4 – 2 Adjustments To The Spread Offense

Sean MartinDefensive Coordinator

Raymore-Peculiar High SchoolMissouri Class 5 State Champions 2004, 2005 & 2006

smartin@raypec.k12.mo.us

Considerations

• What is the offense is trying to do?

• Where do they want to throw the ball to?

• Types of routes?

• QB Qualities---

Considerations

• Receiver and back alignment

• Ability of the O-Line

• There still is seven on the line and eight gaps that must be defended

• What are your defensive strengths

Adjust Alignment or Personnel?

– Consider your situation and personnel.

– In our situation, two platoon, we have felt like we always had someone to go in or make a move to shore things up.

– Probably don’t have the athletes to make personnel changes versus groups so we adjust the alignment of our personnel.

How We Adjust our Personnel

– We are a basic 4 – 2 defense that run a multiple front defense.

– Spread personnel vs. 21 or 11 personnel

– As the spread offense has become more popular, it has forced us to find more athletic outside backers that have the ability to cover an outside receiver and to adjust playing over the top.

Adjustments

• Four linemen must be athletic.

• Our Sam linebacker will remain in the box

• Mike linebacker will most likely stay in the box

• Throw out the adage of “one running back, one linebacker”

Versus a 2 x2 alignment, our outside backers will go to the #2 receivers

03 Cover 5(Man)O O

O OO O O C O O OC W T N E C

P M S $

F

Versus a 2 x2 alignment, our outside backers will go to the #2 receivers

03 Cover 2(Man)O O

O OO O O C O O OC W T N E C

M S $ P F

Versus a 3 x 1 alignment, our outside backer(P) will go to the #2 receiver, the free safety will go to #3 and the $ will roll over the top. The stud will pick-up

any receiver motion and the free safety will roll back over the top

03 Cover 5(Man) O O

O O O O O C O O OC W T N E C

P M S F

$

Versus a 3 x 2 alignment, our outside backer(P) will go to the #2 receiver, the mike ILB will go to #3, the $ will go to the #2 on the two receiver side and the free will play over the top. The $, P, and free safety will pick-up any receiver

motion and the free safety will roll back over the top

03 Cover 5(Man)O

O O OO O O C O O OC W T N E C

P M S $

F

Versus a 3 x 1 alignment with a tightend, the end will play a wide technique(7) our outside backer ($) will go to the #3 receiver, the mike ILB will go to #2, and

the free will play over the top. The Panther will pick-up any receiver motion weak. On back motion strong, the free would roll up and the panther would roll

deep.

31 Cover 5(Man) O O

O O O O O C O O

OC E N T W

C M $ S P

F

Versus a unbalanced alignment, we will slide our D-line one technique to the unbalanced side. The tight end will be declared “dead”, alerting the officials

and teammates that the TE is an ineligible receiver. The stud would then cover #2 receiver.

31 Cover 5(Man)

O O

O O

O O O O C O O

C E N T W P C

$ S M

F