Ole Miss Pete Golding 4-2-5 Replacement Pressures

I love to study DC Pete Golding. Pete was at Alabama before becoming the defensive coordinator at Ole Miss the past two years. He is one of the best at what I call replacement pressures. These type of pressures are safe pressures in which you end up only sending four rushers with a LB from depth. They can be broken down into 2 areas, creepers or simulated pressures.

Again, A replacement pressure can be categorized 2 ways as a creeper or simulated pressure. This occurs when you bring a 2nd or 3rd level defender, a LB or DB, in exchange for dropping a 1st level defender on the DL. These pressures are great as they only require 4 rushers and do not sacrifice coverage in pressuring Offenses. They can be zone or man as I have shown in my other articles. In many coaches vocabulary a Simulated Pressure is giving the illusion of bringing 6 “often with mug looks” and only rushing 4. This is one of the reasons the name simulated pressure came about. This pressure has 6-7 potential rushers that the OL must try to account for.

You can run replacement pressures out of any front. You can do it out of an Odd front and bring a 4th designated rusher and play coverage or you can do it out of a 4 Down look and bring a rusher that is not in the front and drop one of the 4 Down into coverage. With the RPO system there are benefits of dropping a first level defender into coverage b/c the QB does not account for him.

This article looks at these type of replacement pressures which will look at some creepers. Let’s look at 3 zone replacement pressures. All 3 are of the cover 3 variety with CB as deep 1/3 players.

Before we get to the calls, this is how I label guys for your viewing purposes.

You have a Star, Anchor, free safety, Mike and Will. The Star, Mike and Anchor will usually align to the same side and passing strength.

Call: Mike Loop 3 Buzz Strong

Pressure: Mike rushes outside the c gap as the tackle and the defensive end rush inside.

Coverage Underneath: Star buzzes the flat, Anchor drops to the hook, Will plays the hook, DE away from the call drops to the flat