Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2021 11:01:18 GMT -6
I trust Zim on defense I wish the offense could be meet with the same energy, but I see what he is trying to do on defense.
DN: What Changes Could be Coming to the Vikings’ Defense? by wludford
DN: What Changes Could be Coming to the Vikings’ Defense? by wludford
What is a 4-2-5 Defense?
At it’s most basic, a 4-2-5 defense is simply a nickel defense which most NFL defenses use most of the time - including Mike Zimmer. In Zimmer’s 4-3 scheme, it’s simply replacing a linebacker with a defensive back, typically a slot cornerback. It’s usually done in passing situations or when the offense has 3 wide receivers. But there is a broader, more complete scheme that operates with the same number of defensive linemen, linebackers, and defensive backs as well.
The origins of the 4-2-5 defense go back a long way, but the modern version is usually credited to Gary Patterson at TCU over ten years ago, and has since spread to many other college football teams, including Alabama, and among the pro ranks in New England and Seattle, which have used it at times.
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Above is a standard alignment for a 4-2-5 defense. The numbers corresponding to the number of defensive linemen (4), linebackers (2), and defensive backs (5). The strong safety (SS) is aligned as an ‘overhang’ defender on one side of the box, and the Star (S) or nickelback is aligned on the other side. The star or nickelback defender is essentially another safety - someone who can cover but is also a good tackler and effective in run defense, and who can also be an effective blitzer.
Normally an opposing offense in a 2x2 formation, meaning 2 WR/TE/RB on either side of the formation, as shown here, may opt to run against this defensive formation, because with only six defenders in the box, versus six blockers, they have the advantage. Indeed, one of the more common trends among NFL offenses in recent years is to have a run or pass play option, depending on how many defenders are in the box pre-snap, along with down-and-distance considerations. Against a traditional nickel defense, the quarterback may focus on how the nickelback is aligned, in particular if they are positioned inside the box or not, and call a run or pass play based on that. Similarly, against a traditional 4-3 base defense, with a 3rd linebacker instead of a nickelback, a quarterback could option a pass where the F-back (as in Flex) runs a route with a linebacker in coverage, hoping to take advantage of a mismatch in coverage. Sometimes even a traditional tailback/fullback combination in the backfield can motion a good pass-catching tailback to the slot and take advantage of the linebacker-in-coverage mismatch. Having a nickelback or star defensive back eliminates the ability of an offense to take advantage of the linebacker mismatch.
But with the 4-2-5 defensive formation, there remains a perceived weakness against the run. This is where having two big, run stuffing interior linemen come into play - aka Michael Pierce and Dalvin Tomlinson. Those two linemen can combine to effectively control three of the four interior gaps, plugging those running lanes, while a linebacker can control the remaining one, the defensive ends the outside gaps, with one linebacker remaining to flow and fill as necessary. The two safety ‘overhang’ defenders can also provide run support against between-the-tackle runs, while being well positioned to disrupt outside runs or when the running back bounces outside after finding the interior plugged. Finally there is the free safety charging downhill in run support. The run defense mentality for the box and overhang defenders is an inside-out approach: looking first for inside runs, and that not being the case, flowing outside to defend perimeter runs.
Against the pass, the 4-2-5 has a few advantages. First, there are five defensive backs, which eliminates easy mismatches against a slower linebacker not as adept in coverage.
Secondly, the alignment of the overhang defenders and linebackers create more uncertainty for a quarterback and offensive line when it comes to blitz packages. Any one (or more) of the overhang safeties or linebackers could blitz, or twist, which makes it difficult to manage pass protection - because they all come from the same look.
Lastly, the five defensive backs provide for a great deal of flexibility in coverage scheme. Pretty much any coverage scheme can be run out of this pre-snap formation. Cover-1, where the free safety plays a center-field zone and the two cornerbacks play man coverage, or Cover-3, where the two cornerbacks drop or bail to cover deep thirds of the field and the free safety covering the middle third. One of the overhang safeties could also drop back, enabling either a Cover-2 (split safety) or Cover-4 (quarters) coverage scheme. In Cover-2 man, the safeties play zone in each deep half of the field, and the cornerbacks play man coverage underneath. In Cover-4, the cornerbacks drop or bail to zone cover the two outside quarters of the field, and the safeties the two interior quarters. This latter scheme is often used in shorter field or red-zone defense. There are other options (Cover-6) that can occasionally be used, and at least a dozen variations of each scheme as well. There is also what is known as pattern-matching, which is increasing in popularity, where cornerbacks may play zone or man coverage depending on the route combination run by opposing receivers. For example, an outside cornerback may play man coverage if the outside receiver on his side runs a deep vertical route, such as a go, post, or corner route. If that receiver runs a shorter route, he plays zone coverage.
