Briefly discussing gaps, techniques and other terminology

Coaches: these are basic terms that most of you will already know. However, it is a good refresher. If you are not a coach, this post is perfect for you. It will greatly help you understand what a defense is trying to accomplish in a football game.

This post will seek to lay the groundwork for everything I will discuss in future defensive and offensive posts. In defensive line and linebacker play, gaps and techniques are crucial to understand. Let's get started.

Gaps

Gaps is a way to create a sound and effective defense. It gives a letter to each gap between each offensive linemen, starting with A and moving up the alphabet, stopping at D. Running backs can't run through their own linemen, so if each defensive player is in the proper gap, then the runner has nowhere to go. Every defense, in one way or another, will have a defender accounting for every gap on the field.

As a brief explanation, in a one-gap defense, the defender will have only one gap he is responsible for. In a two-gap scheme, a defensive lineman will have a two-gap responsibility. As a general rule, a one-gap defense is more an attacking, get-up-the-field kind of defense, while a two-gap wants to contain the offensive linemen and free up linebackers to make plays. The technique is different for a one-gap and two-gap linement and I will discuss that in a future post. Here will tell a bit about the origination of the 3-4 one-gap and two-gap defenses.

Now, this is a generalization, and several defenses combine both one and two-gap principles to keep offenses off guard. In a future post, I will look at how certain college defenses combine elements of these schemes.

That said, let's look at what the gaps principle looks like on the field.

With the tight end on the left side, this current formation is strong left. Strength just indicates how a defense should line up, and specifies gaps even further. The strong B gap is the left B gap, and the weak B gap is the right B gap. The tight end were on the left, it would be the opposite. In a one-gap defense, a defensive tackle lined up on the offensive tackle would have the C gap, whereas in a two-gap defense, a tackle might have the C and B gap.

The gaps principle is also very helpful in describing who should blitz and where exactly they are blitzing. Defense coordinators will use simple and easy terminology to describe this. For example, a coordinator might call a Mike Attack, which would mean the middle, or Mike, linebacker is blitzing into the strongside A gap. And that can be made for any gap, with names like Blast, Clash, Dog. And if the call is tagged with weak, the blitz goes to the weakside, or away from the tight end. In our above diagram, a Weak Will Blast means the weakside, or Will, linebacker is going into the right B gap.

Now, just to sum up: In a one-gap defense, a defensive tackle lined up on the offensive tackle would have the C gap, whereas in a two-gap defense, a tackle would have the C and B gap. These are two different types of defenses, and it is important to understand the distinction.

Now that we are all clear on gaps, let's look at how a defense will line up and how the players know where to line up.

Techniques

This refers to how a defensive lineman lines up, but also to his assignment, meaning how he is supposed to play. It is excellent because a linemen knows how to line up and how to place his hands on the blocker without any further instruction. If a player is lined up in the middle of the opposing player, or head up, he should place his hands in the center of his chest. If he is lined up to the inside of the player, his hands go on the inside part of his chest and his inside shoulder. If lined up on the outside of the blocker, his hands go on the outside part of the chest and the outside shoulder. Once we have taught our players about techniques, we can simply say, "Get in a two," and they know exactly how to play and where to line up. For us, a 2 is head up on the guard with his hands in the center of the blocker's chest.

However, confusion can surround what the definition of technique is, and how to describe. There are two main types of techniques, the first of which we will call the old style of technique, and the second the new style of technique. We will look at both of these, as well as application of this in TV analysis.

Old techniques

Much like gaps, technique is always in relation to the center. Using numbers, it goes from 1-9, going up the further out a player gets from the center.

You will notice the inside shade of a tackle is called a 4i, or a 4 inside. You will also notice that a 6 technique doesn't exist in the old version of techniques. Why? I have never heard a clear explanation. It just doesn't.

When you hear a technique referred to on TV, it typically will refer to the old style of techniques, with a 4 technique being headup and 5 being on the outside of the tackle. Analysts will also refer to the ubiquitious 3 technique, which simply refers to a defensive tackle being lined up in an outside shade on the guard.

New techniques

This set of techniques logically makes much more sense. It goes one through nine all the way out, without the 4i and neglecting 6.

 

This is what we use at Thurston HS. It makes the most sense in our students heads, without the random 4i and no 6 technique. As always, we want to simplify and make things easy.

Now, both of these techniques are describing the same thing, just with different terms. A 4 in the old set of techniques is the same as a 5 in the new set of techniques. The numbers are just different, but one plays the position the same.

Putting the "Wide 9" to rest

Last year, many NFL analysts batted around a term called Wide 9, often associated with the Philadelphia Eagles. This was treated like some fancy new scheme that would put a ton of pressure on the quarterback without given up anything in the run game. Well, that wasn't true. The defensive end lines up outside the tight end in a 9 technique, and he lines up out there whether a tight end is there or not. This gives a defensive end a great angle to the quarterback and allows him to use his speed on a slower offensive tackle. Now, this technique, when used every down, has drawbacks; the defensive ends essentially remove themselves from inside runs just based on their alignment. It's just too far out for the ends to get to the ball carrier before he hits the second level of linebackers. The Eagles were gashed on runs because of this alignment (and a poor linebacking corps) so it didn't last long. So that's what a wide 9 is, and again, not as complicated as analysts will make it seem.

