Techniques and Gaps Explained...

[JCane]

Alright, I stickied the thread but I changed the thread title to reflect what we're discussing.

[Myles Fynch]

You rock.

[JCane]

You rock.

That should be obvious considering my infield dirt theory thread.

[NY8123]

I always found it funny that offensively it is numbered and holes for assignment and defense uses letters and gaps for assignments.

[FinAtic8480]

Great Great Stuff, thanks a lot Ted.

[PhinsPhan11]

Thanks a lot Ted.

[BoltWalt]

i understand a lot about football,and the responsibilities of the players out on the field,but there are certain things i don't quite get and would like to learn so i can have an even better understanding of the game...if somebody says to me that player X is a 5 Technique DE or is a 3 Technique or even a 0 Technique,or that player Y's responsibility is to control the A gap or B gap...what's the A&B gaps and what is a 5,3,or even 0 technique defensive player and what's his responsibility? some of you may think..damn dude,how do you not understand what all that means...well,i don't and want to learn,so help a fellow fins fan out ok...

Thank you for asking that question.

[BoltWalt]

The A-gaps are the gaps on either side of the center... between the center and guards...

The B-gaps are the gaps between the guards and tackles...

The C-gaps are between the offensive tackles and tight end...

The D-gaps are outside of the tight end...






The techniques are in reference to how and where the defensive guy lines up...



0-technique = lined up nose to nose with the center (a nose tackle)...

1-technique = lined up in the middle of the A-gap...

2-technique = lined up nose to nose with the guard..

3-technique = lined up on the outside shoulder of the RG... responsible for the B-gap. A "one-gapper".... (think Warren Sapp, John Randle, etc.)

4-technique = lined up nose to nose with the offensive tackle..

5-technique = lined up on th outside shoulder of the offensive tackle (a RDE in a 3-4 defense)

6-technique = lined up on the tight end..

7-technique = lined up on the inside shoulder of the tight end and outside shoulder of the offensive tackle... (think Jared Allen, Michael Strahan, etc.)

8-technique = lined up on the "ghost" on the outside shoulder of the tight end..

9-technique = nose lined up on the outside shoulder of the tight end...

Thank you for this answer, your answer is very informative.