4-2-5 Man Defense

16 formations across 7 groupings.

The 4-2-5 Man defense playbook in College Football 27 has 16 formations across 7 families: 4-3 (1), 4-4 (1), 4-2-5 (4), Nickel (5), Dime (2), Prevent (1), Goal Line (2). Together they run 190 plays (97 unique). Nickel is the largest group with 5 formations. Click any formation to see its plays with play art, switch to Diagrams for pre-snap alignments, and use the shift viewer to watch same-personnel formations morph into each other.

Every play in the 4-2-5 Man Defense playbook

4-3 — 1 formation, 9 plays

4-3 Over Solid (9 plays)

Cover 1 Sting, Cover 2 Invert, Cover 3 Match, Cover 3 Sky Wk, Cover 4 Quarters, Fs Blitz, Hammer 0 Blast, Saw 0 Blast, Tampa 2

4-4 — 1 formation, 9 plays

4-4 Split (9 plays)

Cover 1, Cover 2 Invert, Cover 3, Cover 3 Match, Crash 3, Fs Blitz, LB Fire, Monster Green, Zone Blitz

4-2-5 — 4 formations, 54 plays

4-2-5 3 High (9 plays)

3 Double Cloud, 3 Double Sky, Blitz DT Pop, Cover 3 Match, Cover 4 Quarters, Edge Blitz 3, Hot Blitz 3, LB Blitz 0, Tampa 2

4-2-5 Even (18 plays)

1 Double Slot, 1 Double TE, 1 Double Wr1, 1 Double Wr2, Cover 1 Hole, Cover 1 Robber, Cover 2, Cover 2 Man, Cover 3 Match, Cover 3 Sky, Cover 4 Quarters, Cover 6, Cover 6 Willie, LB Blitz, Mike Ss 3, Ss LB Blitz, Ws Blitz 1, Ws Blitz 3

4-2-5 Over G (15 plays)

1 Double Slot, 1 Double TE, 1 Double Wr1, 1 Double Wr2, Cover 1 Hole, Cover 2, Cover 2 Man, Cover 3 Match, Cover 3 Sky, Cover 4 Quarters, Cover 6, Cover 6 Willie, LB Blitz, Ss Blitz 3, Ws Blitz 1

4-2-5 Under (12 plays)

Cover 1 Contain Press, Cover 1 Fs Fire, Cover 1 Hole Press, Cover 2 Man, Cover 3 Hard Flat, Cover 3 Match, Cover 3 Sky Wk, Cover 4 Quarters, Free Fire, Mike Sam Crash Press, Safety Blitz, Tampa 2

Nickel — 5 formations, 73 plays

Nickel Double Mug (9 plays)

Blitz Loop 3, Buck Zone Blitz, Cover 1 Hole, Cover 3 Match, Cover 3 Sky, Mid Blitz, Nickel Overload 3, Ss Blitz 3, Tampa 2

Nickel Over (18 plays)

1 Double Slot, 1 Double TE, 1 Double Wr1, 1 Double Wr2, Cov 2 Man Contain, Cover 1 Contain, Cover 1 Hole, Cover 1 LB Blitz, Cover 1 Robber Press, Cover 2 Man, Cover 3 Match, Cover 3 Sky, Cover 4 Palms, Cover 4 Quarters, Cover 6, Nickel Blitz 3, Over Storm Brave, Tampa 2

Nickel Single Mug (12 plays)

1 LB Dog, Blitz Tex 3 Sim 3, Cover 1 Hole, Cover 1 Robber Press, Cover 2 Man, Cover 3 Match, Cover 3 Sky Press, Cover 4 Quarters, Cover 6, DB Blitz Tex 3, Nickel Blitz 3, Tampa 2

Nickel Wide (15 plays)

Cover 1 Hole, Cover 1 LB Blitz, Cover 1 Robber Press, Cover 2 Man, Cover 3 Match, Cover 3 Sky Press, Cover 4 Palms, Cover 4 Quarters, Cover 6, Dbl Safety Blitz, Nickel 2 Trap, Nickel Blitz 3, Over Storm Brave, Silver Shoot Pinch, Tampa 2 Contain

Dime — 2 formations, 30 plays

Dime 3-2 (18 plays)

1 Double Wr1, 1 Double Wr2, Cover 1 Contain Spy, Cover 1 Robber Press, Cover 2 Man, Cover 3 Lock, Cover 4 Palms, Cover 4 Quarters, Cover 6, Cover 6 Willie, Dbl Safety Go, Double Bracket, Edge Blitz 1, Hot Blitz 3, Overload 3 Seam Press, Tampa 2, Tampa 2 Drop, Zero Blitz

Dime Single Mug (12 plays)

1 LB Dog, Blitz Tex 3, Cov 3 Buzz Show 1, Cover 1 Games, Cover 1 Hole, Cover 1 Robber Press, Cover 2 Man, Cover 4 Palms, DB Blitz, DB Blitz Tex 3, Dbl Safety Blitz, Tampa 2

Prevent — 1 formation, 3 plays

Prevent 3 Deep (3 plays)

Cover 3, Man 3 Deep, Prevent

Goal Line — 2 formations, 12 plays

Goal Line 5-3 (6 plays)

Gaps Ab, Gaps All, Gaps All LB, Gaps B, Gl Man, Mlb Gap A

Goal Line 6-2 (6 plays)

60 Base, 60 Half Out, 60 Out, 60 Out Jacks, 60 Pinch, Guts

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