Washington’s Defensive Alignment

[December05]

Something interesting to keep in mind - from what I can gather, co-DCs Chuck Morell and William Inge (if one or both come) base out of a 4-2-5.

Given what we’re losing on the edge at LB this might be great timing to make that change, however, we’re going to have load up on traditional DE’s in the portal until we can recruit and develop them.

We have some guys already who can make that transition but not enough yet.

 

[Tidelines]

Overton should really help with that.

 

[gtgilbert]

Something interesting to keep in mind - from what I can gather, co-DCs Chuck Morell and William Inge (if one or both come) base out of a 4-2-5.

Given what we’re losing on the edge at LB this might be great timing to make that change, however, we’re going to have load up on traditional DE’s in the portal until we can recruit and develop them.

We have some guys already who can make that transition but not enough yet.

We've based out of a 4-2-5 between 75-80% of the time over the last 10 years. That's not really a change. Guys like Anderson, Turner and Braswell aren't going to the NFL as LBs, they are going as Edge players... Now perhaps the roles do change a little bit, but there's likely a bigger impact to the interior guys as they likely are not 2 gaps style from UW. We'll see how that plays out.

 

[AWRTR]

Don’t mean that’s what they will run at Bama. A lot will depend in who the DC is. I expect some guys with southern and SEC roots to be hired.

 

[December05]

We've based out of a 4-2-5 between 75-80% of the time over the last 10 years. That's not really a change. Guys like Anderson, Turner and Braswell aren't going to the NFL as LBs, they are going as Edge players... Now perhaps the roles do change a little bit, but there's likely a bigger impact to the interior guys as they likely are not 2 gaps style from UW. We'll see how that plays out.

It’ll be interesting to see if they target more traditional ends rather than hybrid types on the smaller side (for ends) that we used in the 3-4. It’ll be fun watching some reruns of UW to get a look at just the defense.

 

[December05]

Don’t mean that’s what they will run at Bama. A lot will depend in who the DC is. I expect some guys with southern and SEC roots to be hired.

I believe at least one of those guys will come and bring what Deboer is used to. With him as an offensive coach, it makes the DC that much more crucial in transitioning. Some of the position coaches will likely be where the SEC roots come from.

 

[gtgilbert]

It’ll be interesting to see if they target more traditional ends rather than hybrid types on the smaller side (for ends) that we used in the 3-4. It’ll be fun watching some reruns of UW to get a look at just the defense.

go re-watch our last several years - you'll see a 4-2-5 a vast majority of the time. You'll see very, very little 3-4 - in some games we NEVER ran it at all. We run (well, ran; past tense now) it with 2 groupings, one with a big DL at one edge, and an OLB at the other and the other grouping ran 2 smaller OLBs. If you look at the big grouping, it's likely the same as what other 4-2 teams ran, but with a little more action from the interior DL.

 

[GulfCoastTider]

How much time does Pruitt have left on his "show cause" sentence?

Askin' for a friend.

 

[dWarriors88]

Dang I just realized we're getting a completely different defense now. I think I'm still in shock from the retirement news, but I'm actually sad about having a defense not ran by CNS

 

[bamaga]

I’m not thrilled with that scheme, we played variations of a 4-2-5 with Golding at times, we were much better when we went back to a more traditional 3-4 this year. Not the best alignment vs physical teams . But the way football is defensed today, no team stays in base more than half the time.

 

[December05]

go re-watch our last several years - you'll see a 4-2-5 a vast majority of the time. You'll see very, very little 3-4 - in some games we NEVER ran it at all. We run (well, ran; past tense now) it with 2 groupings, one with a big DL at one edge, and an OLB at the other and the other grouping ran 2 smaller OLBs. If you look at the big grouping, it's likely the same as what other 4-2 teams ran, but with a little more action from the interior DL.

I see what you’re saying about the big grouping when we were obviously in nickel or dime much of the time. I just believe you’ll see more traditional DE’s recruited over the smaller hybrids and maybe less pre-snap movement over what used to be the Jack. Traditional DE’s weren’t recruited heavily for Saban’s system. I believe Oatis could slide back in full time with Keenan, and I believe Tim Smith and possibly Latham or one of the younger guys might be viable. That’s a group would hardly see on the field at the same time in the past. Just interesting to think about.

