Gap Control vs. the Run Game ANTHONY GRAZZINI ELMHURST COLLEGE Glazier – Madison Wi 2008

TECHNIQUE – ALIGNMENT I 3 2 2I 1 O 1 2I 2 3 4I For LB’S We Add A (0) To The Technique Alignment C GG T YTY I I 10 O 10 20I I Technique Alignment

Defensive Gaps ABCDAB CED ABCDABCD Offenses add gaps by pulling linemen or leading with backs

Defensive Gaps 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 FRONTS OVER G UNDER B N T C B N T C W M S R W M S R C T N B C T N B R S M W R S M W L T N C L T N C W M S R W M S R R C N T B R C N T B S M W S M W B T N C B T N C C T N B M C T N B M W M S R SPLIT IPOLAR F M UNDER UP

DEFENSIVE LINE PLAY MAN 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 S W FRONTS OVER G RV FULL FLOW-HARD STEP BY OL ISO-STRONG

B N T C M S W FRONTS OVER G RV ISO-STRONG AS RB SEES IT THE FULLBACK ADDS AN EXTRA GAP

B N T C M S W FRONTS OVER G RV ISO-STRONG GAP CANCEL BOX SCRAPE FOLD- RUN THRU D-GAP

ISO WEAK

B N T C M S W FRONTS OVER G RV FULL FLOW-HARD STEP BY OL ISO-WEAKSIDE

B N T C M S W FRONTS OVER G RV ISO-WEAKSIDE—AS RB SEES IT FULLBACK ADDS EXTRA GAP WEAK

B N T C M S W FRONTS OVER G RV ISO-WEAKSIDE GAP CANCEL SPILL RUN THRU FOLD D-GAP

TITE ZONE

B N T C M S W FRONTS OVER G RV SPLIT FLOW-HARD LEAD-STEP BY OL ZONE

B N T C M S W FRONTS OVER G RV ZONE—AS THE RB SEES IT FULLBACK ADDS EXTRA GAP WEAK FOR THE CUT-BACK

B N T C M S W FRONTS OVER G RV TITE ZONE GAP CANCEL FILLFOLD STEP FALL BACK TO A GAP D-GAP

POWER GF

B N T C M S W FRONTS OVER G RV FULL FLOW- VEER/PULLER POWER GF STRONG

B N T C M S W FRONTS OVER G RV POWER GF—AS THE RB SEES IT GUARD ADDS EXTRA GAP STRONG

B N T C M S W FRONTS OVER G RV SCRAPE AND CLOSE FORCE RUN THRUFOLD POWER GF STRONG GAP CANCEL

B N T C M S W FRONTS OVER G RV SCRAPE AND CLOSE FORCE CHECK A NOSE X-FACED RUN THRU FOLD NATURAL EXCHANGE GAP CANCEL

TOSS OR STRETCH

B N T C M S W FRONT OVER G RV FULL FLOW –FAST STEP TOSS STRONG

B N T C M S W FRONT OVER G RV TOSS—AS THE RB SEES IT GUARD AND FULLBACK ADDS EXTRA GAPS STRONG

B N T C M S W FRONT OVER G RV FORCE SCRAPE AND CLOSE CHECK A GAP AND SCRAPE FOLD TOSS STRONG GAP CANCEL

B N T C MS W 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 TBN C s

BOOK Technique between DE and Linebacker Defensive End is the Book player Linebacker is the Bend Player TBN C 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 TBN C

Rip Call Two Man Surface Rule… Alert T-Bag Lion or Tiger Become Nut or Tut vs. Pass TBN C

N C B T FANG NC BT KNIFE NC B T TANK N C B T NAP S M S M

LION TIGER N C B T N C B T NCBT S N C B T S M 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

NOSE TWIST EX TEX N C B T 1 2 N C B T 1 2 N C B T 1 2 N C B T 12

TEX/EX N C B T 1 2