Summer is upon us and leaves some time for a visit to the lab and a review of the new coaches at Miami for the 2025 season. The most prominent change Miami saw in their coaching staff was the removal of Lance Guidry as DC, replaced by an up-and-comer in the coaching world, former Minnesota DC Corey Hetherman.
Disclaimer: This article will be wordy, with lots of technical dialogue and more in-depth analysis than I would typically include into one of these. If that’s not your thing, this will not be for you. If it is, sit back, grab a drink, follow along as we dive deeper into Corey Hetherman’s defense, only at Upon Further Review.
What went wrong?
Before diving into Minnesota defense, I want to look back at the failed Guidry era and try to understand where it went wrong. On film, the Guidry defense from Marshall was strong. It brought many different exciting elements including an aggressive 1-gap style, physical man-coverage on the outside, talent development stories, sum of its parts results etc. He earned a stamp of approval from me when I reviewed his past and thought Miami had found a strong new coach.
Where things went wrong are difficult for me to say definitively, but ultimately what it comes down to is I believe that Guidry failed to evolve. Once offenses adapted to the current defensive landscape and found ways to exploit holes in the Miami defense, Guidry was powerless to find answers. Simple motion caused communication issues constantly. Gap movement (adding a gap, moving the bubble etc.) looked like Mandarin to Miami defenders. Tom Herman once famously called Kirby Smart’s defenses the “Palms Up” defense because his pace/tempo had the defenders with their palms up asking what the call was as the ball was being snapped. That’s what defense looked like for Miami last year on most snaps, only Guidry never had the answers on what the call should be.
Calling a great defensive game is often about breaking tendencies, knowing when to call your counters, and when to call pressure. When to set traps, lay bait, or push coverage to the correct areas. All of those things seemed to be off last year after a few injuries happened. Pressure mounted, personalities clashed, and Guidry retreated into a shell defense hoping against hope that the offense would make a mistake so they could get off-the-field. No matter what contributed- be it personnel, injury, talent, or other- Guidry simply could not return after he showed himself incapable of teaching his defense in a way defenders could understand and overcome personnel issues.
Corey Hetherman Defense:
Minnesota last year ran a hybrid defense with multiple fronts, coverages, and pressure packages. Hetherman looked to get his LB’s and DB’s involved in pressure and changed the post-snap picture on the offense often.
Hetherman accomplished all of this by using an odd front that allowed for flexibility to switch spacing, pressure packages, and maintain balance to both sides of the defense (passing strength and run strength). Nick Saban was famous for his defenses finding a way to always maintain numbers to both sides of the field and keep leverage (Saban was the GOAT in teaching outside leverage to his DB’s for maintaining proper leverage and inserting numbers to keep contain).
Minnesota Film:
Vs. Illinois (Offense Overview)
Illinois runs a Pro-Spread they like to call a “Tempro” attack.
Minnesota comes out in a 3-4 front with a 4i (covers B-gap) to the passing strength and a 7-tech (covers C-gap between nub TE and LT) to the rushing strength. Passing strength is where more receivers are and rushing strength is where more blockers or larger bodies are (typically side the TE lines up). They also have a Flex Jack LB standing up on the LOS as a 9-tech. A variation of Hetherman’s Base Tite or Mint front.
Coverage wise you see the CB eye-to-eye with the WR aligned square to him. This generally signifies man pre-snap. To the field side, you see the S and CB communicating the coverage. Pre-snap, it is a typical stack with the LB over Slot and the S stacked over the top. The S’s appear to be in cover-2 with Middle of Field Open (MFO).
But you see why when he was at James Madison his players were quoted as saying, “super-aggressive, disguise-everything defense” post-snap as the coverage morphs into a different look. Pat Bryant (drafted 3rd round by Broncos goes in motion, the S is already blitzing and to the side he vacated, the ILB that was over Bryant shifts inside.
At the snap, Minnesota is slanting and squeezing everything away from the pressure and towards the motion (to keep numbers). The S now replaces the Jack as the Contain player. This inserts the S as a Creeper, while also becoming the COP (Contain Outside Player, but ALSO responsible for the QB). #92 turns his shoulders and runs the heels on the LOS to force the QB to have a keep call on the Zone-Read.