 

[gtgilbert]

I see what you’re saying about the big grouping when we were obviously in nickel or dime much of the time. I just believe you’ll see more traditional DE’s recruited over the smaller hybrids and maybe less pre-snap movement over what used to be the Jack. Traditional DE’s weren’t recruited heavily for Saban’s system. I believe Oatis could slide back in full time with Keenan, and I believe Tim Smith and possibly Latham or one of the younger guys might be viable. That’s a group would hardly see on the field at the same time in the past. Just interesting to think about.

so check this out:

2025 Washington Huskies Football Depth Chart | Ourlads.com

The most respected source for NFL Draft info among NFL Fans, Media, and Scouts, plus accurate, up to date NFL Depth Charts, Practice Squads and Rosters.

www.ourlads.com

and look at their 'EDGE' players. One is pretty much a Jack prototype player. The other is like an Eboigbe or 'big' DE like we have used just maybe a bit smaller.

Guys like Oatis, Keenan, or Smith aren't going to be 'edge' guys, ever really. Latham maybe could; the transfer in from ATM might be a good fit as the big edge also.

The positive to that, is we really don't have that many guys on the roster right now that fit the typical "edge" player role like Anderson, Turner and Braswell, so a small adjustment might be a positive thing

 

[gtgilbert]

I’m not thrilled with that scheme, we played variations of a 4-2-5 with Golding at times, we were much better when we went back to a more traditional 3-4 this year. Not the best alignment vs physical teams . But the way football is defensed today, no team stays in base more than half the time.

I've actually charted our D alignment for the last 10+ years, and we were NOT a 3-4 team. We ran the 4-2-5 alignment, before, during and after Gol*ing well over 75% to 80% of the time with the remainder being DIME, not a 3-4 except for short yardage and some goal line. We almost NEVER ran the 3-4 this year either. There were, many, many games that we never lined up in the 3-4 even for a single snap. See my other posts on this thread about the two grouping we used for the alignment. The only difference under gol*ing is that he would use 2DL and 2OLB guys way more, versus using 3DL and 1OLB (as others had) to make up the 4 man front.

 

[Padreruf]

I've actually charted our D alignment for the last 10+ years, and we were NOT a 3-4 team. We ran the 4-2-5 alignment, before, during and after Gol*ing well over 75% to 80% of the time with the remainder being DIME, not a 3-4 except for short yardage and some goal line. There were, many, many games that we never lined up in the 3-4 even for a single snap. See my other posts on this thread about the two grouping we used for the alignment. The only difference under gol*ing is that he would use 2DL and 2OLB guys way more, versus using 3DL and 1OLB (as others had) to make up the 4 man front.

I did not chart it, but in rewatching games focused on our defensive alignment. You are correct...4-2-5 was our dominant alignment. Surprised me to be sure...

 

[BamaBoySince89]

Not really an in-depth X’s and O’s person but could being in a 4-2-5 defense explain some of the drop off we’ve had on defense or we just didn’t have the dudes we’d like to run it?

In my mind, either we’ve struggled to sign the Quinnen Williams, Jon Allen, A’Shawn, and Ryan Anderson’s of the world or that alignment is not really working

 

[gtgilbert]

Not really an in-depth X’s and O’s person but could being in a 4-2-5 defense explain some of the drop off we’ve had on defense or we just don’t have the type of players we’d like to run it?

no, we've really used the 4-2-5 a majority of the time since Arenas and have recruited accordingly. The 3-4 as our base defense just isn't true for the last 10+ years.

Pruitt had us in the 4-2-5 a vast majority of the time, and those were some of the best defenses we had.

Gol*ing was the cause of the drop off. No more complicated than that. He tried to use different types of players in a different mix across the "4" and it just didn't work.

 

[gtgilbert]

Not really an in-depth X’s and O’s person but could being in a 4-2-5 defense explain some of the drop off we’ve had on defense or we just didn’t have the dudes we’d like to run it?

In my mind, either we’ve struggled to sign the Quinnen Williams, Jon Allen, A’Shawn, and Ryan Anderson’s of the world or that alignment is not really working

These are great examples! These guys all played somewhat different roles though.

A'Shawn was (at least by the time he left), a pure BIG. We really like to have one of these. Plays either one of the two interior spots equally well.

Quinnen was kinda the less big of the bigs. Interior, but a little better shaded over instead of directly over the center. If he has to play there he can though. If he ends up out near the edge, it ain't great, but could happen.

Allen - a flex 'big edge' - i.e. is our big guy on the DE, like an SDE, but if the D shifts over and he's got to cover an interior spot he can hold his own.

Anderson - Edge all the way. We'll move him side to side if needed to keep him on an edge

 

[bamaga]

The negative from the hire, CKD will have to shore up that defense. 96th will not work in Tuscaloosa. Not trying to be LSU.

 

[HighlandOak]

I'm ready for the change.

 

[crimsonaudio]

I have faith that CKD will get the defense right.