Variations of the 4-2-5

Tim Place adds the Stack and the Bear to the base 4-2-5 defense in Part 2 of his five-part series. Both are 8-man front configurations that force the offense to prepare for multiple looks and three different coverages, yet Urbana University moves in and out of them without substituting or teaching much that is new. The movements themselves, Stem to 4, Move to Bear and Flip to Stack, are easy to execute and create confusion for the offense.

What you'll learn

• The strategy behind variations of the 4-2-5 defense.
• The Stack 8-man front and where it is most effective.
• The Bear 8-man front and where it is most effective.
• Running the same coverages from every variation without a great deal of new instruction.
• Movements within the Stack and Bear: Stem to 4, Move to Bear and Flip to Stack.
• Making adjustments without substitution.
• How the variations create confusion for your opponent.

Who it's for

High school and college defensive coordinators who already run the 4-2-5 or another four-down front and want 8-man front looks without a new set of coverages.

About the coach

Tim Place installed the 4-2-5 as defensive coordinator at Urbana University in Ohio before becoming the Blue Knights' head coach; his defenses ranked among the NAIA's national leaders in sacks and rushing defense.

Part 2 of Coach Place's five-part 4-2-5 series, with extensive game film. Runtime: about 53 minutes.