The 4-2-5 Defense: A Running Back’s Biggest Nightmare
The number of the day is 42. That number represents the amount of yards that Elon University rushed for against North Carolina during Saturday’s 62-0 affair. 42 yards on 36 total attempts giving the Phoenix an average of 1.2 yards per carry. That’s a tough stat to swallow for any team no matter who the opponent is. Yes, North Carolina’s defense has more size and speed than that of Elon’s, but that doesn’t take away from their ability to execute new defensive coordinator Dan Disch’s newly installed 4-2-5 defense to perfection.
Traditionally, North Carolina has lined up in a 4-3 scheme. The formation calls for three linebackers behind four defensive lineman. This defense really plays to stopping the run because there are seven total players in the box which puts pressure on the remaining four players in the secondary to defend the pass. As I mentioned earlier, UNC has evolved from a 4-3 to a 4-2-5 which would suggest more coverage against the pass because on paper, the defense reads like it has five players in the secondary and only two linebackers. After watching Saturday’s game, I would suggest the contrary.
The way Disch has his defense set up is that he has three linemen up front, two linebackers, two corners, and two safeties. The other two remaining players are hybrid positions which in this case, are known as “Ram” AND “Bandit”. The “Bandit” positions himself up front in one of the defense end slots and is used in blitz schemes rushing the quarterback and can also be used in some coverage. The “Ram” acts as a third linebacker but is typically more athletic and can mirror almost as another safety and drop back into coverage similar to Nickel packages. In UNC’s case on Saturday, Dion Guy acted as the Bandit and Gene Robinson acted as the Ram.This allows Disch to switch back and forth from a 4-3 to a 3-4 almost at will while using a completely different formation
As always, stopping the run begins upfront. Kareem Martin, Sylvester Williams and Tim Jackson are the primary ends and tackles and Dion Guy is lined up front as the Bandit. The way most run plays get stopped is by the defense collapsing the line and leaving the runner no where to go, but to the outside towards the sideline where there is limited room to operate. In cases for runs to the outside, those players in hybrid roles (Guy and Robinson) are charged with forcing the rusher back inside close to the line of scrimmage by creating what would initially be a hole in the defense that is filled by linemen and linebackers just as quickly as it appears.
The point of frustration from opposing backs during the course of the season will be the constant change of blitz and coverage schemes called by Disch especially from those hybrid positions. Running backs won’t know until the play starts who the linebackers or the linemen are. The early confusion frees up guys like Martin and Williams to expose the holes in the blocking and stop runs before they get started. It also allows North Carolina to play faster, better athletes up front and give more of an attacking focus. If Carolina can show the same consistency and ferociousness up front all season as they did on Saturday, the Heels could make some noise in the ACC. I think Disch would love to see 42 total rushing yards on a weekly basis.