Objective
Stop the run with one-gap linemen and fast linebackers, and generate a four-man pass rush without blitzing.
Setup
Area
Tackle box to the edges, line of scrimmage to about 7 yards deep
Players
7 front defenders (4 linemen, 3 linebackers) against a scout offense with a tight end
Equipment
1 ball, Stand-up bags for scout linemen, Cones to mark each gap
Duration
15–20 minutes of front install per practice for the first two weeks
How it works
- 1
Identify the strength
The Mike calls the offensive strength before the snap, usually the tight end side or the side with more receivers. Every front call and linebacker alignment keys off that call, so it has to be loud and early.
- 2
Set the Over front
In an Over front the line shifts toward the strength: the strong-side tackle sits in a 3-technique on the outside shoulder of the guard, the nose shades the center to the weak side (a 1-technique), and both ends align in 5-techniques outside the tackles. The Sam plays off the ball outside, the Mike aligns in the middle and the Will plays off the weak tackle.
- 3
Set the Under front
In an Under front the line shifts away from the strength: the 3-technique moves to the weak side, the nose shades the center to the strong side, and the Sam walks up on the line over the tight end as a stand-up edge player. The weak-side end can widen to rush. With the Sam on the line, Under looks like a five-man front.
- 4
Fit the run by gap
A tight end gives the offense seven gaps along the line, and a lead back adds an eighth. Four linemen take four, the three linebackers take three more, and a safety rolls down to the last one. Draw every gap letter on the board and give each defender one.
- 5
Rush four, drop seven
On passing downs the four linemen rush, with the 3-technique and weak-side end as the main threats. The linebackers drop to hook and curl zones or pick up backs and tight ends in man, matching the coverage behind them: Cover 3, Tampa 2 or quarters are common 4-3 pairings.
| Position | 4-3 Over | 4-3 Under |
|---|---|---|
| Strong-side end | 5-technique outside the strong tackle, C gap | 5-technique outside the strong tackle, C gap |
| Strong-side tackle | 3-technique on the strong guard, B gap | 1-technique shading the center, strong A gap |
| Weak-side tackle | 1-technique shading the center, weak A gap | 3-technique on the weak guard, weak B gap |
| Weak-side end | 5-technique outside the weak tackle, C gap | 5-technique or wider, weak C gap and contain |
| Sam | Off the ball outside the tight end, D gap | On the line over the tight end, D gap |
| Mike | Off the ball, strong A gap | Off the ball, strong B gap |
| Will | Off the ball, weak B gap | Off the ball, weak A gap |
Coaching points
Linemen attack their gap with the near foot and near hand, then find the ball; a one-gap player who reads first gets washed out.
The Mike reads the guards: a guard stepping at him means run, a guard setting back means pass.
The Will is the linebacker most often kept clean, so he should be the fastest pursuer and the most reliable open-field tackler.
The Sam takes on the tight end and fullback with his inside arm free, spilling or squeezing the run according to the call.
Against spread sets the Sam ends up covering a slot receiver in space; if he cannot, swap him for a nickel rather than hoping.
Variations
4-3 with a nickel
Replace the Sam with a nickel defensive back against three-receiver sets. The front stays four down, but the defense gains a coverage player on the slot, which is how many modern teams play most snaps.
Wide 9 ends
Align both ends far outside the tight end or tackle to rush on long-yardage downs. It creates speed around the edge but opens bigger interior gaps, so linebackers must fill quickly against the run.
Build it in Coach Board
When the front shifts, the linebackers should see who moved instead of relearning the whole defense. Build the Over front on a Coach Board field with gap letters next to each defender, duplicate the board and slide the line to make the Under front, so players can flip between the two. Animate a power run against each board and share both as links before practice so the Mike can rehearse his strength call at home.