At it’s most basic, a 4-2-5 defense is simply a nickel defense which most NFL defenses use most of the time - including Mike Zimmer. In Zimmer’s 4-3 scheme, it’s simply replacing a linebacker with a defensive back, typically a slot cornerback. It’s usually done in passing situations or when the offense has 3 wide receivers. But there is a broader, more complete scheme that operates with the same number of defensive linemen, linebackers, and defensive backs as well.
The origins of the 4-2-5 defense go back a long way, but the modern version is usually credited to Gary Patterson at TCU over ten years ago, and has since spread to many other college football teams, including Alabama, and among the pro ranks in New England and Seattle, which have used it at times.
Above is a standard alignment for a 4-2-5 defense. The numbers corresponding to the number of defensive linemen (4), linebackers (2), and defensive backs (5). The strong safety (SS) is aligned as an ‘overhang’ defender on one side of the box, and the Star (S) or nickelback is aligned on the other side. The star or nickelback defender is essentially another safety - someone who can cover but is also a good tackler and effective in run defense, and who can also be an effective blitzer.
Normally an opposing offense in a 2x2 formation, meaning 2 WR/TE/RB on either side of the formation, as shown here, may opt to run against this defensive formation, because with only six defenders in the box, versus six blockers, they have the advantage. Indeed, one of the more common trends among NFL offenses in recent years is to have a run or pass play option, depending on how many defenders are in the box pre-snap, along with down-and-distance considerations. Against a traditional nickel defense, the quarterback may focus on how the nickelback is aligned, in particular if they are positioned inside the box or not, and call a run or pass play based on that. Similarly, against a traditional 4-3 base defense, with a 3rd linebacker instead of a nickelback, a quarterback could option a pass where the F-back (as in Flex) runs a route with a linebacker in coverage, hoping to take advantage of a mismatch in coverage. Sometimes even a traditional tailback/fullback combination in the backfield can motion a good pass-catching tailback to the slot and take advantage of the linebacker-in-coverage mismatch. Having a nickelback or star defensive back eliminates the ability of an offense to take advantage of the linebacker mismatch.
But with the 4-2-5 defensive formation, there remains a perceived weakness against the run. This is where having two big, run stuffing interior linemen come into play - aka Michael Pierce and Dalvin Tomlinson. Those two linemen can combine to effectively control three of the four interior gaps, plugging those running lanes, while a linebacker can control the remaining one, the defensive ends the outside gaps, with one linebacker remaining to flow and fill as necessary. The two safety ‘overhang’ defenders can also provide run support against between-the-tackle runs, while being well positioned to disrupt outside runs or when the running back bounces outside after finding the interior plugged. Finally there is the free safety charging downhill in run support. The run defense mentality for the box and overhang defenders is an inside-out approach: looking first for inside runs, and that not being the case, flowing outside to defend perimeter runs.
Against the pass, the 4-2-5 has a few advantages. First, there are five defensive backs, which eliminates easy mismatches against a slower linebacker not as adept in coverage.
Secondly, the alignment of the overhang defenders and linebackers create more uncertainty for a quarterback and offensive line when it comes to blitz packages. Any one (or more) of the overhang safeties or linebackers could blitz, or twist, which makes it difficult to manage pass protection - because they all come from the same look.
Lastly, the five defensive backs provide for a great deal of flexibility in coverage scheme. Pretty much any coverage scheme can be run out of this pre-snap formation. Cover-1, where the free safety plays a center-field zone and the two cornerbacks play man coverage, or Cover-3, where the two cornerbacks drop or bail to cover deep thirds of the field and the free safety covering the middle third. One of the overhang safeties could also drop back, enabling either a Cover-2 (split safety) or Cover-4 (quarters) coverage scheme. In Cover-2 man, the safeties play zone in each deep half of the field, and the cornerbacks play man coverage underneath. In Cover-4, the cornerbacks drop or bail to zone cover the two outside quarters of the field, and the safeties the two interior quarters. This latter scheme is often used in shorter field or red-zone defense. There are other options (Cover-6) that can occasionally be used, and at least a dozen variations of each scheme as well. There is also what is known as pattern-matching, which is increasing in popularity, where cornerbacks may play zone or man coverage depending on the route combination run by opposing receivers. For example, an outside cornerback may play man coverage if the outside receiver on his side runs a deep vertical route, such as a go, post, or corner route. If that receiver runs a shorter route, he plays zone coverage.
... and neither is this Chris guy.