I am looking at a "gap and mirror" defense. I am coaching 8 and 9 year olds this fall. It makes sense to me to keep things simple for these kids based on my observations as a parent last year. A gap defense seems to accomplish this goal. I am researching player alignment and their specific responsibility so I can teach it. On the USA Football website you indicate a preference for a 5-3 or 6-1 alignment which turns into a gap defense with LB taking gap responsibility. This leaves DB in man coverage which seems OK since this age group runs the ball 98% of the time. You do not like the kid in every gap on the line of scrimmage approach since it does not teach the basics needed in the older age groups. Where can I find more detailed information on this defense? The USA Football website provides general information. I need to find specific information like "the DT alignment is head up and slants to the strong side gap". Once I have a base of knowledge about how a gap defense should be played, I can apply some judgment and make adjustments based on our player's ability. Can you point me in the right direction?
Hi Coach,
The first decision you need to make is do you want to play a seven or an eight man front? The eight-man front will only give you a three deep look in your defensive backfield, but that may be OK if the majority of the offense that you face is running the football. An eight -man front could be a 6-2, 5-3,or 4-4 defensive front.
For our discussion, I have selected a base 6-2 defensive front with the option of the three deep playing either man-to-man or three-deep zone pass defense.
Look at the illustration for how our base gap defensive alignment would look like versus a Wing-T formation.
In determining our gap responsibility, we always designated the gaps as follows:
Guard/Center Gap on either side of the ball as the "A" gap.
Guard/Tackle Gap on either side of the ball as the "B" gap.
Gap outside OT or between OT/TE on either side of the ball as the "C" gap.
Gap outside of the TE or between OT/WR on either side of the ball as the "D" gap.
Down linemen were taught, based on the call of the defense, to either:
- Line up head up on the offensive player and charge to their gap responsibility by taking a first step with the foot on that side.
- Line up head up on the offensive player and take a lateral first step by with the foot on that side to their gap responsibility putting them on the line of scrimmage but physically in their gap.
- Line up head up on the offensive player and take a crossover first step with the foot opposite the side of their gap responsibility slanting them across the line of scrimmage, into the backfield and physically in their gap.
- In using all of these techniques the DL should focus on the man directly in front of him as his primary blocker. The next player on the line of scrimmage, in the direction of his gap responsibility, should be regarded as a secondary blocker. He should be taught how to attack and defeat any of the various blocks (drive, angle, hook, pass pro) and blocking schemes (combo, double team, trap, screen & draw) which may be employed by the offensive team.
RDE - D Gap - Play all blockers from the inside with his inside leg and forearm - try to turn ball carrier back to the center of the field. Zone pass defense drop to out zone.
RDT - B gap on his side use lateral step - any pass rush outside OT and keep QB in pocket.
RDG - A gap on his side using slant move - any pass rush through A gap.
LDG - B gap on his side use lateral step - any pass rush outside OG.
LDT - C gap on his side use lateral step - any pass rush outside OT and keep QB in pocket.
LDE - D Gap - Line up on outside shoulder of WB - Play all blockers from the inside with his inside leg and forearm - try to turn ball carrier back to the center of the field. Zone pass defense drop to out zone.
Both linebackers will key the flow (movement of the HB and FB) and take the following gap responsibility:
Both backs to the side of the WB to LB left::
RLB - check opposite A Gap for cutback pursue to TE.
LLB - Scrape into C Gap outside of LDE.
Both backs away from WB to LB right:
RLB - Scrape into C Gap outside of RDE.
LLB - check onside A Gap for cutback and then pursue to opposite side.
Once your linemen have mastered playing with the different techniques, you can change up your defense and present many more problems to the offense.
Blitz both LB'ers through A gap on their side [or cross] with both DG & DT taking a lateral step to their outside B & C gaps.
Blitz both LB'ers through B gap on their side with both DG slanting into A gap on their side & both DT taking a lateral step to their outside C gaps.
Blitz both DE's hard from the outside C gaps with the other 4 linemen slanting into the gap to their inside B & A gaps {LB keying man they have in M-M coverage HB or FB)
Zone Pass Defense (Cover Three - 4 under / 3 deep zone pass defense)
RLB - Hook zone on his side of the ball
LLB - Hook Zone on his side of the ball
RCO - Deep outside 1/3 on his side of the field.
FS - Deep middle 1/3 of the field.
LCO - Deep outside 1/3 on his side of the field.
Man-to-man pass defense (Cover zero or one)
RLB/ RDE - M-M on HB inside/outside technique
LLB/LDE - M-M on HB inside/outside technique
RCO - M-M on WR inside technique
FS - M-M on TE inside technique
LCO - M-M on WB outside technique
This may seem like a great deal of information, but my goal was to give you a good idea and foundation of how you could install your gap defense, the responsibilities for each player and how, once the players have learned to basic techniques, you can vary your defense and give the offensive players many different challenges. Please let me know if you have any questions or feel you need more information and/or explanations.
Coach Tom Bass