You’ll notice that Bryant has flipped his motion to come back counter to initial motion and is now running along the with the mesh on Read and is the third option on this play for a pass. I spoke about the coverage picture changing post-snap and you will see that Minnesota is actually running cover-1 man (MOC), rather than the cover-2 look they gave pre-snap. You’ve also used Odd-spacing to keep your Mike free on this play in run support.
The Creeper S takes his COP role too seriously and let’s Bryant run by him here rather than covering him and forcing QB to run. #4 gets the block on #5 and Bryant has an explosive run down the LOS. It was a great play call by Illinois, as they have the numbers outside even if the S covers Bryant and the QB can pull and run (though it’s probably not as big of a gain).
Next play they start in a similar alignment, but the NT is shaded rather than head-up. Spread teams are looking to expose that B-gap with space and you can see the B-gap looks open pre-snap. Passing strength to the field so your edge is aligned in a 5-technique and will probably employ a Roscoe technique (Rush Outside and Contain).
Hetherman likes to blitz his nickel from the side opposite of the RB. He can drop that low-safety into the coverage to replace the pressure, keep numbers to both halves of the field, and bring 5-man pressures. I want you to pay attention to another element that the Hetherman defense likes to accomplish; that NT is looking to get across the face of the C and “Pin” the run into pressure. That NT is trying to explode through that gap and not just occupy the C, Pin the A-gap (forcing a RB to bounce), but he is also looking to prevent that pulling T from getting out to the Mike. Illinois is running G/T Counter (A staple run play for Spread Option teams to insert Gap runs into their base offense, this is perhaps THE run play that Lincoln Riley likes to run, especially with a mobile QB). #91 gives a subtle grab of that T’s arm as he tries to get through. Edge to Pass Strength is, in fact, playing Roscoe which forces that G to arc around to get to the pressure.
The picture of coverage has once again changed post-snap. Middle defender now has feet planted, eyes on QB, while the defense drops into Cover-3. NT keeps Mike free (an absolute feature of Hetherman’s defense is his ability to keep Mike free) and the defense has pushed everything to that B-gap with a free Mike. TFL.
Defense gets to 3rd down, which is where DC’s make their name and their money. Minnesota is running a 5-1 (five-man front, one LB, five DB’s) “Penny” front (I’ve also seen it called Poker).
At the snap they run an E/T stunt with coverage having “Eyes-On” QB in Zone. It’s hard to know without the call, but I Minnesota is driving on anything underneath, with the outside CB being responsible for stopping anything outside. CB who is squatting on the hash is “reading” receivers and passing the inside and taking the Seam or anything breaking outside intermediate. The result is a difficult long throw outside the hash for the QB and a punt.
Out of a Tite Front, the defense “pushes” everything to the A-gap and has two free ILB’s to support the run scraping from A-C gaps (a theme in Hetherman’s defense is to keep those ILB’s free). The Jack is doing a “surf” technique, where he squares to the LOS and shuffles down the LOS. Realistically, this is a “give” look for the QB when the Edge has square shoulders, but he pulls anyway and runs right into the Jack and fumbles the ball. That low safety is inserting himself into the run fit and the defense is rotating into Cover-1 Man post-snap. The low-safety is a Robber if it’s a pass and will Rob the hook zone/slant.
After the turnover, Minnesota has a “Call” between the Jack and LB. Impossible to know what they’ve checked to without the call, but you see this sort of communication based on the formation on most plays. Jack communicates to LB, who communicates to Field CB.
Remember how I said Hetherman loves to blitz from the opposite side of the RB and push coverage to pass strength. Here he blitzes the CB from the opposite side and gets free. TFL as the give goes right into front. Manufacture numbers in pressure and then make sure you have numbers to both halves. It’s pretty impressive what he does with his Flex defense.
If I’m an offense, it wouldn’t take me long to anticipate pressure from opposite RB side, especially when that S comes low. Here he steps low again and that’s exactly where the pressure comes from as it morphs into Cover-1 from a Cover-2 look.
Run a Mint Front against trips with a Sniffer off LT. Illinois tries to pull the LT and Sniffer, but the ILB is once again free and makes a big TFL.
This is a Mike and S five-man pressure that is pretty cool. They’ll run Palms behind it (Quarters) and blitz both Mike and S into A gaps. This is a great way to get OL and RB to commit and not recognize the S pressure coming behind it.