 Final Thoughts

Gaps and techniques are vital to creating an effective defense and understanding these concepts is crucial for any coach. This is not anything revolutionary or difficult to understand, but every position group needs to get this terminology to run any defense.

Questions? Leave a comment or hit me up on Twitter at Coach_JPhillips. Have a great day and God bless!

When your strength is weak(side)

Coaches are constantly searching for ways to maximize the abilities of their players. Football players, being humans, are not perfect. Each individual has strengths and weaknesses. A sign of good coach is utilizing strengths while minimizing weaknesses.

Let's look at the way a successful FCS team, the Montana Grizzlies, does this. Montana, while little known nationally, have an excellent program out in the country. The Grizzlies made it to the semifinals of the FCS playoffs this year before losing to Sam Houston State. They have benefit from having several FBS transfers over the years, including former Washington tight end Kavario Middleton and former Oregon quarterback Justin Roper.

Montana also has a lot of connections to Eugene and the University of Oregon. Starting QB Jordan Johnson went to Sheldon HS, which is a three-minute walk from where I live. (Former) head coach Robin Pflugrad coached wide receivers at the University of Oregon before accepting the head job at Montana, and his son Aaron Pflugrad played for the Ducks before transferring to Arizona State.

Anyway, with that context, let's look at this unique formation and how the Grizzlies block it.

The formation

I call this Ace Wing, with the Y on the line and an H slightly off, in the wing position. It is a formation that says "run" and that is what they want to do. I studied Northern Iowa vs. Montana, and this how Northern Iowa lines up to it.

Northern Iowa has to honor the double tight strength, so they bring up the corner just outside the wing. It seems they want to keep two high safeties, perhaps out of respect for the passing game. They move the Will linebacker out to the Z, most and stack the linebackers in 20s across the guards. The rover has to creep up five yards closer than the free safety to protect the gaping C gap, which gives the H and Y excellent angles to attack their defenders.

The Play

This play is not anything revolutionary. It is a basic inside zone read option, going away from the strength, or the H and Y. But the players, and a slight tweak in scheme, make it work.

The Grizzlies' QB, Jordan Johnson, makes all the right reads. He is a typical gym rat, a guy who is not spectacularly fast, doesn't have a cannon for an arm, and isn't very tall. But he makes excellent reads, is an accurate passer, and runs the offense well. He has good vision as a ball carrier

Now, Montana has three backs it likes to rotate in Dan Moore, Jordan Canada and Peter Nguyen. All three run this play out of this formation.

And we can't overlook the offensive linemen. Tackle Jon Opperud was named Big Sky 1st team all-conference, and center Stephen Sabin and tackle Charles Burton were named honorable mention. Their ability to climb to the linebackers frees up the feature backs

The H, ##85 Greg Hardy, was first team all-conference, but I was never impressed with his blocking ability, and we will see that come into play later.

 Read key is circled

Notice the fold blocking scheme here between the H and Y. The Y goes first, followed by the H. As a result, they both have great angles on players they should overwhelm with their size and athleticism. And Montana is still able to climb to the Mike and Sam with its offensive linemen. The only disadvantage here is the Z needs to dive in on the Will, despite giving up some size.

Here's a result of this formation and play in action, with Nguyen in particular being the beneficiary. Fast forward to 1:22.

Now if you watch it closely, you notice Hardy never gets a block. He gives a half-hearted effort, and finally, when he sees the run could be big, he goes about 3/4 speed, never really getting a block. This makes me think the H and Y are less than stellar blockers.

Why line up this way? To maximize abilities

It's possible defenses haven't found a good way to line up to it, and the Grizzlies defeat teams simply by alignment. But here's what's more likely: Their tight ends, otherwise known as H and Y in the diagram, can't block. Kavario Middleton, #85, is a highly touted transfer from Washington and an athletic nightmare for linebackers and safeties. The Grizzlies will sometimes split Middleton out wide and throw the slant, where he can use his body. Check it out here

However, his blocking was suspect for the Huskies. But the H and Y seem to be decent athletes, and certainly have an advantage over corners and safeties. They don't have to block a linebacker or defensive lineman, which they may struggle with. It all goes back to putting your athletes in the best position to succeed. This fold scheme does that best.

Keeping with the constraint theory of football, the Grizzlies have several different changeups from this formation to keep defenses honest. They run what West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen would call his "Quick Game" (h/t Bruce Feldman), a tap of the ball into the hands of a receiver running full speed across the formation.You can read more about that on the link, and watch Montana run it here.

They run play action off it.

They also run a sweet flea flicker here against Central Arkansas for a touchdown.

This is all off this Ace Wing formation. This is a critical element of Montana's offense and it is fun to study.

You can watch the entire clips below. These are fan videos, but they have the wide angle that often you can't find on YouTube.

Here are clips from the Northern Iowa game.

And here is the game against Central Arkansas.

