4-3 Defense

17 formations across 6 groupings.

The 4-3 defense playbook in College Football 27 has 17 formations across 6 families: 46 (1), 4-3 (6), Nickel (6), Dime (1), Prevent (1), Goal Line (2). Together they run 207 plays (110 unique). 4-3 is the largest group with 6 formations. Click any formation to see its plays with play art, switch to Diagrams for pre-snap alignments, and use the shift viewer to watch same-personnel formations morph into each other.

Every play in the 4-3 Defense playbook

46 — 1 formation, 9 plays

46 Bear (9 plays)

46 Mid Blitz, Cover 1, Cover 3, Engage Eight, Gap Press, LB Blitz 3, Safety Fire, Slant Weak, Slant Weak 3

4-3 — 6 formations, 78 plays

4-3 Even 6-1 (9 plays)

Cover 1 Hole, Cover 1 Mlb Blitz, Cover 2 Man, Cover 3 Buzz, Cover 4 Quarters, Mike Will Blitz, Sam Blitz 3, Sam Will Blitz, Tampa 2

4-3 Odd (9 plays)

Cover 1 Robber Press, Cover 2 Man, Cover 3 Cloud, Cover 3 Sky, Cover 6, LB Dogs, Pinch 4 Palms, Strong Slant 3, Tampa 2

4-3 Over (12 plays)

1 Robber Press, Cover 1 Hole, Cover 2 Hard Flat, Cover 2 Man, Cover 3 Cloud Str, Cover 3 Sky, Cover 4 Quarters, Cover 6, LB Sting 1, Olb Fire Man, Sam Edge 3, Tampa 2

4-3 Over Wide (12 plays)

Cover 1 Contain, Cover 1 Hole, Cover 1 Robber, Cover 2 Invert, Cover 2 Man, Cover 3 Sky, Cover 4 Quarters, Cover 6, Fire Man, Free Fire 3, Sam Blitz 3, Tampa 2

4-3 Under (18 plays)

1 Contain Press, 1 Robber Press, Cover 1 Hole, Cover 2 Invert, Cover 2 Man, Cover 3 Hard Flat, Cover 3 Match, Cover 3 Sky Wk, Cover 4 Quarters, Dbl Safety Blitz, Free Fire 0, Fs Fire 1, Fs Fire 3, Hammer 0 Blast, Sam Crash 1, Sam Crash 3, Tampa 2, Will Go Fire 3

4-3 Under Wide (18 plays)

Cover 1 Contain Press, Cover 1 Fs Fire, Cover 1 Hole, Cover 1 Hole Press, Cover 1 Robber Press, Cover 1 Slant Crash, Cover 2 Invert, Cover 2 Man, Cover 3 Match, Cover 3 Sky Wk, Cover 4 Quarters, Free Fire, Fs Fire 3, Mike Sam Crash Press, Sam Blitz 2, Ss Sam Crash Press, Tampa 2, Will Go Fire 3

Nickel — 6 formations, 87 plays

Nickel Double Mug (9 plays)

2 Invert Hard Flat, Blitz Loop 3, Cover 1 Hole, Cover 2 Invert, Cover 3 Match, Cover 3 Sky, Mid Blitz 0, Nickel 2 Trap, Tampa 2

Nickel Load (15 plays)

0 LB Cross Games, 1 LB Cross Games, Cover 1 Robber, Cover 2 Man, Cover 3 Cloud, Cover 3 Match, Cover 3 Sky, Cover 4 Palms, Cover 4 Quarters, Cover 6, Cover 9, Double Bracket, LB 3 Seam Games, Overload 3 Seam, Tampa 2

Nickel Load Mug (12 plays)

Cover 1 LB Blitz, Cover 2 Man, Cover 3 Cloud, Cover 3 Match, Cover 3 Sky, Cover 6, Hot Blitz 3, LB Blitz 0, LB DE Twist 3, Nickel Blitz 1, Nickel Sim 2, Tampa 2

Nickel Single Mug (15 plays)

1 LB Dog, Cov 2 Invert Hard Flat, Cover 1 Hole, Cover 2 Invert, Cover 2 Man, Cover 3 Cloud, Cover 3 Match, Cover 3 Sky Press, Cover 4 Palms, Cover 4 Quarters, Cover 6, DT Mike Loop 3, Nickel 2 Trap, Nickel Blitz 3, Tampa 2

Nickel Wide (15 plays)

Cover 1 Hole, Cover 1 LB Blitz, Cover 1 Robber Press, Cover 2 Invert, Cover 2 Man, Cover 3 Match, Cover 3 Sky Press, Cover 4 Palms, Cover 4 Quarters, Cover 6, Dbl Safety Blitz, Nickel 2 Trap, Nickel Blitz 3, Silver Shoot Pinch, Tampa 2 Contain

Dime — 1 formation, 18 plays

Dime 3-2 (18 plays)

Cover 1 Contain Spy, Cover 1 Robber Press, Cover 2 Hard Flat, Cover 2 Man, Cover 3 Buzz Match Wk, Cover 3 Cloud, Cover 3 Hard Flat, Cover 3 Lock, Cover 4 Drop, Cover 4 Palms, Cover 4 Quarters, Cover 6, Dbl Safety Go, Edge Blitz 3, Hot Blitz 3, Tampa 2, Tampa 2 Drop, Zero Blitz

Prevent — 1 formation, 3 plays

Prevent 3 Deep (3 plays)

Cover 3, Man 3 Deep, Prevent

Goal Line — 2 formations, 12 plays

Goal Line 5-3 (6 plays)

Gaps Ab, Gaps All, Gaps All LB, Gaps B, Gl Man, Mlb Gap A

Goal Line 6-2 (6 plays)

60 Base, 60 Half Out, 60 Out, 60 Out Jacks, 60 Pinch, Guts

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