The Prof
04-06-2009, 11:04 AM
The point is: one gap DT's and 2-gap DT's use entirely different TECHNIQUES, they really play a totally different game.
Where a DT lines up, first of all, determines his RESPONSIBILITIES.
And these specific DUTIES of his, in turn, dictate his METHODS.
That is, if he's lined up in a gap (an odd # in the D call), then he is accountable, obviously, for that gap---no runner may get thru.
He's a 1-gap DT, therefore.
So he uses a 1-gap technique---the reason it's called "3 technique," I believe, is cuz the guys who use it the most mostly line up in the 3 gap.
Like Rob Ryan's LDT, most plays.
The 1-gapper, incidentally, league wide, is predominantly LDT---that is, he faces O's strong (R) side.
Asking a DT to handle 2 gaps on the strong side, apparently, is requesting too much.
2-gappers play backside.
Ok.
So, 1-gap DT, almost always LDT, or UT (Under Tackle).
His technique (the point):
DL Coaches are obsessed with this rip move of theirs---inside-arm-upward-rip.
Rip and go.
Trivia Q: What part of DT's exhausted body does he complain most of?
Coach---I can't lift my arms.
1-gapper explodes, first step, violently into his gap.
READING AS HE GOES.
If the play's away, adjust down the line, belly up---S angles!
Get your belly, squared up, between ball and goal line.
If, however, the play is not away.
If instead it's right AT you.
If it is YOUR gap that's under assault.
Then YOU are in giant danger.
Then everything's on the line---your career---certainly any pretense of being any good.
Theoretically, if you're beat in your gap, you're outta here.
You must: STEP FORWARD AND BLOW UP THE FIRST THING YOU SEE.
FB, OL, ball carrier.
Blow up 2!
NEVER dance in the hole.
NEVER play clever.
Or athletic.
Basketball.
Power Forward.
No.
Pvt Ryan's closer to truth.
STEP FORWARD AND BLOW UP THE FIRST THING YOU SEE.
WIN YOUR GAP.
NEVER get driven.
Double team. Triple team.
No excuse.
You DIE IN THE HOLE instead.
Start a pile.
I have almost confirmed that DC Ryan (as opposed to Spielberg's Ryan) uses more than one D front (we'd all certainly expect him to).
I'm pretty sure 73-52 is his base.
I'm also close to certain I've seen a Raider 2-gapping NT nosed-over an enemy C.
That is, at 0, zero, over C, in the D call.
So, we've covered 1-gap, LDT, UT, both responsibilities and techniques.
Now, 2 gapper, RDT, NT.
In 73-52, he'd be at 2, head up over O's LG.
Again, 2-gap's play backside.
Our NT, by the way, is sposed to be Sands. But he couldn't hang, so got benched.
After which, our overworked Sapp and Warren mostly alternated at the far more demanding RDT/NT.
Sands saw time subsequent only to gas one of that much better pair.
Now, 2-gapper's responsibilities are self defined.
The point (finally): his totally different technique.
Instead of ripping his inside arm, exploding into his gap.
NT blows into his MAN.
Not control his gap.
Instead, own his opponent.
Get UNDER him.
Hit him: sooner, harder, and most important, longer.
Drive your legs, turn your legs over, keep your feet moving.
Head up, big time.
Giraffe your neck.
NT's GOTTA see.
The point: NT ABSOLUTELY MUST NOT COMMIT. Not til he's absolutely sure.
DON'T GO TIL YOU KNOW.
If RB's hitting either the 1 or 3 gap, then:
IT'S ME!
NT absolutely DOES NOT have to make the tackle.
That is positively NOT his job.
Instead, he is to FILL either gap, whichever is assaulted.
Direct your violence into the gap being attacked. Fill it---with your belly, your butt, your opponent... anything.
Of course, O can get quite tricky, in addition.
Now, the bane of all D Coaches---guessing.
2-gappers, exhausted, maybe stupid, doesn't get it, poorly coached or undisciplined.
But, oh yeah, you're not surprised---they're guessing all the time.
CB's too---naturally, for some reason (think about it), but CB's are super prone, at about 15 yards, to jumping the out route, or cross, that isn't there.
Just beginning to jump it, actually, which proves fatally sufficient.
I can't imagine any single human being this side of Cortez Kennedy able, physically able, to hold up at NT for, say, 40 of D's usually 60 snaps.
