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Clinic Talk: terms and phrases for defensive football

We're here to talk about the differences between even and odd fronts, 1-gap and 2-gap schemes, and the subtleties of the schemes (Miami 4-3, 4-2-5, 3-4 and Tampa 2). I will also discuss defensive line techniques, linebacker alignments, and even a little about coverages (cover 4, 2, and 2-man).

When you're talking about defensive football the first thing you need to know is what defense is your school running? As 'Canes fans know, Mark D'Onofrio liked to run a vanilla 3-4 defense but Manny Diaz, per history and the spring game, will run a 4-3 and 4-2-5 mix that fits what many call "Miami talent," and will bring pressure sometimes at the risk of exposing holes in coverage.