2025 Loaded Pressures Presentations, Research and Development – Case 2: Unblocked Pressure Analysis in Bear (5-0) Presentation Pressures

By Mike Kuchar
Senior Researcher/Co-Founder
X&O Labs
@MikeKKuchar

It’s hard to believe, but it was already a decade ago when X&O Labs released its first full-length report on the Bear defense. It was a project we worked on with legendary Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster. We spent a week in Blacksburg reporting on the defense he used to defeat Ohio State back in 2015 and completely shut down the Buckeye run game. This study is more about pressure. But if you want insights in defending the run game with Bear, you can read the full Virginia Tech report here.

While his report mainly focused on run fits at the first and second levels, the study we present today is centered specifically around both five and four-man rushes that coaches are now devising from Bear or 5-0 front presentations. We used our AI protocols to diagnose where the most “time to pressure” occurs in these presentations both in four-man rushes and five-man rushes against six-man protection schemes.  We structured our research specifically around how Center directional slides and how the back ties into protection schemes. Before we dive into our findings, we thought it important to explain the contents of our research.

What are “Bear” Presentations?

Bear presentations are those in which all five offensive linemen are covered at the line of scrimmage. They are typically used in third downs to cover up offensive linemen, forcing them to declare their protection.

While most defensive coordinators rely on using five-man rushes from Bear presentations, there have been quite a few defenses this season that have mixed in simulated pressures- four-man rushes at the line of scrimmage- and play base seven-man coverage behind it.

Why They Work:

Quite simply, Bear presentations force the five offensive linemen to declare their protection rules. It basically eliminates any potential slide from the Center as he is forced to hold on the Nose, at least pre-snap. The beauty of the simulated pressure design is that once the ball is snapped, the defense can now bring only four defenders and by dropping one out it makes it difficult for the offensive line to declare protection.

Our Metrics:

We analyzed nearly 2,400 plays where defenses at the FBS level were in Bear (5-0) presentations at the first level and specifically studied how all these offensive lines most commonly set its protection schemes, then consequently how defenses devised its rush partners off it.

Common 6-Man Protection Schemes Against 5-0 Fronts

What we will uncover in this study are the specific four-man and five-man rush patterns that are most effective in these 5-0 presentations. But before we reveal our research, we thought it to be important to lay the framework of exactly what we studied. The crux of this report is centered around six-man protection schemes and how the offensive line declared its rules against these presentations. We segmented our research into the following areas:

• Center Slide Directional Analysis
• Field and Boundary Directional Analysis
• Running Back Directional Analysis

Center Slide Directional Research

We start our study with the three most common ways in which the Center will protect against 5-0 fronts: Middle, left, and right. Based on a comprehensive analysis of the dataset, here's a detailed breakdown of how teams structure their 6-man protection schemes against 5-man rushes from Bear fronts.

Center Slide Direction Analysis

Three primary center slide directions were identified:

1. Center No Slide: (44.5%)
   • Most common protection choice
   • Center stays home and is responsible for A-gaps
   • 47% pressure rate - least effective of all slide directions
2. Center Right Slide: (28.7%)
   • Second most common protection
   • Center slides right to help right guard
   • 30% pressure rate - moderate effectiveness
   • Often paired with HB-R alignment for additional protection
3. Center Left Slide: (26.8%)
   • Least common slide direction
   • Center slides left to help the left guard
   • 09% pressure rate - most effective slide direction
   • Particularly effective when paired with HB-L (30% pressure rate)

Field vs. Boundary Analysis

The data also showed distinct patterns in how teams slide based on field position:

1. Boundary Center Slide:
   • Center slides toward the sideline (short side)
   • 59% pressure rate
   • Most common at hash marks
2. Field Center Slide:
   • Center slides toward the wide side of the field
   • 29% pressure rate
   • Creates better angles against Bear front interior pressure

Our analysis will provide a detailed roadmap for constructing effective 5-man and 4-man rush schemes against six-man protection, with clear patterns showing how center slide direction, RB positioning, and formation choices significantly impact rush rates.

Login to Continue Reading: Editor’s Note: In this report, Mike reveals the details of what our AI protocols found. And, as always, Mike includes a lot of videos and diagrams—as well as shares where to find more game film in X&O Labs’ Film Room. Login below to unlock the full report (and if you’re not a member, click the ‘Join’ button in the upper right-hand corner of this page).