Professor Eyepatch
Where a DT lines up, first of all, determines his RESPONSIBILITIES.
And these specific DUTIES of his, in turn, dictate his METHODS.
That is, if he's lined up in a gap (an odd # in the D call), then he is accountable, obviously, for that gap---no runner may get thru.
He's a 1-gap DT, therefore.
So he uses a 1-gap technique---the reason it's called "3 technique," I believe, is cuz the guys who use it the most mostly line up in the 3 gap.
Like Rob Ryan's LDT, most plays.
The 1-gapper, incidentally, league wide, is predominantly LDT---that is, he faces O's strong (R) side.
Asking a DT to handle 2 gaps on the strong side, apparently, is requesting too much.
2-gappers play backside.
Ok.
So, 1-gap DT, almost always LDT, or UT (Under Tackle).
His technique (the point):
DL Coaches are obsessed with this rip move of theirs---inside-arm-upward-rip.
Rip and go.
Trivia Q: What part of DT's exhausted body does he complain most of?
Coach---I can't lift my arms.
1-gapper explodes, first step, violently into his gap.
READING AS HE GOES.
If the play's away, adjust down the line, belly up---S angles!
Get your belly, squared up, between ball and goal line.
If, however, the play is not away.
If instead it's right AT you.
If it is YOUR gap that's under assault.
Then YOU are in giant danger.
Then everything's on the line---your career---certainly any pretense of being any good.
Theoretically, if you're beat in your gap, you're outta here.
You must: STEP FORWARD AND BLOW UP THE FIRST THING YOU SEE.
FB, OL, ball carrier.
Blow up 2!
NEVER dance in the hole.
NEVER play clever.
Or athletic.
Basketball.
Power Forward.
No.
Pvt Ryan's closer to truth.
STEP FORWARD AND BLOW UP THE FIRST THING YOU SEE.
WIN YOUR GAP.
NEVER get driven.
Double team. Triple team.
No excuse.
You DIE IN THE HOLE instead.
Start a pile.
I have almost confirmed that DC Ryan (as opposed to Spielberg's Ryan) uses more than one D front (we'd all certainly expect him to).
I'm pretty sure 73-52 is his base.
I'm also close to certain I've seen a Raider 2-gapping NT nosed-over an enemy C.
That is, at 0, zero, over C, in the D call.
So, we've covered 1-gap, LDT, UT, both responsibilities and techniques.
Now, 2 gapper, RDT, NT.
In 73-52, he'd be at 2, head up over O's LG.
Again, 2-gap's play backside.
Our NT, by the way, is sposed to be Sands. But he couldn't hang, so got benched.
After which, our overworked Sapp and Warren mostly alternated at the far more demanding RDT/NT.
Sands saw time subsequent only to gas one of that much better pair.
Now, 2-gapper's responsibilities are self defined.
The point (finally): his totally different technique.
Instead of ripping his inside arm, exploding into his gap.
NT blows into his MAN.
Not control his gap.
Instead, own his opponent.
Get UNDER him.
Hit him: sooner, harder, and most important, longer.
Drive your legs, turn your legs over, keep your feet moving.
Head up, big time.
Giraffe your neck.
NT's GOTTA see.
The point: NT ABSOLUTELY MUST NOT COMMIT. Not til he's absolutely sure.
DON'T GO TIL YOU KNOW.
If RB's hitting either the 1 or 3 gap, then:
IT'S ME!
NT absolutely DOES NOT have to make the tackle.
That is positively NOT his job.
Instead, he is to FILL either gap, whichever is assaulted.
Direct your violence into the gap being attacked. Fill it---with your belly, your butt, your opponent... anything.
Of course, O can get quite tricky, in addition.
Now, the bane of all D Coaches---guessing.
2-gappers, exhausted, maybe stupid, doesn't get it, poorly coached or undisciplined.
But, oh yeah, you're not surprised---they're guessing all the time.
CB's too---naturally, for some reason (think about it), but CB's are super prone, at about 15 yards, to jumping the out route, or cross, that isn't there.
Just beginning to jump it, actually, which proves fatally sufficient.
I can't imagine any single human being this side of Cortez Kennedy able, physically able, to hold up at NT for, say, 40 of D's usually 60 snaps.
Professor Eyepatch