Both Edges pinch and Contain, which funnels any run inside into the A/B gaps. Mike knifes past the C and then the S follows behind completely free. Downside to this play, of course, is if that Mike gets blocked out and the RB makes that S miss in the hole, you’ve got a chance at going out the gate.
Even the broadcast puts a circle around this backside Safety as they anticipate the low S inserting and the coverage rolling into MOFC (in this case Cover-1). And again, the pressure is opposite the RB with low S inserting.
Once again that S is a Creeper that also becomes a COP. One of the two missed a call or missed their read (either S plays QB too hard when he should’ve been out-to-in or #45 is late).
Vs. North Carolina (Offense Overview)
North Carolina ran a Power-Spread in 2024 they called “Power Spread with Tempo.”
Hetherman is constantly getting his ILB free, but here he doesn’t make the tackle in the hole against Hampton (who is very good).
I show this to illustrate what Hetherman was taking over at Minnesota. Kirby Smart lists his pillars of defense and of course winning 3rd down is the money. Hetherman took them from 124th in FBS to 68th at 39.5%.
First 3rd and short and UNC goes to Gap-run and utilize their H-Back as a lead blocker against an odd front. You’ll see Minnesota once again looks to pin that run by getting vertical through the A-gap with the nose. This serves as a funnel for the defense to steer the RB directly into the leverage strength of the defense and he’s stopped for a one-yard gain. You can see the S to the opposite side of the RB is inserting himself into the run fit before the RB even has the ball. Backside of the defense is flat-footed with eyes on QB in case he pulls or it’s an RPO.
4th down and they go with a single post safety and crowd the A-gap. This formation is a dead giveaway that some form of pressure is coming as that B-gap to the field is completely uncovered. Pressure comes from that LB and the Jack drops to the flat to the boundary to stop the back-shoulder while CB bails to take vertical.
They also blitz the nickel to create a five-man pressure. Boundary safety is pressing down on the shallow crosser and there to contest if the QB sees the pressure (he doesn’t). Two defenders to field side have two receivers and are boxing. Inside defender carries the inside two-way go, outside CB matches the carries the outside guy and presses hip. There’s a deep safety for the vertical (shown on the 11-yard line in above snip). QB throws to that sideline receiver and it’s into a tight window and the WR is out of bounds. Turnover on downs.
North Carolina has countered the pin action that Minnesota is trying to run in the A gap with just letting him go and hitting him with a backside block. Then a sniffer has released out onto the LB two plays in a row (both big runs for Hampton). This defense is predicated on getting pressure, funneling the runner back into the defense, and keeping the ILB clean. When they don’t replace or they get lost and blocked, they can get gashed in the A-gap. Circled LB by the announcer misses a tackle from backside. #24 is arcing into the C-gap and overplays this one. #9 has the backside Glance in an RPO against that sniffer, so he stays flat-footed until sniffer declares (and gets himself blocked, ha).
It happens so frequently, I probably should just stop highlighting it, but pressure comes from the S opposite the RB. He makes a TFL. North Carolina loved that #81 as an offset and turning him into a FB with a slice block (#81 for UNC was really good at being a move TE).
Here is a gif from X on how they Creep the S opposite the RB into the B-gap. Again, it’s a staple of the defend to send pressure away from the RB and use the NT to pin zone runs back into the defense, or Gap runs to insert an extra defender.
3rd down is for the pressure plays. Mug the B-gap with a standup LB, communicate it to opposite ILB and the Nickel (two hybrid positions that are asked to do a ton in this defense).
Post-snap, the mugger actually drops into the hook in Cover-3 (there is a deep post safety not in screen) and the opposite ILB that he communicated to is actually taking the RB if he releases and spying the QB if he doesn’t release (he releases). Changing that picture post-snap (especially on money downs) is almost a must in today’s college game. (QB escapes to the field side and gets the 1st down here)
He got the 1st down, but I’ll take this process and expect they aren’t going to get away most of the time. ILB takes a poor angle here and S loses the ball.
You run an unbalanced line against Minnesota and that backside defender is going to pressure almost every time. Comes in free and completely whiffs on the tackle.
Johnson must be a better runner than I thought because he scores a TD here. DC gets you a free rusher and a LB in space and you both whiff.
