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Over Front

Defense

also: Over

A four-down front with the 3-technique set to the defense's declared strength and the nose or 1-technique set away from it.

Over front against a 2x2 shotgun spread set. The back is offset right, creating the strength call to that side. The 3-technique is outside the right guard, and the 1-technique shades the center away from it.
Over puts the 3-technique toward the strength call.

In an Over front, the 3-technique defensive tackle aligns to the defense's strength call. The nose tackle aligns as a 1-technique shading the center away from the call. This sets the primary interior gap responsibilities:

3-Technique to Strength
Aligns on the strong guard's outside shoulder to control the strong B gap, leaving the strong guard covered.
1-Technique (Nose) Away
Shades the center to the weak side, leaving the weak-side guard uncovered.
Linebacker Fits
With four linemen occupying four gaps, the inside linebackers fill the two open interior bubbles (the strong A gap and the weak B gap).

Over identifies the interior tackle alignment relative to the strength call, whether the defense operates out of base 4-3 personnel or a 4-2-5 nickel package.

Also calledOver
Not to be confused withUnder front, Odd front

One common run fit

Shown from a one-gap 4-2-5 against Inside Zone left from 10 personnel. The weak linebacker fits B, the other inside linebacker fits the strong A gap and the nickel stays outside the box.

One common Over run fit against Inside Zone left. Solid arrows send the two inside linebackers into the open weak-side B gap and strong-side A gap. The nickel remains outside the box.
With the line taking four gaps, the inside linebackers close the two interior gaps left open by Over.

A note on how the term is used

The declared strength depends on the defensive game plan. One staff may set the strength call to an attached tight end (Y), another to passing strength (trips/twins), and another to the wide side of the field.

Where you will hear it

  • four-down fronts
  • 4-3 and 4-2-5 defenses

Related terms