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By Mickey Mays
Researcher
X&O Labs
mickey@xandolabs.com
Ask any defensive coach and he'll tell you that defending the C gap - the gap located between the play side tackle and tight end - is essential in stopping the run game. Conversely, ask any any offensive coach with a clue on game planning and he'll tell you that the C gap is where he wants to attack you in the run game. It's a sure-fire way to assess how strong your defensive is up front. It's guts vs. glory. Can you handle the pressure that a tight end places on the defense by creating that extra C gap? Just for clarification purposes, this report focuses on a three-man surface, complete with a tight end. If you're a pure spread guy, you may not have a legitimate tight end. If you've noticed, recent success from spread teams like Florida, Oregon and Boise State have all come because of the physicality that a tight end presents. So once he lines up next to the tackle, how can you protect it?
Our research found that almost 50% of defensive coaches play a variation of a 7-technique at least half the time within their defensive schemes. We've found that this number is significantly higher than it was over ten years ago. Many originators of the 4-3 front would employ a 9-technique defensive end who would play on the outside shoulder of the tight end. He would be responsible for the D gap, while a stacked outside linebacker would be responsible for the C gap. But some teams didn't have the talent or the size to play the C gap with a second level player and started getting gashed by gap schemes like power and counter. It then became necessary to leverage that C gap with a down lineman on the line of scrimmage rather than a second level linebacker. It's important that these defensive linemen convert recognition time into reaction time. This process requires a complete understanding of blocking schemes and a knowledge of how to physically defeat each block. It's our intent in this report to provide information so defensive line coaches can either verify the stance, alignment and techniques they are currently teaching or discover a better way to coach a specific detail for a 7-technique. On a personal note, I learned a lot from working on this report and will make some adjustments to what I'm doing as Defensive Coordinator at Sequatchie County High School (TN).
For verbiage purposes, there are six blocks and schemes a 7-technique must learn to defeat. They are identified below and will be further explained in the report below. It's important to note the corresponding diagrams based on each blocking scheme. They will be referenced continuously during this report. Can't see the diagrams? Click here now.
- A drive or base block by the tight end (Diagram 1)
- A cutoff block by the tight end, where he will try to gain leverage in the C gap (Diagram 2)
- An over-block by the tight end and offensive tackle (Diagram 3)
- A " T-scheme" by the tight end and offensive tackle (Diagram 4)
- An arc release or fan by the tight end and offensive tackle (Diagram 5)
- An influence/kick-out by the tight end and a back or pulling offensive lineman. (Diagram 6)
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Case 1: Stance, Alignment and Visual Key
Stance:
All coaches know that it all starts with the stance - which is why we're doing the same thing by beginning with this report. Different coaches teach different styles, and this is especially true with coaching a C gap defender to play over the top of a tight end. For now, we will refer him to as a 7, 6, or 6i, depending upon the exact alignment. Our research found that an almost identical number of coaches teach an inside hand down and inside foot back stagger (37.9%) vs. an outside hand down, outside foot stagger (37.6%). What may have been surprising is that 24.5% of coaches still teach a balanced (no stagger) or squared up stance, even at the highest levels of football. "With a balanced stance and the most comfortable hand down, we can attack the drive block," says Keith Millard, with the Tampa Bay Buccanners. "We can also be able to jab step with the inside foot vs. a cutoff block. The first step can be with either foot depending on what our key (tight end) does. We call it a positive mirror step, not a flat step. We want to gain ground into the blocker."
While a common argument for an inside hand down stagger is quicker leverage vs. a cutoff block, some coaches like twelve year veteran NFL defensive line coach Rex Norris teaches an outside hand down stagger. "It's just a more powerful stance," says Norris. "It lets him step into and attack the tight end and get two hands on him." Yet, current Jacksonville Jaguars' defensive line coach Joe Cullen teaches an inside hand down, inside foot stagger from a 6-technique. But during the course of our research, we've found that a common denominator in stance is directly tied into the alignment of these defensive ends.
Our conclusive evidence is below:
- Most 6-technique alignments (head up to the tight end) employ an inside hand down stagger.
- Most 7-technique alignments (outside foot to crotch of tight end) employ an outside hand down stagger.
- Most 6i-technique alignments (nose to inside eye of tight end) depends upon the ability of the player. If a defensive line coach chooses to teach a balanced stance, the most comfortable hand can be down.
Alignment:
You would think that a 7-technique will always align in the inside shade of the tight end. After all, by definition, that is what a 7-technique is. At least that's what we thought, before we conducted the research on it (another reason why we love studying coaching trends). Dan Redding, the defensive line coach for perennial NCAA Division II powerhouse Carson-Newman College, strongly believes in the importance of changing up the alignment of his 7-technique. "We will play him heavy on the tight end, then have him move to inside number and even put him on the inside edge," says Redding. "We want to make the tight end think, keep him guessing. It can depend on offensive scheme or game situation."
While 36.7% of coaches teach an outside foot to crotch 7-technique alignment, 41.4% align their defensive ends either on the inside eye "6i" or head up "6" with the tight end. Like Redding, Norris will "adjust his alignment depending on the player's ability." There are advantages and disadvantages of each alignment: A head up "6" alignment gives horizontal leverage advantage vs. a T-scheme and an over-block, but makes the cutoff block tougher to play. An outside foot to tight end's crotch gives strong C gap leverage vs. a cutoff block and better ensures gap cancellation. It also allows a smaller, quicker defensive end to penetrate against a bigger, slower tight end to disrupt both his blocking schemes and offensive execution. "The danger," notes Millard, "of lining up too far inside is getting caved down the line of scrimmage by that big, athletic tight end."
