4-2-5 Shell Defense

16 formations across 6 groupings.

The 4-2-5 Shell defense playbook in College Football 27 has 16 formations across 6 families: 4-3 (1), 4-2-5 (4), Nickel (6), Dime (2), Prevent (1), Goal Line (2). Together they run 207 plays (106 unique). Nickel is the largest group with 6 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 Shell Defense playbook

4-3 — 1 formation, 3 plays

4-3 Even 6-1 (3 plays)

Cover 1 Hole, Cover 2 Man, Cover 4 Quarters

4-2-5 — 4 formations, 63 plays

4-2-5 3 High (9 plays)

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

4-2-5 Under (12 plays)

Cover 1 Hole, Cover 2 Man, Cover 3 Match, Cover 3 Sky Wk, Cover 4 Quarters, Free Fire, Hammer 0 Blast, Mike Sam Crash Press, Sam Blitz 2, Tampa 2, Will Go Fire 3, Wk Corner Blitz

Nickel — 6 formations, 93 plays

Nickel Double Mug (9 plays)

Blitz Loop 3, Buck Zone Blitz, Cover 1 Hole, Cover 3 Match, Cover 3 Sky, Field Sim 3, Mid Blitz, Nickel Dog 3 Buzz, Tampa 2

Nickel Load Dbl Mug (12 plays)

1 DT LB Loop, Blitz Loop 0, Blitz Loop 3, Blitz Loop Sim 3, Cb Bench Sim 2, Cover 1 LB Blitz, Cover 3 Match, Cover 3 Sky, LB Blitz 6, Redzone DT Drop, Side Blitz, Tampa 2

Nickel Load Mug (15 plays)

Blitz Loop Sim 3, Cover 2 Man, Cover 3 Cloud, Cover 3 Match, Cover 3 Sky, Cover 6, Cover 6 Willie, Hot Blitz 3, LB Blitz 0, LB DE Twist 3, Nickel Blitz 0, Nickel Blitz 1, Nickel Blitz 2, Nickel Blitz 3, Tampa 2

Nickel Single Mug (18 plays)

1 LB Dog, Blitz Tex 3 Sim 3, Cov 3 Buzz Match Wk, Cover 1 Hole, Cover 1 Robber Press, Cover 2 Man, Cover 3 Buzz Match, Cover 3 Cloud, Cover 3 Match, Cover 3 Sky Press, Cover 4 Palms, Cover 4 Quarters, Cover 6, Cover 9, DB Blitz Tex 3, DT Mike Loop 3, Nickel Blitz 3, Tampa 2

Nickel Wide (18 plays)

Cov 3 Buzz Match Wk, Cover 1 Hole, Cover 1 LB Blitz, Cover 1 Robber Press, Cover 2 Invert, Cover 2 Man, Cover 3 Buzz Match, Cover 3 Match, Cover 3 Sky Press, Cover 4 Palms, Cover 4 Quarters, Cover 6, Cover 9 Show 2, Dbl Safety Blitz, Nickel 2 Trap, Nickel Blitz 3, Silver Shoot Pinch, Tampa 2 Contain

Dime — 2 formations, 33 plays

Dime 3-2 (18 plays)

Cover 1 Contain Spy, Cover 1 Robber Press, Cover 2 Man, Cover 3 Buzz Match Wk, Cover 3 Cloud, Cover 3 Lock, Cover 4 Drop, Cover 4 Palms, Cover 4 Quarters, Cover 6, Cover 6 Willie, DB Fire 2, Double Bracket, Okie Eagle 3, Overload 3 Seam Press, Tampa 2, Tampa 2 Drop, Zero Blitz

Dime Normal (15 plays)

3 Double Buzz, Cov 3buzz Show 1, Cover 1 Contain, Cover 1 Robber Press, Cover 2 Man, Cover 3 Buzz Match, Cover 4 Palms, Cover 4 Quarters, Cover 6, Dbl Safety Blitz, Dime Blitz 3, LB Blitz 1, Overload 3 Show 2, Ss Blitz 3, 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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