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Defensive Creativity

Jackson State University\'s Implementation of the One-Gap System
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Each year an opponent’s offense, becomes more and more complex. Defending multiple formations and special play designs has become a daily occurrence. No matter where you are as a defensive coach, you must be able to adjust and deal with changes and find an answer.

You have more players with multiple abilities these days that increase the anxiety level of all coaches. Using the one-gap system will help, in many ways, to defend the multiple offensive systems of our times.

As this article continues, please note that our philosophy at J.S.U. is “If you know it, you can teach it, and if your players are suited for it, you will have success with it.” In other words, anything can work when you apply yourself to the task.

Step one: in implementing the one-gap system, every player is assigned a gap, no two-gap players. Put them in positions to attack. Help a man either by alignment or by movement with the front seven.

Step two: play the run first. What does this mean in the one-gap system? Simply don’t let the ball carrier get north and south. Design your front to make the ball carrier run lateral. The most common method used is constrict, occupy, or block inside gaps.

Step three: use multiple fronts to help keep the opponent from knowing exactly what you will be aligned in. General rule: don’t align in the same front on two consecutive plays. Change your alignments by using multiple methods:

A. Run games with D-Line
B. Use LB Stunts
C. Pre-Snap alignment then shift
D. Any combination of the three

Diagram 1.

Our base defense is set out of an even front: four defensive linemen, three linebackers, and four defensive backs. We have a run strength and passing strength declaration. Alignments will vary. The objective is to put players in positions where they play one-gap and attack a half a man. (See Diagram 1.)

In Diagram 1 look from left to right. Starting with the TE as the run strength LE, 6-Technique LT, 3 Technique, RT, shade weak on the center, RE 5 Technique, Linebackers Sam, 90 Technique, Mike, O Technique, WLB 40 I Technique. Linebackers have slide rules built into technique to handle motions, shifts, wide numbers 2 formations and one back sets, which you will see in later diagrams. Alignments vary based on players’ ability. Example: 5 Technique could be aligned in one of four locations – outside eye, middle of outside pad, edge of outside pad or in the gap. Ability and situations determines alignment. Numbers are used to call the front. Weak DT, is always in a shade weak on the center unless “G” is called. Weak Tackle moves to a one technique on OG. 3-digits to align front seven. LB’s take first available gap nearest them.

1st digit - DE
2nd digit - DT
3rd digit - DE

General Rules for Run
1. Play your gap first.
2. Run to you, attack the ball.
3. Run to you with a blocker: defeat blocker
first with strength, quickness or both.
4. Run away from you: stay inside and behind ball carrier until ball declares in a down field direction.
5. Any front seven player that’s aligned in an outside technique plays the down block the same.


Diagram 2.


Diagram 3.


Diagram A.


Diagram B.


Diagram C.


Diagram D. 1-Tech & 3-Tech


Diagram E. Shade & 3-Tech


Diagram F. Angle

A. See down block.
B. Pulling lineman, to back. Objective with three step progression is to make the ball carrier bounce outside when defender attacks middle of blocker to inside arm. Stop the run first.

Methods of how to be Multiple

1. Change the front by moving players alignments and changing their gap responsibilities. One change in a number is simple and changes the front (See Diagram 2. and
Diagram 3.)
2. Use defensive line games to change a gap responsibility. DL-Games can be divided into two-major categories: run games and passing games. From the two major categories, each one breaks down to one-man games, two men games, three men games, and four men games. Examples of the categories are listed below:

Run Game: Even Front

1-man
DT’s - In or Pinch, 3 or 4 technique. Angle inside to the nearest gap inside the man you’re aligned on. (See Diagram A.)

DE’s - switch, strong side DE. Angle inside to the nearest gap inside the man you’re aligned on. (See Diagram B.)

DE - switch, weak side DE. Angle inside to the nearest gap inside the man you’re aligned on. (See Diagram C.)

RUN GAME

2-man
DT’s - Aim, 3 technique. Angle inside to the nearest gap inside the man you’re aligned on. Shade will jet this gap, 1 Technique. Angle to the outside gap nearest the man you’re aligned on. (See Diagram D. and E.)

RUN GAME

3-man
DE’s, DT’s Angle, both 4 Techniques and the O Technique will angle away from the TE. Run strength to the nearest gap away from the man you’re aligned on. (See Diagram F.)

The linebackers must understand when their gap responsibility changes due to the run game stunts. There are no limits to what type of line games can be created. Point of emphasis: keep the one-gap philosophy in force. When one back sets are used, the secondary will be responsible for a gap with certain formations.

To help the line games be more effective, use linebacker stunts with the line games. This creates penetration and another method of establishing a new line of scrimmage. To stunt one linebacker, just use the name of the linebacker, Sam, Mike, or Will. Incorporate line games with linebacker stunts to enhance multiple movements. When one linebacker stunts, the remaining two have the same gap responsibility on run, while on pass they will be hooked to the curl responsibility. Examples are shown in the next four diagrams (4-7).


