Gap Control vs. the Run Game

ANTHONY GRAZZINIELMHURST COLLEGE

Glazier – Madison Wi 2008

TECHNIQUE – ALIGNMENT

8 9 6 7 5 4 4I 3 2 2I 1 O 1 2I 2 3 4I 4 5 7 6 9 8

For LB’S We Add A (0) To The Technique Alignment

C GGTY T Y

90 60 70 50 40 40I 30 20 20I 10 O 10 20I 20 30 40I 40 50 70 60 90

Technique Alignment

Defensive Gaps

ABCD A B C ED

ABCD A B C D•Offenses add gaps by pulling linemen or leading with backs

Defensive Gaps

ABCD A B C D

•We are a bend and spill defense.

•As we bend and spill we build a wall forcing the ball to move East and West.

•The Key to This Defense is—Gap Exchange

BLUEJAY FRONTSBLUEJAY FRONTSOVEROVER GG

UNDERUNDER

B N T CB N T C

W M S R W M S R

C T N BC T N B

R S M W R S M W

L T N CL T N C

W M S RW M S R

R C N T BR C N T B

S M W S M W

B T N CB T N C C T N B MC T N B M

W M S R W M S R

SPLIT I POLAR

F M

UNDER UPUNDER UP

DEFENSIVE LINE PLAYMAN ON KEY IS TRYING TO BLOCK ME--BASE

•Push through my gap and control it•KNOCK BACK•SQUEEZE THE GAP

MAN ON KEY IS TRYING TO BLOCK ME--REACH•Push through my gap and control it•KNOCK BACK•STEER•SHRUG AND RIP OR WIPE

MAN ON KEY IS NOT TRYING TO BLOCK ME– Is the “V” is away with an inside threat?

–Yes-Spill all trappers or Kick out blocks, Tackle all backs in your path–No—Down block coming; feel pressure ricochet back and control

-GAP RESPONSIBLE – OFF OF FLOW

- LINEBACKERS MAKE D-LINE RIGHT—NATURAL X

-READS AND KEYS– KEY TANDEM—COULD CHANGE WEEKLY ACCORDING TO GAMEPLAN

LINEBACKER PLAY

DEFENSIVE GAP EXCHANGE CONCEPTS

ISO STRONG

B N T C

M SW

FRONTS

OVER

G

RV

FULL FLOW-HARD STEP BY OL

ISO-STRONG

B N T C

M SW

FRONTS

OVER

G

RV

ISO-STRONG AS RB SEES IT

THE FULLBACK ADDS AN EXTRA GAP

B N T C

M SW

FRONTS

OVER

G

RV

ISO-STRONG GAP CANCEL

BOXSCRAPEFOLD- RUN THRU

D-GAP

ISO WEAK

B N T C

M SW

FRONTSOVER

G

RV

FULL FLOW-HARD STEP BY OL

ISO-WEAKSIDE

B N T C

M SW

FRONTSOVER

G

RV

ISO-WEAKSIDE—AS RB SEES IT

FULLBACK ADDS EXTRA GAP WEAK

B N T C

M SW

FRONTSOVER

G

RV

ISO-WEAKSIDE GAP CANCEL

SPILL RUN THRUFOLDD-GAP

TITE ZONE

B N T C

M SW

FRONTS

OVER

G

RV

SPLIT FLOW-HARD LEAD-STEP BY OL

ZONE

B N T C

M SW

FRONTS

OVER

G

RV

ZONE—AS THE RB SEES IT

FULLBACK ADDS EXTRA GAP WEAK

FOR THE CUT-BACK

B N T C

M SW

FRONTS

OVER

G

RV

TITE ZONE GAP CANCEL

FILLFOLD STEP FALL BACK TO A GAP

D-GAP

POWER GF

B N T C

M SW

FRONTS

OVER

G

RV

FULL FLOW- VEER/PULLER

POWER GF STRONG

B N T C

M SW

FRONTS

OVER

G

RV

POWER GF—AS THE RB SEES IT

GUARD ADDS EXTRA GAP STRONG

B N T C

M SW

FRONTS

OVER

G

RV

SCRAPE AND CLOSE

FORCERUN THRUFOLD

POWER GF STRONG GAP CANCEL

B N T C

M SW

FRONTS

OVER

G

RV

SCRAPE AND CLOSE

FORCECHECK A

NOSE X-FACED RUN THRU

FOLD

NATURAL EXCHANGE

GAP CANCEL

TOSS OR STRETCH

B N T C

M SW

FRONT

OVER

G

RV

FULL FLOW –FAST STEP

TOSS STRONG

B N T C

M SW

FRONT

OVER

G

RV

TOSS—AS THE RB SEES IT

GUARD AND FULLBACK ADDS EXTRA GAPS STRONG

B N T C

M SW

FRONT

OVER

G

RV

FORCESCRAPE AND CLOSE

CHECK A GAP AND SCRAPE

FOLD

TOSS STRONG GAP CANCEL

B N T C

M SW

ROGER

RV

FS

COACH THE RUN FITS:

•DEFENSIVE LINE GAP FITS

•LINE BACKER FILL AND SCRAPE

•FORCE PLAYER, ALLEY PLAYER, AND THE BCR PLAYER

TRASH CANS

DEFENDING THE QB PULL

•BOOKBOOK

•BENDBEND

BEND

Technique between DE and Linebacker• Defensive End is the Bend player• Linebacker is the book Player• Linebacker makes a Tank call when 3T is to back

T BNCs

BOOK

Technique between DE and Linebacker• Defensive End is the Book player• Linebacker is the Bend Player

T BNC

S

MOVEMENTS AND GAMES

• All movements and games are game planed based on offensive tendencies. Surprise is the key element when moving the front or exchanging gaps.

• All movements and games are used to compromise offensive blocking schemes in the run and pass game. By changing the alignment you change the blocking scheme.

• Using movements and games limits the opponents offensive package.

• We will use movements and games to confuse both run and pass blocking schemes.

WHEN SHOULD THEY BE USED?

• For all movements, games or pressure we will employ an ability alignment--Align where you need to align to hit the right gap.

• We will alter our down hand to gain an advantage and open our hips when moving to another gap.

• We like our linemen to “stem” to the gap they are attacking from their normal alignment.

• We convert movements to games vs. high hat reads.

TEACHING MOVEMENTS AND GAMES

Rip Call

Two Man Surface Rule…

• Alert Taco

• Fang or Knife become Ex vs. Pass

T BNC

Rip Call

Two Man Surface Rule…

• Alert T-Bag

• Lion or Tiger Become Nut or Tut vs. Pass

T BNC

NC BT

FANG

NC BT

KNIFE

NC BT

TANK

NC BT

NAP

S M

SM

LION TIGER NC BT NC BT

NC BT

SNC BT

SM M

We use our games as a counter to draws and screens. We teach our games as penatrator/looper stunts.

Inside (Twist/Nose)• Penetrator- Cross face immediately eyes to man you are slanting towards.

Hit your gap, penetrate to heel depth.• Looper- Take one step, flash your hands, dip and rip to your gap.

Outside (Tex/Ex)• Penetrator- Take a short step up field, cross-face into your gap, reading the

man you are slanting towards.• Looper- Take one step flash your hands, dip and rip reading the tackle on

the run, contain!

• Our 4 man twists are our favorite when we think draw.

TWIST/NOSE/TEX/EX

NOSETWIST

EX TEX

NC BT

12

NC BT

12

NC BT

1 2

NC BT

1 2

TEX/EXNC BT

1 2