4-2-5 In the NFL

[Schneed10]

Cool thread. Something to make me actually think about football strategy. Nice.

The obvious vulnerability in the 4-2-5 is defending the run. You take one big body out of that front 7 and play the extra safety even remotely removed from the box, you're begging the opposing QB to check to a power running play.

The 4-2-5 is probably the best scheme to use against a team like the Eagles, who like to spray the ball around with quick-hitting passes. They don't have the threat of the power running game, and the extra safety on the field gives you just a tad more speed to help you cope with Michael Vick.

But if I'm lining up against the Cleveland Browns with Joe Thomas leading that line and Peyton Hillis waiting back there to pound the rock like an old school John Riggins, I'm not taking that 3rd LB off the field. It's hard enough to hold that team to 4 yards per carry even with a 4-3 or 3-4 alignment as it is. And until Colt McCoy proves himself, I wouldn't worry about my base 4-man secondary getting too torn up.