How to Run a Football Defense: 4-3

Video Transcript

"Hey, Coach Rudy, Big Ten Alumni. Forty-three defense, cover two behind it. Perfect defense to run against a team that likes to go wide. They like to pitch, run options, maybe run the veer, something like that. They like to throw screens, they like to get out on the flats. They've got backs that are really active and try to make you miss. Four-three's good. You dedicate the resources, you shut down the flats, you get the linebackers up, and you got your defensive backs flying to the vulnerable spots. Let's take a look at it. Here is the Mike linebacker and the Will linebacker. Here is the Buck--you got Sam now is in the back, with the free safety. So, you got your four down linemen, shaded inside eye, or in the gap. You've got your linebackers committed to run first, pass, Will flies out here, Mike here, Buck over here. Sam's flying to the vulnerable spot in between the number and the hash. You've got the free safety flying out to the hash, right. If you have a receiver that can do their business and get in between, then you're going to have some problems. You're corners are jamming, playing run support to take away the flats. Forty-three's a great defense for an older team, and a really aggressive young team that has a fundamental understanding. Forty-three is a good defense to play against a team that likes to run wide. That's what you should run."