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Side Align Tech Key Run To Run Away Pass

Strong 9 tech TE D Gap C Gap - Chase Left Outside Contain

Strong 3 tech OG B Gap B Gap - Squeeze A Gap B Gap

Weak 1 tech C A Gap A Gap A Gap

Weak 5 tech OT C Gap C Gap - Chase C Gap

Strong 60 tech OG to RBs C Gap A Gap - Slow Pursuit

Strong Strong 00 C to RBs A Gap B Gap

Weak 40 tech OG to RBs C Gap Slow Pursuit

You can see above that this is a fairly simple defense to run out of its base. Each D-linemen is

responsible for a single gap. The LBs are essentially two gapping, playing inside out.
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One thing you will notice though is that this defense presents bubbles, 3 bubbles in fact: strong-

side C; strong-side A; and weak-side B. Some of these are easier for offenses to attach thanothers, but they do present an offensive advantage because they allow offensive linemen to either

get free releases to the second level or to have good blocking angles on defensive linemen.

So if it's such a weak rush defense, why has MSU been so good at rush defense? There's many

reasons for that, including the backend coverage. But what we're going to focus on today is what

the front 7 does to defend the run, namely defensive line adjustments and aggressive LB play.

Defensive Line AdjustmentsI'll start off with a video directly from MSU Defensive Coordinator Pat Narduzzi (found thanksto our SB Nation Brethren "The Only Colors")

Thanks Pat, that's a helpful starting point. Let's go ahead and summarize this now.

Base 4-3 Over
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Your base 4-3 over front is safe. It covers everything fairly well and is relatively balanced. It's a

good formation to stop the run to the strong side (the side which most teams predominately runto). It's also set up relatively well to rush the passer, and allows for an expanded blitz package.

It's greatest weakness is the weakside ISO play. Let's diagram that and show why.

As you can see, the offensive line can get a solid double on the NT. The NT is lined up close

enough to the Center for the Center to quickly take over the block and the WOG (weakside
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offensive guard) has a good angle at the MIKE. The 5 tech DE can be kicked out by the WOT,

and the FB has a direct block to the WILL. Because it's a relatively large gap for the WILL to

defend, it is very difficult, even if he quickly attacks and fills, for the WILL to successfully stopthe play. WILL would prefer to keep the play inside by attacking with his inside shoulder,

keeping his outside arm free, as more help defense is in the middle of the field rather than

outside. If the ball carrier can break outside the defense will give up big yards.

Other plays that work well: weakside inside zone; weakside power with a pulling center (if you

have a center that can do that sort of thing). Mostly, it's the ISO though.

So what did MSU do when they played a team that loves to run weakside ISO, Boise State?

Over GOne of the front adjustments Narduzzi mentioned was the Over G.

By simply sliding the NT from a 1-tech to a 2-tech, which is the same gap just a differentshoulder. Now the center has a much more difficult time to overtake the NT and allow the OG to

get to the next level. The angle the center has on the MIKE is either too steep to likely beat him

to the spot or the NT is still too much in the way to get the correct angle. On top of that, the NT

must be doubled because he must be rooted out of that position, otherwise the running laneshrinks and congests when you throw in the WILL, FB, and then RB. MSU typically does this

when the weakside of the formation is to the field.

Here's some video:

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The Over I is used to stop plays like power, or more so, to stop sweeps to the outside and strong

side zone runs. Because the DT is lined up over top of the OT, the OT struggles to get to thesecond level and LBs become difficult to block because the offensive line doesn't have the angle

to reach them. This is why this formation will be run against a lot of twin TE sides.

The weakness here is now ISO to either side or any sort of weakside run.

DE Pinch

In the film I watched I didn't see a lot of Jam or Cage, but the concept was still used quite a bit,so here are diagrams.

Jam:

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Cage:

Jam is often used when there is a TE and two WR to a single side of the field. The reason to run

this isn't really much about the run at all, but actually the pass. By lining up the DE over the TEand jamming him, you allow the MIKE to react first to pass and give him time to react and drop

and pick up the #3 receiver (TE). Meanwhile, the DE has slide down in gap responsibility to the
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C gap. This allows the SDE to have D gap responsibility. Because he has outside responsibility,

it allows him to have initial motion toward the flat, allowing him to get out quicker in coverage.

The same can be said for Cage coverage. It allows the WILL to have C gap responsibility and get

out into the flat.

Here's video of MSU running a DE pinch type front.

Notre Dame goes deep and doesn't attack the flat, but you can see the position of the WILL

already gaining ground toward the flat, despite even taking a few steps to bite on the run action.

Because he has C gap responsibility, he doesn't need to bust across the formation or overcommit.

Here's video of them not.

This is a bit unfair because of the action away from the play, which likely would have drawn the

OLB to a degree regardless, but it does demonstrate the ground he is forced to make up byhaving to defend an inside gap against the run and the flat against the pass.

What this type of thing is used more often for is to set up the blitz. By pinching the DE, the DE isable to get into the inside shoulder of his blocker (TE for SDE, OT for WDE) and turn him. One

the blocker is turned, it is nearly impossible for the blocker to react and pick up the corner blitz.

MSU loves to blitz the boundary corner against nub (no WR on that side) formations.

Conclusion

So while the 4-3 over has some weaknesses, MSU makes up for it in a variety of ways. Thisincludes very small but significant alignment changes on the D-line. It also involves blitzingfrom the secondary and LB level. One thing that wasn't mentioned much, if at all, also deals with

the fact that MSU runs a cover 4. That is, the cover 4 allows the LBs to be very aggressive and

downhill. While the weaknesses and strengths of this coverage will be discussed next time, thecombination of the front seven and back end coverage is a big reason why MSU defense has

been so successful.

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