4-3 Shell Defense

16 formations across 6 groupings.

The 4-3 Shell defense playbook in College Football 27 has 16 formations across 6 families: 4-3 (4), 4-2-5 (1), Nickel (5), Dime (3), Prevent (1), Goal Line (2). Together they run 197 plays (105 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 4-3 Shell Defense playbook

4-3 — 4 formations, 45 plays

4-3 Over (9 plays)

1 Robber Press, Cover 2 Man, Cover 3 Sky, Cover 4 Quarters, Cover 6, LB Sting 1, Olb Fire Man, Sam Edge 3, Tampa 2

4-3 Over Walk (9 plays)

Cover 1 Hole, Cover 2 Man, Cover 3 Cloud, Cover 3 Match, Cover 3 Sky, Cover 4 Quarters, Fire Zone 2, Mike Will Blitz, Sam Will Blitz

4-3 Under (12 plays)

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

4-3 Under Wide (15 plays)

Cover 1 Fs Fire, Cover 1 Hole, Cover 1 Robber Press, Cover 1 Slant Crash, Cover 2 Man, Cover 3 Match, Cover 3 Sky Wk, Cover 4 Quarters, Free Fire, Fs Fire 3, Mike Sam Crash Press, Sam Blitz 2, Ss Sam Crash Press, Tampa 2, Will Go Fire 3

4-2-5 — 1 formation, 9 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

Nickel — 5 formations, 77 plays

Nickel Double Mug (9 plays)

Blitz Loop 3, Cover 1 Hole, Cover 2 Invert, Cover 3 Match, Cover 3 Sky, Field Sim 3, Mid Blitz 0, Nickel Dog 3 Buzz, Tampa 2

Nickel Load Mug (12 plays)

Cover 1 LB Blitz, 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 1, Tampa 2

Nickel Single Mug (14 plays)

1 LB Dog, Cover 1 Hole, Cover 1 Robber Press, Cover 2 Man, Cover 3 Cloud, Cover 3 Match, Cover 4 Palms, Cover 4 Quarters, Cover 6, Cover 9, DT Mike Loop 3, Nickel 2 Trap, 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 — 3 formations, 51 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, Dbl Safety Go, Double Bracket, Edge Blitz 3, Hot Blitz 3, 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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