Now, this isn't reinventing the wheel here. Other teams have probably done something similar. But Montana is tailoring its offense to its talent, something every team should do.

Follow me on twitter at Coach_JPhillips for more insights. God bless and have a great day!

Change is inevitable

Welcome to Bring the Blitz.

Let me introduce myself. I coach football at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon at the freshman level, entering my second season at Thurston. I have also coached for one year at Centennial High School, in Gresham, OR.

I started this blog partially to work through my own coaching philosophy and partially to force myself to study. I intend to post at least once a week about what I am learning and what our team is experiencing during the season. So here goes nothing!

At THS, we recently changed defensive coordinators, and with that, defensive schemes. Our old defensive coordinator, Bill Smith, coached at Thurston for 40-plus years, and his defense has always been the Bear, or 46 defense. Now, the Bear is excellent against two-back and even pro-style teams, but we found ourselves getting carved up by teams in our league that spread the field, whether it was option-read concepts or quick passing plays.

Our new coordinator, Dietrich Moore, who has coached at Marist and South Eugene HS previously, as well as playing at the University of Oregon, wanted a defense that would better defend teams that spread the field. And we think we have found it in a defense with 3-4 spacing and two-gap principles, called Ohio. We picked this up from a coaching clinic at the University of Oregon, and it was so convincing that we decided to change our original plan. And Dietrich, being a former player, can ask Nick Aliotti for advice at any time. Pretty nice to have that kind of advice available!

OHIO

We call our base package Ohio, for really no reason other than that was what Dietrich came up with. We are excited about the potential of this defense because of how much emphasis it places on the perimeter. And the key to this defense is the defensive linemen.

When a defensive lineman two-gaps, they are responsible for both gaps on either side of the lineman they line up on. It is a difficult concept to teach when your team has been in the Bear for many years. Just the instruction on two-gapping itself merits another blog post. I fear it will be difficult for us this season to break our old habits, but we will see. You will also notice, when we reference 3-4, that means we have three defensive linemen and four linebackers, for those not familiar with this kind of terminology.

Here is what Ohio looks like, complete with two-gapping defensive linemen.

This defense has another benefit that you may notice. We line up according what side of the field we are on. The Sam is always to the wide side of the field, or field, and the Liz is always to the short side of the field, or boundary. And every player lines up either to the field or boundary (except the nose). This creates balance, five players on both side of the field, and minimal adjustments. You will never see one of our players running across the formation to stick with motion, which Dietrich wanted to avoid. Let's a take a look at what our run fits look like.

Run fits

Some teams are spill teams, meaning they try to clog the middle and spill everything to the outside. We are not. We use our Sam and Liz as force players, meaning they want to set the edge and allow nothing outside of them. They must force all the action inside. The linemen are two-gapping, which means striking their man hard, separating, and looking for the ball.

Let's look here a simple stretch or outside zone to the boundary. You will notice the Liz setting the edge, allowing no one outside of him. The Will is looking for the C gap. Both the Mike and Will are C gap players. They try to overlap with the two-gapping defensive lineman. The Mike is taking two shuffle steps before finding the ball. If he is unsure, he finds the B gap. The End is striking his tackle hard with leverage and power, pushing him back. The Nose is fighting across the center and not getting reached. The Stud here is fighting across the tackle and not allowing him to cross his face, thus negating the tackle's down block.

Notice here that the free safety must be involved. Once he is sure the play is a run, he is filling the backside C gap. The corners and rover, once run has been established, are flying to the ball.

Now based on the run fits, the weakness is the A gaps. Blast, iso, other runs that attack up the middle can have success against this defense. I will discuss the ways to defend these types of runs at a later date.

ESPN's film room has a nice breakdown.

Check it out starting at the 3:00 minute mark.

You will notice the Trevor Matich has picked up what the Ducks (and now Thurston Colts) want to do: force action into the C gap, where there are at least three players in the very near vicinity, with many more rallying to the ball.On the backside, the free safety must fill the backside C gap, as shown in the run fits drawing.

Coverages

As far as coverages go, our varsity will play what we call Autozone, which is another gem we picked up from the Ducks. The way we play this is simple. If a team lines up in any kind of 3x1 formation, the secondary is automatically in Cover 3. (3x1 means three receivers on one side of the formation and one on the other.) If they come out in 2x2, automatically Cover 4. If a team starts in 3x1 but motions to 2x2, it is an automatic check to Cover 4. If they start in 2x2 but motion to 3x1, then check to Cover 3. Pretty easy. There are also several ways to play Cover 4, which I admit I do not fully understand at this point. I do know it often looks like different coverages but all works out to Cover 4. If the offense motions to empty, that will be a check we make based on offensive tendencies during the season.

So that's our base package. We have a few different pressures (pressures, not blitzes) in Ohio, and we also utilize fire zones, something I will explain in more detail in a future post. We also will continue to work the Bear front against two-back teams and for goal-line defense.

Follow me on Twitter at Coach_JPhillips and check back to this blog for future posts. Make sure you leave a comment if you are unsure what something means, or have any questions. God bless, have a great day!