Even on the outside the defense is schooled in their technique to funnel everything back inside to the defense. Here, #20 is more concerned with keeping with leverage to the outside as the swing screen is taking place. Stacks and sheds and this pass goes for a loss.
On 3rd and long is where Hetherman can use some of his creative packages. Here is a “Penny” front where Mike is to the field side (passing strength). Mug the gaps and then drop one or send all five. Normally play Quarters or cover-1 behind it.
Hetherman brings them all but also inserts a Creeper into the pressure package with the nickel. Penny is playing underneath coverage and spying the QB. Goal is to get pressure home before routes can reach the sticks. Penny plants his feet and keeps eyes on QB until the read (RPO mesh) is completed.
UNC blocks it up and the Penny has to play the flats and take the H after he releases to the flat as DB’s drop into quarters. QB got skittish in the pockets and turfs it. A good QB probably completes this for a 1st down, but such in life when you bring six and get blocked. This is the play that Max Johnson blew out his knee and was done.
This is the single biggest piece of this Tite/Bear/Tilt base front that needs to be remembered is that the defense has to replace that edge contain on every play they squeeze the A/B gaps. Here, they squeeze inside with the Jack, the 4i goes outside to Roscoe (Rush Outside Contain), but the defense replaces the C-gap edge contain with the big nickel who walked out over the #2. It becomes man with that S in bracket, so a Glance route would’ve hurt the defense if it had been the call to the #2, but he goes vertical. You must always keep the numbers on halves of the field in this defense to remain sound. QB tries to run, goes into the back of his blocker, tries to bounce it outside and runs right into new C-gap defender who replaced.
3rd-and-long is for the Penny package. Mug the gaps and you can send them all, drop, use Creepers to replace or rush. It’s all about remaining versatile and varied. Breaking tendencies at the correct times. Sometimes it’s C3 (zone), or C1 (man), or Quarters behind it.
Here, they dropped both muggers and turned it into zone under in all four quadrants of underneath coverage. QB couldn’t hit the hole shot.
Backside S drops into B-gap to handle this Draw play, but Hampton is good, so he makes him miss, gets outside #64 into the C-gap and goes for 20. As far as RB’s seeing this, Hampton really presses the hole and look at the ankle flexion this player has to make jump cuts. Guess that’s why he went 1st round, but the DC did his job.
Again, your DC does his job. Has a replacement Contain player who is supposed to play contain outside. Because Hampton is #Good, he goes for the RB and drops too far inside. QB bubbles outside of the Contain player. CB to boundary sees the QB escaping and jumps it. The problem is, of course, that receiver is now running free down the sideline. QB gets it to him for an explosive play. DC does his job, players break their rules (and a QB being fast enough to get outside helped break the rules). #17 to the bottom of the screen has teaching tape on playing Roscoe and keeping one free.
Here is a huge play in this game and you can see the rotation happening just at the snap. #2 is now rotating into a zone look, where he gave man cues prior to snap (outside leverage, face-to-face over WR, press look). ILB is already leaning forward to blitz that bubble in open B-gap. 9-teach Edge is going to squeeze and be replaced by that nickel on outside force in the C-gap.
Defense pinched and rotated into Quarters behind it. This run is fitted to be funneled all inside and they get the stop for a TFL. The concept of replacement is something that has to be reminded over-and-over to keep leverage and numbers. The Miami defense last year was constantly out leveraged because they didn’t replace consistently enough or fast enough or with proper technique.
North Carolina kicks a FG to win it, but Minnesota had their own FG try and missed at the buzzer. Hetherman’s defense did its job big time in this one.
Disclaimer: This article will be wordy, with lots of technical dialogue and more in-depth analysis than I would typically include into one of these. If that’s not your thing, this will not be for you. If it is, sit back, grab a drink, follow along as we dive deeper into Corey Hetherman’s defense, only at Upon Further Review.
What went wrong?
Before diving into Minnesota defense, I want to look back at the failed Guidry era and try to understand where it went wrong. On film, the Guidry defense from Marshall was strong. It brought many different exciting elements including an aggressive 1-gap style, physical man-coverage on the outside, talent development stories, sum of its parts results etc. He earned a stamp of approval from me when I reviewed his past and thought Miami had found a strong new coach.
