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Tite Front

Defense

also: Tite · 404 front · 4i-0-4i front

A three-man front with a nose over the center and two defensive linemen inside the tackles: 4i-0-4i.

Tite front against a 2x2 shotgun spread set with the back offset right. A zero-technique nose aligns over the center, and two 4i defensive linemen align on the inside shoulders of the tackles. The Jack and Sam widen toward the slots while the Will and Mike remain paired inside.
The 4i-0-4i interior covers the center and both tackles while leaving the guards uncovered.

The Tite front (often called the 404 or 4i-0-4i front) is a three-down defensive alignment featuring a nose tackle head-up over the center (0-technique) and two defensive tackles aligned on the inside shoulders of both offensive tackles (4i-techniques).

Aligning the interior linemen in a 4i-0-4i structure creates distinct strategic advantages against spread and zone-option offenses:

Closes Both B Gaps
The 4i tackles naturally occupy the B gaps, squeezing interior running lanes and preventing offensive tackles from easily climbing to inside linebackers.
Frees Inside Linebackers
Because the nose and 4i tackles eat up the interior gaps and disrupt combination blocks, the inside linebackers are kept clean to flow freely to the ball.
Protects the Box with Light Numbers
By securing the interior with three down linemen, the defense can keep two overhang defenders apexed in space to defend RPOs and perimeter screens.

Tite defines the 4i-0-4i interior alignment; edge rules and walked-up outside linebackers vary based on the specific package (such as the Mint front).

Also called404 front, 4i-0-4i front
Not to be confused withBear front, odd front, Mint front, Tite tag

One common run fit

Shown from a two-high 3-4 defense against Inside Zone left. The Jack and Sam widen as overhangs near the slots; the coverage call determines their pass responsibility. The Jack plays force outside the left tackle. The Sam honors a backside throw or quarterback keep before maintaining the backside C gap and contain. The nose lags to the backside A gap, the 4i defenders squeeze B, the Will fits the playside A gap and the Mike tracks the run from inside-out behind him.

One common Tite run fit against Inside Zone left from a two-high 3-4 defense. Corners align over the wide receivers, the Jack and Sam align as overhangs near the slots, the Jack plays force outside the left tackle, the Sam maintains backside contain, the Will fits the playside A gap and the Mike tracks the run from inside-out without crossing him.
The detached slots widen the Jack and Sam before the snap; Tite still protects the interior with its 4i-0-4i line.

A note on how the term is used

When a coach says Tite, the part you can count on is the 4i-0-4i interior. Some staffs use Mint as another name for it; others make Mint a separate call with an edge linebacker walked onto the line.

Where you will hear it

  • three-down defenses
  • 4-2-5 and 3-3 structures
  • defenses built to handle spread RPOs

Related terms