Introduction As a lot of people on this board know, I am a big fan of single gap control even fronts.

I've run the 4-3, 4-4, 6-2 and alot of variations in between. This article will deal with defensive tackle and end play within a single gap control defense. Why Sing Gap Control? Teaching kids to defend a single gap is a very simple concept. Everyone, linebackers, defensive tackles, defensive ends, and force players all have are aligned to and assigned a simple run fit. The defenders know which gap they are responsible for, are aligned to it, and know the fundamentals of defending their gap. This makes it very simple for them to play hard, fast and effective defensive football. Stance The DEs and DTs all have the same stance, no matter how they are shaded .........1. Feet slightly wider than shoulder width, on balls of their feet. ..........2. Shaded leg back ..........3. Shaded hand down ...........4. Weight slightly distributed forward on the down arm. We have them lean forward until their knuckles go white and then pull it back a little. Initial Movement ........1. Step with shaded leg first. Split the OLs legs .........2. Strike the V of the OLs breast plate. Their hands should be in and their thumbs should be up. We teach them to grab jersey straight off the bat. .........3. Step with non shaded leg into the gap .........4. Rip through the OL with the shaded arm .........5. Get your hips into the gap and keep them there. .........6. Feel and fight pressure while keeping hips and head in assigned gap.

Reaction-Base Zone block ......This is the most basic block we will see; usually when teams are running IZ to a 3 tech. ......1. The initial steps and strike put the DL in a great position to hold his gap. .......2. The DT and DE are feeling pressure from a single OL to their gap responsibility. They need to keep their hips in the gap, fight through the block and get penetration into the backfield. From there, they're looking to make a tackle.

Reaction- Double Team ......Many teams (us included are ALWAYS LOOKING FOR A DOUBLE TEAM. .....1. As I stated above, the initial steps should leave the DE ot DT with their butt and hips in the gap. .....2. As they feel the second OL coming down on them, they are still focused on fighting through the initial block. We only weant them defending one man- not trying to take on both blockers. .....3. The DL really needs to focus on staying low, ripping through, and letting their initial momentum splut the double team. .......4 If they split it, they're eyes shoot to the backfield and they're looking to make a play. The type of play we are seeing will determine what they do at this point. ......5. If they are losing ground anfd cannot beat the double team, they need to hit the ground and pile it up. We don't want anyone getting off to our LBs, so we'll make a pile.

Reaction- Down Block .....1. Our initial steps don't change here and the DL needs to ride their shaded OL down for 2 steps and KEEP THEM OFF OF THE LBs AND FORCE PLAYERS. ......2. After 2 steps, they'd need to be looking for a pulling OL. ...........a If they see a pulling OL, they need to attack his upfield shoulder and spill the RB outsideright into our LBs and force players. This goes for 3 tech DTs on traps and any of our DEs on GT counters. ...........b. If they don't see a puller, then they are being optioned and their responsbility will depend on the type of option. .................1 Under Center and Shotgun IV, OV, Midline- attack the mesh and take away the dive. .................2. Under Center and Shotgun Speed option (DEs)- kill the QB .................3. Shotgun Zone read (DEs) keep your shoulder square to the LOS. Keep contain and take away the QB Keep, triple option. We don't want the QB loose in the perimeter; we stand a much better chance against the zone dive. Reaction- OZ and Reach ..... This applies to our DEs, who are generally responsible for contain. .......1. The initial movement can kind of leave the DE controlling the OT/TEs outside shoulderjust what we want. .......2. He needs to keep his head, hips, and outside arm a head of the reach block. ........3 He needs to fight this block all the way to the sideline and force the runner back inside. The ball carrier cannot get around him to the corner; he has to go back inside to the rest of our defense. Reaction- Pass block .....1. As with all of our blocks, the initial movement puts the DL in the gap; very good against pass protection. .....2. The DL needs to stay low and fight through one side of the blocker, penetrate and get pressure on the QB. ......3. This is a one-one dog fight generally, but the DL has the advantage, they are only playing one half of the block. .....4. We only teach our DL to get their hands up if they've gotten beat for 2-3 seconds. Within that time frame, they are ripping swimming and fighting to get to the QB. Reaction- Cut block ......1. Low shed drills are important here. .......2. The DLs hands are alreadfy going straight to OLs body; with a few reps, they will learn to shove the OL into the ground. The key here is protecting their legs by using their arms. It can be tricky to teach, but with reps, you'll get a lot of pressure when people are cutting. Read more: http://coachhuey.com/thread/927/single-gap-defensive-linefundamentals#ixzz2akJzBoMt