Where things went wrong are difficult for me to say definitively, but ultimately what it comes down to is I believe that Guidry failed to evolve. Once offenses adapted to the current defensive landscape and found ways to exploit holes in the Miami defense, Guidry was powerless to find answers. Simple motion caused communication issues constantly. Gap movement (adding a gap, moving the bubble etc.) looked like Mandarin to Miami defenders. Tom Herman once famously called Kirby Smart’s defenses the “Palms Up” defense because his pace/tempo had the defenders with their palms up asking what the call was as the ball was being snapped. That’s what defense looked like for Miami last year on most snaps, only Guidry never had the answers on what the call should be.
Calling a great defensive game is often about breaking tendencies, knowing when to call your counters, and when to call pressure. When to set traps, lay bait, or push coverage to the correct areas. All of those things seemed to be off last year after a few injuries happened. Pressure mounted, personalities clashed, and Guidry retreated into a shell defense hoping against hope that the offense would make a mistake so they could get off-the-field. No matter what contributed- be it personnel, injury, talent, or other- Guidry simply could not return after he showed himself incapable of teaching his defense in a way defenders could understand and overcome personnel issues.
Corey Hetherman Defense:
Minnesota last year ran a hybrid defense with multiple fronts, coverages, and pressure packages. Hetherman looked to get his LB’s and DB’s involved in pressure and changed the post-snap picture on the offense often.
Hetherman accomplished all of this by using an odd front that allowed for flexibility to switch spacing, pressure packages, and maintain balance to both sides of the defense (passing strength and run strength). Nick Saban was famous for his defenses finding a way to always maintain numbers to both sides of the field and keep leverage (Saban was the GOAT in teaching outside leverage to his DB’s for maintaining proper leverage and inserting numbers to keep contain).
Minnesota Film:
Vs. Illinois (Offense Overview)
Illinois runs a Pro-Spread they like to call a “Tempro” attack.
- They run a shotgun based, 11 personnel offense that is multiple in formation packaging
- Inside-Zone is their bread-and-butter run concept (like most Spread teams)
- Split-Zone with a slicer TE (usually from a Sniffer alignment) and attach a Glance, Stick, or Bubble as the RPO
- G/T counter like you’d see from Lincoln Riley is probably their favorite gap concept
- Use offset H-back as a FB out of Diamond to get numbers for Altmyer to run
- 3 x 1 Gun looks with Pat Bryant to boundary and get him matched up advantageously
- Low zone or LOS screens game, especially with Counters or Misdirection
- Tempo is mainly run on 1st/2nd down and they like to run tempo when they have a formation advantage. When they go “heavy” they tend to slow it down
- Illinois runs a really cool offense that is difficult to prepare for (I didn’t know it fully before going into this exercise. Their OC is pretty good.)
Minnesota comes out in a 3-4 front with a 4i (covers B-gap) to the passing strength and a 7-tech (covers C-gap between nub TE and LT) to the rushing strength. Passing strength is where more receivers are and rushing strength is where more blockers or larger bodies are (typically side the TE lines up). They also have a Flex Jack LB standing up on the LOS as a 9-tech. A variation of Hetherman’s Base Tite or Mint front.
Coverage wise you see the CB eye-to-eye with the WR aligned square to him. This generally signifies man pre-snap. To the field side, you see the S and CB communicating the coverage. Pre-snap, it is a typical stack with the LB over Slot and the S stacked over the top. The S’s appear to be in cover-2 with Middle of Field Open (MFO).
But you see why when he was at James Madison his players were quoted as saying, “super-aggressive, disguise-everything defense” post-snap as the coverage morphs into a different look. Pat Bryant (drafted 3rd round by Broncos goes in motion, the S is already blitzing and to the side he vacated, the ILB that was over Bryant shifts inside.
At the snap, Minnesota is slanting and squeezing everything away from the pressure and towards the motion (to keep numbers). The S now replaces the Jack as the Contain player. This inserts the S as a Creeper, while also becoming the COP (Contain Outside Player, but ALSO responsible for the QB). #92 turns his shoulders and runs the heels on the LOS to force the QB to have a keep call on the Zone-Read.
