The gaps on either side of the offensive center and between the guards are called "A" gaps.[4][5][6][7][8] A gap between the offensive guard and tackle is called a "B" gap. The gaps outside the offensive tackle are called "C" gaps. If there is a tight end, the gap outside the tight end and opposite the tackle is a "D" gap.
Defensive line positioningedit
Line positioning is described by numbers, from 0 to 9.[9][10] Even numbers are face to face with offensive players, odd numbers are to the side (on the shoulder) of opposing players. If a defensive lineman is face to face with an offensive center, he is said to be in a 0 technique.[11] If he is face to face with a guard, the defender is in a 2 technique.[12] If the defender is face to face with a tackle, he is in a 4 technique.[13] If the defender is aligned directly across from a tight end, it is described as a 6 technique.
Shade techniqueedit
Numbers are also used to describe when players are aligned not directly on a player, but aligned with the shoulders of a blocker. This kind of alignment is often called a shade.[14][15] To be aligned on the shoulders of a center is called a 1 technique.[16] To be aligned on the inside shoulder of a guard is a 2i technique. To be aligned on the outside shoulder of a guard is a 3 technique.[17] To be aligned on the inside of a tackle is a 4i technique. And to be aligned on the outside shoulder of a tackle is a 5 technique.[18] Assignments of 7 and 9 are not universal, but a 7 can mean a player on the inside shoulder of a tight end, and a 9 technique is usually a couple feet on the outside away from any blocker.
One-gap line play versus two-gap line playedit
In a one-gap defensive line technique, a player is assigned a single gap to defend against the run.[19][20][21][22][23] He does not have to line up in the gap, but he does have to be able to shed any blocker attempting to keep him from defending the gap.[24] In a two-gap defensive technique, the defensive lineman generally has to control or defeat the offensive player in front of him to guard the run on both gaps that flank the offensive player.
The gap defensive technique is older than the use of the term. In Jones and Wilkinson, when describing the nose guard play in their 5-2 defense, the authors warn that the guard must never allow the center to cut you either way (i.e. two-gap technique).[25] All other defensive linemen are only asked to prevent their opposing linemen from blocking them in one-gap play, but they do not use the phrase 'gap' in their text.
Shoot the gapedit
Shooting the gap is a term used in American football.[26][27][28] To "shoot the gap", a defensive lineman will exploit the space between the offensive linemen during a pass rush.[29][30] The defensive lineman is usually one of the defensive tackles. The gaps are given different letters depending on their distance from the center. The gaps between the center and the guard are known as the "A gaps", and the gaps between the guard and the tackle are known as the "B gaps". Shooting the gap requires the defensive lineman to turn his shoulders and get past the offensive line into the backfield by any means possible, usually by diving through the gap. The play is often used during a blitz, as the defense will try to rush past the offensive line in order to get to the quarterback and cause a quarterback sack.
Referencesedit
^Durkin, Dan (2013-08-26). "Durkin's Football 101: Gaps, Techniques & Alignments". Chicago.cbslocal.com. Retrieved 2019-01-28.
^Long, Howie; Czarnecki, John (2019). Football for Dummies (6th ed.). John Wiley and Sons. p. 358. ISBN978-1-119-55301-4.
^DeLuca, Sam (1978). The Football Handbook. Jonathan David Publishers. p. 393. ISBN0-8246-0231-5.
^"ITP Glossary: 5 Technique Defensive Lineman". Inside the Pylon. August 18, 2015. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
^Bullock, Mark (June 11, 2014). "The differences between 1-gap and 2-gap principles on the Redskins' defensive line". The Washington Post. Graham Holdings Company. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
^Richardson, Kevin (November 1, 2018). "Inside the Huddle: A look at one-gap and two-gap techniques". The Baltimore Sun. Tribune Publishing Company. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
^Brown, Chris (February 6, 2012). "Ode to the War Daddies". Grantland. ESPN. Retrieved Mar 8, 2021.
^Wilkinson, Bud (1973). Football: Defense. Time Inc. pp. 34–37. ISBN0-397-00833-3.