Diagram 4.

Diagram 5.

Diagram 6.

Diagram 7. Angle Will

Diagram 8. Angle Sam

With a G-Aim Mike, call the strong DT and the Mike to switch gaps and three deep coverage is used. Pass responsibilities for the remaining two linebackers is Hook to Curl. This is a 2-man game with a single LB stunt. (See Diagram 4)

G-Aim Whip with a three deep coverage. (See Diagram 5)

With an Angle Mike call, this implements a three-man game with a single LB stunt (See Diagram 6, 7 & 8)

Coaching points to remember when using one-gap five man run stunts: you will give up a pass coverage zone. This system is designed to protect the hook and curl areas. When the ball is thrown to the flat, have good solid tacklers and have good team pursuit. It’s designed for the run; if a pass occurs, the objective is to make the pass occur quicker.

Coaching points for linebackers if they are not stunting: know which linebacker is stunting and that the nearest linebacker replaces him in the pass coverage becomes a Hook-Curl defender.

The next phase needed to enhance the multiple one-gap attacking system is multiple linebacker stunts with conventional coverage.


Diagram 9.

When a multiple linebacker stunt is called, the front is called with numbers, the stunt is called by name, word, or combination and the coverage is called by colors or words. If the front is our base front, we don’t have to use numbers and the second half of the call is used. (See Diagram 9).

Linebackers will use slide rules to adjust to formations with wide #2 receivers in them (e.g., Weak Dog, Brown).

Coaching points: weak refers to away from TE run strength. If there are two TE’s in the formation, the run strength will be the multiple receiver side. Weak Dog tells the two linebackers away from run strength to stunt their run gaps and tells the weak DT and DE. They will replace the linebackers in coverage. They will engage offensive line in front of them for a one thousand one count; if it’s a run, no drop is needed. If they read pass from the offensive lineman, as they engage contact, they drop Will. Key point to the dropping defensive lineman: their drop will be late, play the run first, and engage the offensive lineman. Also, DT drops to middle Hook, DE drops to the nearest Curl Zone.


Diagram 10. G-Aim Weak-Dog Crimson


Diagram 11.


Diagram 12.


Diagram 13. G-Strong Dog Crimson


Diagram 14. G Strong Dog-Brown Run Strength


Diagram 15. vs. One Back G-Aim Strong Dog-Brown

Stunt linebackers get to the heels of the offensive lineman first. If the pulling lineman or back comes to block you inside out, attack blocker down the middle so ball carrier bounces outside to your help. If no blockers when you reach this point, continue to QB or first threat. (See Diagram 10 - G-Aim Weak-Dog Crimson)

Coverage is now Quarters responsibility for the secondary. DL responsibility stays the same. Always remind players that weak or strong dog is in reference to the TE run strength, and if there is no TE the run strength is the multiple receiver side.

If G-Weak Dog Crimson vs. One Back Set, nothing changes. Linebackers use their split rules with all wide number two receiver sets. Slide rules mean align near wide number two receiver. If there are two linebackers remaining in the box, linebackers to the three man blocker side align in a 40 Technique play nearest gap open inside of your alignment. Linebacker to the two man blocker side aligns in a 30 Technique and plays the nearest gap to your inside. If there is only one linebacker remaining in the box, he aligns in a zero Technique and plays the nearest gap open between the guard box. (See Diagrams 11 and 12).

To implement the strong dog concept, strong tells the two linebackers to the run strength to stunt their run gaps. Strong tells the DT, DE to the run strength to play run first. Engage the offensive lineman in front of you for a one thousand one count. When you read pass, the DT drops Middle Hook, DE drops to the nearest Curl Zone and Linebackers implement split rules. (See Diagrams 13, 14, & 15).

The possibilities are endless. There is no limit to your creativity. Multiple one-gap is unique, simple, and aggressive. What you dream of can become a reality once the basics have been obtained. We love the one-gap system for many reasons. Playing one-gap and moving people around to exchange gap responsibilities are the two things we enjoy most. This multiple but simple system allows each defensive player to make plays. When everyone has the same opportunity it makes it more fun for our players.

The result is you get sound play and a deceptive look all in the same system. Personnel does not change as the front DL games, LB stunts or coverage changes. The personnel stays consistent.


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About the author
James Bell


2004 marks James Bell’s second season as head coach of the Jackson State Tigers. Bell's resume includes over 20 years of coaching experience including stops at Northwest Missouri State, Louisville, North Texas, Wake Forest and Indiana. A graduate of the University of Central Arkansas, Bell was an Honorable Mention NAIA All-American. You can reach him at james.bell@jsums.com






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