Visual Key:
Our research showed that 60.1% of coaches teach a 7-technique to visually key the tight end, with 37.1 percent of those coaches giving the V of the neck of the tight end as a specific visual key. "We will always key the tight end. We play a '6i' for a reason. In long yardage situations, we want to get wood on the tight end from a '6i'. If we want to key the ball and rush the passer, we will move to a '9' technique," said Millard.
So what about the 28.2 percent of coaches that felt the play side tackle was the better visual key for the 7-technique? One advantage is defending against an influence/kick-out scheme, used in either the power O or a power counter play. In both schemes, the offensive tackle will either double team the "3" technique or release inside to a linebacker while the tight end arc releases to the second level before the defensive end gets kicked out by the back-side guard or fullback.
Ashour Peera, the defensive coordinator for South Lake H.S. in Groveland, Florida, teaches an offensive tackle key and uses a triangle drill to coach blocking scheme recognition. "We base out of a 3-4, but we will shift our defensive front weak and our outside backer down to a 7-technique. We coach him to key the offensive tackle. We always want to get hands on the tight end and give him three things for his key: if the tackle goes (away), you go; if the tackle comes (to me), you come; if the tackle drops (pass sets), you drop (for coverage)."
Although only 11% of coaches teach their 7-technique to key the ball, 66.3% will adjust the visual key according to down and distance, tight end's split or blocking scheme.
Our conclusive evidence shows the following:
- If my goal is to get the best possible get off, my best key is the football.
- If my goal is to attack and get two hands on the tight end, my best key is the tight end. "I've got to see what I'm going to hit," said Carson-Newman's Dan Redding.
- If my goal is to defeat a block from inside the "C" gap, influence/kick-out or arc/fan, my best key is the offensive tackle.
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Case 2: Defeating a Drive Block and Cutoff Block
One challenge for defensive line coaches is finding time during individual drills to work against all blocks and schemes defensive linemen will see during the course of a season. So, again, we try to help out coaches. It's what we do! So for each of the six common blocks a 7-technique will see we broke them down into the following categories: definition of block, philosophy of block (why an offense will use it), how to destruct the block, and the best drill to teach the destruction.
We've found that the most frequent blocks a 7-technique will face are a drive block and a cutoff block. These two can be practiced in the same drill with multiple pairs of defensive linemen.
Drive Block Definition: One-on-one block by tight end with aiming point down the middle or outside shoulder
Drive Block Philosophy: Whipping a one-on-one drive block is the starting point for teaching a 7-technique to play over a tight end. At least it is for Joe Cullen, the defensive line coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars. "We hit the sled almost every day whether it's in-season or during off-season practices," says Cullen. "It's a great drill for playing the drive block. We teach thumbs up and elbows under, the power comes from the hips." Stationary sled drills and the 2-gap Oklahoma drill are two of the best ways to teach a defensive lineman to deliver a blow and defeat a drive block.
Drive Block Destruction: Attack and whip the tight end, press and separate with eyes inside - control the drive block by working both feet and maintaining a base until they are in the neutral zone and the blocker is in the backfield. Knock him back. Find the ball through the hip of the tight end - fight to keep your hips and shoulders square while maintaining inside-out leverage. If the ball stays inside, press and separate again and shed with a jerk and rip and make the tackle. If the ball crosses face, press and lockout with the outside arm, work hips across the blocker, shed and make the tackle. If the tight end's initial step is too wide, rip off with the outside arm, penetrate and set the edge.
Drive Block Drill: Sled - work separation using hands and feet.
Cutoff Block Definition= A one-on-one block by tight end with aiming point 18 inches inside defender's hip attempting to cut him out of the C gap, and gain leverage into the C gap.
Cutoff Block Philosophy: By alignment, the defensive end should win. He's already in the C gap. We found that the success rate in this block relies heavily on reaction time, and holding that C gap responsibility. Any first level C gap player will never have force responsibilities on the run, which gives him the ability to play physical. "When he (a defensive lineman) rips inside a cutoff block, if he feels himself getting washed down the line of scrimmage with the ball cutting back, we teach him to 'pad back' into the blocker," said Cullen.
A tight end's cutoff block vs. a 7-technique is primarily a back-side one-on-one block away from the point of attack, but some teams will still try to cut-off the defensive end while running a play side A gap power play.
Cutoff Block Destruction: Attack and whip the tight end with hips, hands and hat. Knock him back. Recognize cutoff block, and look inside for the football. Work hard with the inside hand and hip to stay square. Play with inside leverage as long as possible. If the ball stays inside, rip off and make the tackle. If the ball cuts back fast behind the tight end into the D gap, cross face, rip off and make the tackle. If pinned in the C gap, pump it up the field to force a flat angle by the ball carrier and pad back into the tight end. Versus a low cutoff block (or a cut block), get eyes on cut block, two-hand jam it, shuffle laterally, and pursue inside to the ball. Versus a flat cutoff block (TE rips and runs down the line of scrimmage), the tight end will turn his shoulders and may try to gain inside leverage by ripping inside with his outside arm. Prevent yourself from being washed and creating a downhill D gap cutback by pressing the blocker down the line of scrimmage and up field with two hands on his outside shoulder, cancelling the C gap with the blocker's body. If the ball cuts back into the D gap, release off outside the tight end and make the tackle.
Cutoff Block Drills: Fit drill - fit the defensive end up on a tight end, with the defender's hat down the middle and his hands full of jersey on the tight end's numbers, again thumbs up and elbows under. Align a running back 5 yards deep behind an imaginary center. Simulate a cutoff block from the fit position. The 7-technique must lockout, gain inside leverage, and find the ball carrier through the inside hip. The ball carrier will either stay inside or cut back to D gap. Next, work a flat cutoff drill. Align the tight end with his shoulders already turned. Have him rip with his inside arm and the defender will press him down the L.O.S. and up-field.
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