April 12, 2024
american, football, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, american, football, news, newspapers, books, sch. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Gap American football news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2019 Learn how and when to remove this template message Gaps in American football are the spaces in between the splits of the offensive linemen 1 2 3 A hole is a space in between the defensive linemen A basic I formation with gaps labeled Contents 1 Gap naming and defensive line positioning 1 1 Gap names 1 2 Defensive line positioning 1 2 1 Shade technique 2 One gap line play versus two gap line play 3 Shoot the gap 4 ReferencesGap naming and defensive line positioning editGap names edit The gaps on either side of the offensive center and between the guards are called A gaps 4 5 6 7 8 A gap between the offensive guard and tackle is called a B gap The gaps outside the offensive tackle are called C gaps If there is a tight end the gap outside the tight end and opposite the tackle is a D gap Defensive line positioning edit Line positioning is described by numbers from 0 to 9 9 10 Even numbers are face to face with offensive players odd numbers are to the side on the shoulder of opposing players If a defensive lineman is face to face with an offensive center he is said to be in a 0 technique 11 If he is face to face with a guard the defender is in a 2 technique 12 If the defender is face to face with a tackle he is in a 4 technique 13 If the defender is aligned directly across from a tight end it is described as a 6 technique Shade technique edit Numbers are also used to describe when players are aligned not directly on a player but aligned with the shoulders of a blocker This kind of alignment is often called a shade 14 15 To be aligned on the shoulders of a center is called a 1 technique 16 To be aligned on the inside shoulder of a guard is a 2i technique To be aligned on the outside shoulder of a guard is a 3 technique 17 To be aligned on the inside of a tackle is a 4i technique And to be aligned on the outside shoulder of a tackle is a 5 technique 18 Assignments of 7 and 9 are not universal but a 7 can mean a player on the inside shoulder of a tight end and a 9 technique is usually a couple feet on the outside away from any blocker One gap line play versus two gap line play editIn a one gap defensive line technique a player is assigned a single gap to defend against the run 19 20 21 22 23 He does not have to line up in the gap but he does have to be able to shed any blocker attempting to keep him from defending the gap 24 In a two gap defensive technique the defensive lineman generally has to control or defeat the offensive player in front of him to guard the run on both gaps that flank the offensive player The gap defensive technique is older than the use of the term In Jones and Wilkinson when describing the nose guard play in their 5 2 defense the authors warn that the guard must never allow the center to cut you either way i e two gap technique 25 All other defensive linemen are only asked to prevent their opposing linemen from blocking them in one gap play but they do not use the phrase gap in their text Shoot the gap editShooting the gap is a term used in American football 26 27 28 To shoot the gap a defensive lineman will exploit the space between the offensive linemen during a pass rush 29 30 The defensive lineman is usually one of the defensive tackles The gaps are given different letters depending on their distance from the center The gaps between the center and the guard are known as the A gaps and the gaps between the guard and the tackle are known as the B gaps Shooting the gap requires the defensive lineman to turn his shoulders and get past the offensive line into the backfield by any means possible usually by diving through the gap The play is often used during a blitz as the defense will try to rush past the offensive line in order to get to the quarterback and cause a quarterback sack References edit Durkin Dan 2013 08 26 Durkin s Football 101 Gaps Techniques amp Alignments Chicago cbslocal com Retrieved 2019 01 28 Long Howie Czarnecki John 2019 Football for Dummies 6th ed John Wiley and Sons p 358 ISBN 978 1 119 55301 4 DeLuca Sam 1978 The Football Handbook Jonathan David Publishers p 393 ISBN 0 8246 0231 5 Durkin 2013 Tanier Mike July 5 2005 Defensive Line Basics Mind the Gap Football Outsiders Edjsports Retrieved May 8 2021 Vanderlinden Ron 2008 Football s Eagle and Stack Defenses Human Kinetics pp 11 12 ISBN 978 0 7360 7253 3 JoRo Just Essary Jeff August 6 2019 Football 101 Intro to Defense Terminology SBNation Mile High Report Vox Media Retrieved May 9 2021 Long and Czarnecki p 160 Tanier 2005 Nogle Kevin March 7 2014 Football 101 Defensive line gap techniques SBNation the Phinsider Vox Media Retrieved May 9 2021 ITP Glossary 0 Technique Inside the Pylon August 13 2015 Retrieved May 9 2021 ITP Glossary 2 Technique Defensive Lineman Inside the Pylon December 24 2016 Retrieved May 9 2021 ITP Glossary 4 Technique Inside the Pylon December 30 2015 Retrieved May 9 2021 Kirwan Pat Siegerman David 2010 Take Your Eye Off the Ball Triumph Publishing p 219 ISBN 978 1 60078 391 3 Durkin 2013 JoRo and Essary 2019 Durkin 2013 ITP Glossary 5 Technique Defensive Lineman Inside the Pylon August 18 2015 Retrieved May 9 2021 Bullock Mark June 11 2014 The differences between 1 gap and 2 gap principles on the Redskins defensive line The Washington Post Graham Holdings Company Retrieved May 5 2021 Richardson Kevin November 1 2018 Inside the Huddle A look at one gap and two gap techniques The Baltimore Sun Tribune Publishing Company Retrieved May 5 2021 Brown Chris February 6 2012 Ode to the War Daddies Grantland ESPN Retrieved Mar 8 2021 Tanier 2005 Kirwan and Siegerman pp 110 115 George L Flynn ed 1973 Vince Lombardi on Football Vol I New York Graphic Society Ltd pp 174 183 ISBN 0 8212 0540 4 Jones Gomer Wilkinson Bud 1957 Modern Defensive Football Prentice Hall pp 92 94 Shooting the Gap Definition Sporting Charts www sportingcharts com Archived from the original on 2017 06 27 Retrieved 2019 10 06 Long and Czarnecki p 250 DeLuca p 393 Wilkinson Bud July 1993 Football Winning Defense Bud Wilkinson Google Books ISBN 9781461733263 Retrieved 2019 01 28 Wilkinson Bud 1973 Football Defense Time Inc pp 34 37 ISBN 0 397 00833 3 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gap American football amp oldid 1144037558, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
