 5-2 - bring S/S & W/c onto the LOS in 8 techniques - they crash to hip of near back & turn everything inside. DE's align in 6 technique & crash C gap thru hip of OT. DT's align in 4 technique & crash B gap thru hip of OG. Nose aligns in 0 & "2 gaps". ILB's align in 30 technique on guards & mirror near back to them (run & ppass - one takes set HB & the one on other side takes TB). S/C & F/S = M/M on 2 ends (tight OR split).

SHOWED a 5-2/Cover 2 & STEMMED!!!