You’ll notice that Bryant has flipped his motion to come back counter to initial motion and is now running along the with the mesh on Read and is the third option on this play for a pass. I spoke about the coverage picture changing post-snap and you will see that Minnesota is actually running cover-1 man (MOC), rather than the cover-2 look they gave pre-snap. You’ve also used Odd-spacing to keep your Mike free on this play in run support.
The Creeper S takes his COP role too seriously and let’s Bryant run by him here rather than covering him and forcing QB to run. #4 gets the block on #5 and Bryant has an explosive run down the LOS. It was a great play call by Illinois, as they have the numbers outside even if the S covers Bryant and the QB can pull and run (though it’s probably not as big of a gain).
Next play they start in a similar alignment, but the NT is shaded rather than head-up. Spread teams are looking to expose that B-gap with space and you can see the B-gap looks open pre-snap. Passing strength to the field so your edge is aligned in a 5-technique and will probably employ a Roscoe technique (Rush Outside and Contain).
Hetherman likes to blitz his nickel from the side opposite of the RB. He can drop that low-safety into the coverage to replace the pressure, keep numbers to both halves of the field, and bring 5-man pressures. I want you to pay attention to another element that the Hetherman defense likes to accomplish; that NT is looking to get across the face of the C and “Pin” the run into pressure. That NT is trying to explode through that gap and not just occupy the C, Pin the A-gap (forcing a RB to bounce), but he is also looking to prevent that pulling T from getting out to the Mike. Illinois is running G/T Counter (A staple run play for Spread Option teams to insert Gap runs into their base offense, this is perhaps THE run play that Lincoln Riley likes to run, especially with a mobile QB). #91 gives a subtle grab of that T’s arm as he tries to get through. Edge to Pass Strength is, in fact, playing Roscoe which forces that G to arc around to get to the pressure.
The picture of coverage has once again changed post-snap. Middle defender now has feet planted, eyes on QB, while the defense drops into Cover-3. NT keeps Mike free (an absolute feature of Hetherman’s defense is his ability to keep Mike free) and the defense has pushed everything to that B-gap with a free Mike. TFL.
Defense gets to 3rd down, which is where DC’s make their name and their money. Minnesota is running a 5-1 (five-man front, one LB, five DB’s) “Penny” front (I’ve also seen it called Poker).
At the snap they run an E/T stunt with coverage having “Eyes-On” QB in Zone. It’s hard to know without the call, but I Minnesota is driving on anything underneath, with the outside CB being responsible for stopping anything outside. CB who is squatting on the hash is “reading” receivers and passing the inside and taking the Seam or anything breaking outside intermediate. The result is a difficult long throw outside the hash for the QB and a punt.
Out of a Tite Front, the defense “pushes” everything to the A-gap and has two free ILB’s to support the run scraping from A-C gaps (a theme in Hetherman’s defense is to keep those ILB’s free). The Jack is doing a “surf” technique, where he squares to the LOS and shuffles down the LOS. Realistically, this is a “give” look for the QB when the Edge has square shoulders, but he pulls anyway and runs right into the Jack and fumbles the ball. That low safety is inserting himself into the run fit and the defense is rotating into Cover-1 Man post-snap. The low-safety is a Robber if it’s a pass and will Rob the hook zone/slant.
After the turnover, Minnesota has a “Call” between the Jack and LB. Impossible to know what they’ve checked to without the call, but you see this sort of communication based on the formation on most plays. Jack communicates to LB, who communicates to Field CB.
Remember how I said Hetherman loves to blitz from the opposite side of the RB and push coverage to pass strength. Here he blitzes the CB from the opposite side and gets free. TFL as the give goes right into front. Manufacture numbers in pressure and then make sure you have numbers to both halves. It’s pretty impressive what he does with his Flex defense.
If I’m an offense, it wouldn’t take me long to anticipate pressure from opposite RB side, especially when that S comes low. Here he steps low again and that’s exactly where the pressure comes from as it morphs into Cover-1 from a Cover-2 look.
Run a Mint Front against trips with a Sniffer off LT. Illinois tries to pull the LT and Sniffer, but the ILB is once again free and makes a big TFL.
This is a Mike and S five-man pressure that is pretty cool. They’ll run Palms behind it (Quarters) and blitz both Mike and S into A gaps. This is a great way to get OL and RB to commit and not recognize the S pressure coming behind it.
