Pinch Front Fits: How the Cougars Make Offenses Play Where They Want

We’ve talked about the pinch front in previous articles and podcasts, but there's something about seeing it on film that brings this defensive scheme to life. Personally, I'm a big fan of the pinch front as a change up, and if you're out-gunned personnel wise, it might be just the thing to help you compete with a more talented offense. Does it have a downside? Everything does, but I think it's just different enough to give offenses fits, pun intended, the way the Tite front did when it first arrived. And yes, I know the pinch front has been around forever, but we're now seeing its modern revival, and it's something I'm here for. So in this article we'll take a look at some pinch front fits by the Washington State Cougars.

This is a great example of what a pinch front run fit looks like with cloud Cover 3. The boundary defensive end works into the offensive tackle and crosses his face, triggering the running back to bounce into a trap corner for the tackle. This front clogs up interior gaps and allows clean run fits by secondary force players. And letting a corner fit outside, instead of into a B gap, is beneficial for a smaller body.

This time we get outside zone action. Since the interior gaps will be handled by the defensive line, the linebacker sprints over the top, and combining that with a trap corner, the Cougars have a nice layered run fit against this scheme. Notice the backside interior linebacker can now slow down and tempo, as he has the QB pull to cutback.

Here we get an insert that’s forced to bounce because the interior gaps are occupied. The safety is the secondary run fitter, instead of the Nickel, and he comes downhill nicely. The runner does make him miss, but that doesn’t change the fact that the Cougars had a free hitter at the point of attack because of the scheme.

Cover 3 buzz versus split zone on this rep. Condensed splits equal a heavier fit in the scheme. These secondary defenders have a great understanding of where to fit on the edge, and the scheme really simplifies things and allows them to play fast downhill.

The Cougar defense gets a pin and pull variation here. While it’s a bit late, the backside linebacker eventually works over the top to the runner and meets the frontside linebacker for the tackle. This is also a great example of the defensive end not blocking himself on the down block by the tackle.

Fast fit by the Sam/Nickel here, the interior linebacker flows over the top to make him right, and the corner becomes the force player who gets the TFL. This is another example of the unusual fits that can happen when interior gaps are filled.

Here’s one more example of that natural bounce to an unblocked defender.

Final Thoughts

The common thread across every one of these reps is the same: when you take away the interior gaps, you force the offense to play where you want them to play. That’s the whole appeal of the pinch front. You’re not asking your front to win one on one matchups against more talented bodies. You’re asking them to occupy space, muddy the read, and push the ball to a defender who’s already sitting there waiting for it. The bounce isn’t a breakdown. It’s the design.

What stands out on the Washington State tape is how clean the secondary fits become once that interior is accounted for. Corners get to fit outside on trap instead of possibly folding in a B gap. Safeties and the Sam/Nickel come downhill with a clear picture. Linebackers can flow over the top and tempo their fits because the front has bought them time. For a defense that’s outmanned up front, that’s exactly the kind of structure that lets you hang with an offense that’s more talented than you are.

It isn’t perfect, and no front is. You’re going to give up some things, and the runner is going to make a man miss now and then like we saw on the insert rep. But the scheme keeps putting a free hitter at the point of attack, and that’s the bet you’re making. The pinch front is having its modern moment for a reason, and the Cougars are a good place to start if you want to see why. If you’ve been looking for a change up that simplifies fits and lets your guys play fast, this is one worth getting on the board.