Pete Golding Ole Miss 4-2-5 Run Defense: #1 in the Country

Pete Golding has had a major impact on the defense at Ole Miss. They have been very effective thus helping them to back to back successful seasons. They were 11-2 in 2023 and 10-2 in 2024.

They were impressive overall as a defense. They were 4th in the country in scoring defense, just allowing 15-6 points a game. They also were the top team in the country against the run, only allowing 15. 6 points a game.

Let’s look at their scheme as I will break into 2 parts. I will look at their 4-2 run defense and how they play certain elements in their run fits. In the 2nd part I will look at how they adapt to the boundary. Certain split field concepts that they use. They do also sprinkle in some odd run defense and play it at times, I will focus on the 4-2-5 concept.

A couple things about their defense:
The first part is they are primarily a 4-2-5 defense who will move to some odd fronts but that likes to stay 2 high and allow their DB to play the pass with split field concepts. They are not overly aggressive with their back end in the run fits. This means that their LB are usually 2 gap or lag fit players. That means that they aren’t attacking their gap on the snap, they lag fit many of their run schemes, which in simple terms has them play 2 gaps or as some coaches call it “know before you go.” They are well trained on moving laterally and filling appropriately in the run game.

Here’s the front from a 2 high view.

Wide Clip of Alignment

Run Fits

Here are some run fit examples. You see the LB slow play or stack fit it as people like to call it. They do a great job working downhill laterally, reading and fitting accordingly. They often allow their LB to play 2 gap schemes so they can keep their integrity on the back end.

Formation to the Boundary

He will often put the Sam/or adjust his safeties with the safety down to the formation into the boundary which allows him to keep his safety over the top to the field. This helps with stopping those 1x1 situations to the field. We will take a closer look at this in part 2 which will be out shortly.

#2 Formation into the Boundary

Again they align the safety to the boundary.

#3 FIB Alignment

They run different concepts with their split field vs formation to the boundary. Here is 1.

They bring the CB in a trap type scheme below. They can use the CB or safety in a support type role with either 2 trap or bring the safety down to the run support and play the CB as a deep 1/2 player.

Here it’s the CB.

The CB is playing trap coverage.

I will be doing another article on their FIB coverage concepts.

Head up Front

Other than his traditional 4-2, he will play his defensive tackles and move them with either some twists inside or some plugs with some other movements.

Twist stunts

They will move and run some twist and T& E stunts as well as some twists depending on where the back is aligned.

They will run some twist stunts inside on early downs that are influential in their run game.

Film

LB Plug Pressures(Sim Pressures)

A plug pressure is when one LB blitzes and the other primarily reads it. They do this often, and can add some movements with the defensive line into the equation. They run a T and E game with the plug below. These plugs will turn into a sim if the ball is not run.

Example plug #2

The DT goes out, the LB shoots off a with the other LB reading it.

The 3rd one is in short yardage.

The offenses is in unbalanced and motions and tries to run the ball inside. They pass off the motion and the Safety is covering the TE man to man. But the TE on the ball is ineligible which allows that safety to be aggressive in the fit!

The safety does a great job staying in position and playing it well.

Example #4

They run the plug. The offense is running split zone. The h has to take the LB which frees up the LB over the top!

Plug Video Clips