Both Edges pinch and Contain, which funnels any run inside into the A/B gaps. Mike knifes past the C and then the S follows behind completely free. Downside to this play, of course, is if that Mike gets blocked out and the RB makes that S miss in the hole, you’ve got a chance at going out the gate.
Even the broadcast puts a circle around this backside Safety as they anticipate the low S inserting and the coverage rolling into MOFC (in this case Cover-1). And again, the pressure is opposite the RB with low S inserting.
Once again that S is a Creeper that also becomes a COP. One of the two missed a call or missed their read (either S plays QB too hard when he should’ve been out-to-in or #45 is late).
Vs. North Carolina (Offense Overview)
North Carolina ran a Power-Spread in 2024 they called “Power Spread with Tempo.”
- Run-centered, RPO heavy attack built around the RB (1st rounder)
- This offense is married in Malzahn system with lots of motion, RPO’s, pullers/traps
- 11-personnel, but will bring in heavy and unbalanced sets to get defense leveraged
- Inside zone is staple, but will run more OZ than Illinois
- Gap scheme runs consist of counters, but more with G/H-back than G/T
- Similar QB run element as Illinois and look to get Glance/RPO game
- Orbit motion, Pin-Pull sweeps, pullers a lot more than Illinois
- Tempo is after explosive plays
- North Carolina loves to run double-moves to find explosives
- Four-Verts and Fly/Wheel are two concept staples when they catch you in single-high
Hetherman is constantly getting his ILB free, but here he doesn’t make the tackle in the hole against Hampton (who is very good).
I show this to illustrate what Hetherman was taking over at Minnesota. Kirby Smart lists his pillars of defense and of course winning 3rd down is the money. Hetherman took them from 124th in FBS to 68th at 39.5%.
First 3rd and short and UNC goes to Gap-run and utilize their H-Back as a lead blocker against an odd front. You’ll see Minnesota once again looks to pin that run by getting vertical through the A-gap with the nose. This serves as a funnel for the defense to steer the RB directly into the leverage strength of the defense and he’s stopped for a one-yard gain. You can see the S to the opposite side of the RB is inserting himself into the run fit before the RB even has the ball. Backside of the defense is flat-footed with eyes on QB in case he pulls or it’s an RPO.
4th down and they go with a single post safety and crowd the A-gap. This formation is a dead giveaway that some form of pressure is coming as that B-gap to the field is completely uncovered. Pressure comes from that LB and the Jack drops to the flat to the boundary to stop the back-shoulder while CB bails to take vertical.
They also blitz the nickel to create a five-man pressure. Boundary safety is pressing down on the shallow crosser and there to contest if the QB sees the pressure (he doesn’t). Two defenders to field side have two receivers and are boxing. Inside defender carries the inside two-way go, outside CB matches the carries the outside guy and presses hip. There’s a deep safety for the vertical (shown on the 11-yard line in above snip). QB throws to that sideline receiver and it’s into a tight window and the WR is out of bounds. Turnover on downs.
North Carolina has countered the pin action that Minnesota is trying to run in the A gap with just letting him go and hitting him with a backside block. Then a sniffer has released out onto the LB two plays in a row (both big runs for Hampton). This defense is predicated on getting pressure, funneling the runner back into the defense, and keeping the ILB clean. When they don’t replace or they get lost and blocked, they can get gashed in the A-gap. Circled LB by the announcer misses a tackle from backside. #24 is arcing into the C-gap and overplays this one. #9 has the backside Glance in an RPO against that sniffer, so he stays flat-footed until sniffer declares (and gets himself blocked, ha).
It happens so frequently, I probably should just stop highlighting it, but pressure comes from the S opposite the RB. He makes a TFL. North Carolina loved that #81 as an offset and turning him into a FB with a slice block (#81 for UNC was really good at being a move TE).
Here is a gif from X on how they Creep the S opposite the RB into the B-gap. Again, it’s a staple of the defend to send pressure away from the RB and use the NT to pin zone runs back into the defense, or Gap runs to insert an extra defender.
3rd down is for the pressure plays. Mug the B-gap with a standup LB, communicate it to opposite ILB and the Nickel (two hybrid positions that are asked to do a ton in this defense).
