Coach's Corner: Different Defense's -- The base alignment rules and personnel -- 4-3 Under Defense

Posted at 8:00am -- 2/18/2010

Coach's Corner: Different Defense's -- The base alignment rules and personnel -- 4-3 Under Defense

We at GBMW will offer explanations of the rudimentary, basic aspects of the different defenses that Michigan either used last year at some point in time, or schemes that Michigan might try out this spring to see how the current defensive personnel fits best into a given defense. We will start by explaining what the basic principles are at each position.

The defense we are going to examine today is the 4-3 Under Defense Base Rules and Alignment.

This defense is the brainchild of Monte Kiffin and is a cousin of the Tampa 2 defense. It is basically an eight-man front against the run. It is also a gap control front.

Advantages:

The theoretical advantages of the 4-3 Under include: (1) the ability to better control gaps; (2) the defense is strong against the run, and (3) the alignment presents and excellent opportunity to pressure the passer.

Disadvantages:

In the same line of thinking the identified disadvantages of the 4-3 Under include: (1) this defense takes great discipline and spacing; (2) one mistake and the ball carrier is in the secondary, and (3) a running quarterback in a spread formation can wreak havoc.

Blitzes:

1) "Mike" and "Sam" linebackers – The defensive line angles to the open side, with the "Sam" blitzing the same way off the edge and the "Mike" blitzing the strong side B-gap.

2) Free Safety blitz: The defensive line angles to the "Sam" side with the free safety blitzing off the edge.

Conclusion:

The Under tackle is a very sound base defense. It is also a flexible base that allows coaches to adjust and easily adapt.

4-3 Under vs. Pro Set

....................................O.........O
.
..........................................O
O.......................O...O...O...X...O...O.........................O
.......................^....^.........^......^....^
.....................SB...DE......NT....DT...DE
^..............................................................................^
CB...........................................................................CB
................................^.............^
...........................MLB............WLB
.
.
.....................^.................................^
....................SS................................FS

Going into Spring Football:

Defensive End = Ryan Van Bergen
Nose Tackle = ***Mike Martin / Renaldo Sagesse
Defensive Tackle = Will Campbell
Defensive End = Craig Roh
SLB = Brandin Hawthorne / Jordan Kovacs
MLB = Obi Ezeh / Kevin Leach / J.B. Fitzgerald
WLB = Jonas Mouton / Kenny Demens
CB = J.T. Floyd
CB = J.T. Turner
FS = Vladimir Emilien / Jordan Kovacs / Mike Williams
SS = Troy Woolfolk

*** Out for Spring Practice because of injury.

^^^ In 3-4 Hybrid take out DT and replace with Quick.
""" In 4-2-5 take out SLB and replace with another Safety.

What most football observers do not realize is that the 4-2-5 will play like a 4-4 half the time, or teams will kick your *ss on off tackle or sprint draw plays. Very seldom does a free safety blitz in this defense, cornerbacks will if an opposing team shows a heavy diet of trips to the wide side. This defense is basically a deep 3, 1/3 coverage used to prevent big plays.

^^^ Quick / Death Backer = Craig Roh / Brandon Herron
""" Extra Defensive Back = Jordan Kovacs / Mike Williams

Defensive Ends:

Both ends play a five-technique and use an outside shade on an offensive tackle. They are responsible for the C-gaps and must be strong in the C-gap, especially to the tight end side. They cannot get hooked or give up the outside shoulder.

Nose Tackle:

The nose tackle lines up in the A-gap to the tight end or strong side and is therefore responsible for the strong side A-gap. If he can command a double team this defense is more effective

Defensive Tackle:

This is the prime player in the 4-3 Under defense. He is the B-gap player to the open or quick side. He lines up in outside/shade shoulder of the offensive guard.

Middle Linebacker:

The middle linebacker is the B-gap player to the tight end or strong side. He lines up with his inside foot in line with the outside foot of the offensive guard. He is the primary fill player and must take on fullbacks and H-Backs. He must use his inside shoulder and keep his outside arm free.

Weak-side Linebacker:

The weak-side backer in the 4-3 is the open, or quick-side, A-gap player. He is also basically covered/ protected and is sometimes called the scrape linebacker. He should usually be amongst the tackling leaders. He lines up with a slight, inside shade on the offensive guard.

Strong-side Linebacker:

The strong-side linebacker is a contain player. He lines up in a 9 technique on the tight end (an outside shade). He must keep his outside arm free and maintain outside leverage. Strong-side linebackers must also be solid in coverage and at times will be manned up on the tight end.

Cornerbacks:

These are the primary pass defenders. They line up in an inside shade on the split end to help protect the safeties. If the corners are faster than the split ends, then the bump-and-run makes this defense more effective. If the split ends are faster, coaches will more than likely have to back the cornerbacks off somewhat.

Free Safety:

The free safety is a force player. He lines up to the quick or open side off of the defensive end. The free safety reads the defensive end to his side and plays off him. A free safety must fill the area the defensive end leaves open. He is primarily a contain player and must maintain proper outside leverage. In coverage the free safety will play the #2 receiver. This could be the slot receiver or a running back.

Strong Safety:

The strong safety serves as a fill player, if necessary. In zone coverage, he will rotate to the deep middle coverage. In man coverage, he will play the #3 receiver to the tight end, or strong side. This could be a running back out of the backfield in a more traditional set, or an outside receiver in a spread using trips, or a third man going to the strong side in motion.

Written by GBMW Staff

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