After a great thread I'm going to  change this up so its understandable for everyone.

Freeman uses the nickel 5 defensive backs as his base defense

The nickel can have many fronts including:

4-2

3-3

2-4 

 

I don't think either 4-3 or 3-4 accurately explain freeman's defense he employed in the bowl game.

 

I'd describe what I see there as a 2-4-5 nickel defense. It basically has elements of both the 4-3 and the 3-4 in it. In the 4-3 the ends are in a rush stance are hard to drop, in a 3-4 the OLB are pretty wide making them hard to rush sometimes so this kinda splits the difference.

Its in a family of defense called front reduction defense the IDEA hey offensive line!! You've got 5 to block BUT we are only showing you 2 Its on you to identify the other 3 pass rushers/

Here's an old article. It suggests that the 4-3 and the 3-4 are outdated ways to describe defense

https://www.footballstudyhall.com/2015/5/1/8528407/modern-defense-and-the-2-4-5-vs-the-3-3-5 

 

Googled 

The 2-4-5 is ultimately a defense of specialization as the main pass-rushers are going to be the two stand-up edge rushers. The defense deploys them on the edge because that's the easiest way to utilize a pure pass-rusher and they aren't asked to do a great deal other than control the edge and provide pressure.

 

Sometimes people try to over-complicate things too or coin something with a different name to make it sound innovative. That's a fairly typical nickel front you'll see in 3-4 schemes, especially when your stand up OLBs/edge defenders are rushing, that all but makes it a 4 man front in regards to the d-line.

These are nickel fronts by the Patriots, one of the mainstay franchises who incorporate a 3-4 defense. It's about identical to Freeman's "2-4-5".

28 minutes ago, reneg said:

Sometimes people try to over-complicate things too or coin something with a different name to make it sound innovative. That's a fairly typical nickel front you'll see in 3-4 schemes, especially when your stand up OLBs/edge defenders are rushing, that all but makes it a 4 man front in regards to the d-line.

These are nickel fronts by the Patriots, one of the mainstay franchises who incorporate a 3-4 defense. It's about identical to Freeman's "2-4-5".

great stuff thank you!

You'll like this too. 

In the NFL, they are trying to defeat the wide zone running offense/bootleg passing. The Shanahan's , Mike(Broncos, Kyle: 49ers via Falcons).  Tommy Rees adopted many wide zone principles this year to get through the year With Drew Pyne. We motioned the receiver acrossed the formation a ton. Well Staley  found out offensive lines can double team 4 man fronts so lets reduce it to 3 and change the shade inside. Splits the double allows for more run stuffs etc.

Its always a chess match seems like the offenses are ahead right now in college football many teams are scoring over 40 a game.

I renamed this freeman's nickel

Regardless if its: 2-4

                           3-3

                          4-2

 

the common dominator is 5 defensive backs. 

3 covering wide outs, 2 typical cornerbacks, and  1 covering a 3rd wide receiver or tight end in the slot and 2 safeties

@Mike found this thread doing well in searches so lets update 2 years and use it again.

While Freeman's offenses have struggled for consistent leadership and scheme, his defense has found consistency and bordered on elite in terms of pass defense

As @coltssb said they give up their share of runs but every touchdown pass is earned

 

Home grown talents like Boubacar Traore and Bryce Young look to provide a strong future pass rush.

Ben Morrison seems destined for the NFL.  Christian Gray looks to be on the same path

Leonard Moore and Hobbes look the part as well.

Then 5 rotating starting linebackers for 2 spots.

They tend to go to the transfer portal for a disruptive nickelback every year.

 

The defense may well keep Freeman in South Bend. 

 

This is a very typical look.

Traore or Junior Tuihalamaka Are usually at Vyper

 Rylie Mills at DT

 Howard Cross Nose Guard

Oben or Young at Field End

Morrison and Gray pressed up on the corners.

Bowen and Sneed at the LB They Rotate. Kizer, Ausberry and KVA play too.

Clark at the Nickel Back

Watts at the FS

Schuler at the Boundary Safety

Watts at Field Safety

 

Then on a key 3rd and 1 stop you get a 5 man front with Sneed on the line of Scrimmage