Post-snap, the mugger actually drops into the hook in Cover-3 (there is a deep post safety not in screen) and the opposite ILB that he communicated to is actually taking the RB if he releases and spying the QB if he doesn’t release (he releases). Changing that picture post-snap (especially on money downs) is almost a must in today’s college game. (QB escapes to the field side and gets the 1st down here)
He got the 1st down, but I’ll take this process and expect they aren’t going to get away most of the time. ILB takes a poor angle here and S loses the ball.
You run an unbalanced line against Minnesota and that backside defender is going to pressure almost every time. Comes in free and completely whiffs on the tackle.
Johnson must be a better runner than I thought because he scores a TD here. DC gets you a free rusher and a LB in space and you both whiff.
Even on the outside the defense is schooled in their technique to funnel everything back inside to the defense. Here, #20 is more concerned with keeping with leverage to the outside as the swing screen is taking place. Stacks and sheds and this pass goes for a loss.
On 3rd and long is where Hetherman can use some of his creative packages. Here is a “Penny” front where Mike is to the field side (passing strength). Mug the gaps and then drop one or send all five. Normally play Quarters or cover-1 behind it.
Hetherman brings them all but also inserts a Creeper into the pressure package with the nickel. Penny is playing underneath coverage and spying the QB. Goal is to get pressure home before routes can reach the sticks. Penny plants his feet and keeps eyes on QB until the read (RPO mesh) is completed.
UNC blocks it up and the Penny has to play the flats and take the H after he releases to the flat as DB’s drop into quarters. QB got skittish in the pockets and turfs it. A good QB probably completes this for a 1st down, but such in life when you bring six and get blocked. This is the play that Max Johnson blew out his knee and was done.
This is the single biggest piece of this Tite/Bear/Tilt base front that needs to be remembered is that the defense has to replace that edge contain on every play they squeeze the A/B gaps. Here, they squeeze inside with the Jack, the 4i goes outside to Roscoe (Rush Outside Contain), but the defense replaces the C-gap edge contain with the big nickel who walked out over the #2. It becomes man with that S in bracket, so a Glance route would’ve hurt the defense if it had been the call to the #2, but he goes vertical. You must always keep the numbers on halves of the field in this defense to remain sound. QB tries to run, goes into the back of his blocker, tries to bounce it outside and runs right into new C-gap defender who replaced.
3rd-and-long is for the Penny package. Mug the gaps and you can send them all, drop, use Creepers to replace or rush. It’s all about remaining versatile and varied. Breaking tendencies at the correct times. Sometimes it’s C3 (zone), or C1 (man), or Quarters behind it.
Here, they dropped both muggers and turned it into zone under in all four quadrants of underneath coverage. QB couldn’t hit the hole shot.
Backside S drops into B-gap to handle this Draw play, but Hampton is good, so he makes him miss, gets outside #64 into the C-gap and goes for 20. As far as RB’s seeing this, Hampton really presses the hole and look at the ankle flexion this player has to make jump cuts. Guess that’s why he went 1st round, but the DC did his job.
Again, your DC does his job. Has a replacement Contain player who is supposed to play contain outside. Because Hampton is #Good, he goes for the RB and drops too far inside. QB bubbles outside of the Contain player. CB to boundary sees the QB escaping and jumps it. The problem is, of course, that receiver is now running free down the sideline. QB gets it to him for an explosive play. DC does his job, players break their rules (and a QB being fast enough to get outside helped break the rules). #17 to the bottom of the screen has teaching tape on playing Roscoe and keeping one free.
Here is a huge play in this game and you can see the rotation happening just at the snap. #2 is now rotating into a zone look, where he gave man cues prior to snap (outside leverage, face-to-face over WR, press look). ILB is already leaning forward to blitz that bubble in open B-gap. 9-teach Edge is going to squeeze and be replaced by that nickel on outside force in the C-gap.
Defense pinched and rotated into Quarters behind it. This run is fitted to be funneled all inside and they get the stop for a TFL. The concept of replacement is something that has to be reminded over-and-over to keep leverage and numbers. The Miami defense last year was constantly out leveraged because they didn’t replace consistently enough or fast enough or with proper technique.
North Carolina kicks a FG to win it, but Minnesota had their own FG try and missed at the buzzer. Hetherman’s defense did its job big time in this one.
