1 Gap 3-4 Teams and 2 Gap 3-4 Teams

[Direckshun]

A little football 101, with your assistance.

One of the reasons Aubrayo Franklin is not worth the contract for Kansas City is because San Francisco plays a different scheme than we do along the defensive line.

There are really two major schemes for the defensive line for the 3-4.

A one-gap 3-4 exhibits a more penetrating role for the DL. Both DEs and even the Nose Tackle are penetrating and aggressive. Typically you are going to ask your DL to be an iota or two smaller than we'd be accustomed to them being in a two-gap, and definitively more athletic.

A two-gap 3-4 is less about creating havoc yourself, and more about freeing up your teammates. The defensive line is more focused on forcing the offensive line to commit as much resources to holding you up as possible. You are literally there to occupy blockers and force double-teams. Your players here need to be very strong run defenders, don't have to be as athletic, but need to rush the passer in a pinch.

These are just generalizations of course. But they are two different schemes and often times, teams with one type of scheme will not even touch or look at players in another type of scheme, because they ask such different things that don't often translate. See: Franklin.

I was hoping you guys could help me sort out the 3-4 teams, which scheme they run.

These are the 3-4 defenses:

Patriots (hybrid)
Jets
Dolphins (hybrid)
Steelers
Ravens
Texans
Colts
Chiefs
Chargers
Redskins
Packers
Saints
49ers
Cardinals

The following teams primarily play two-gap.

Patriots (when they play 3-4)
Jets
Dolphins (when they play 3-4)
Ravens
Colts

The following teams primarily play one-gap.

Packers
49ers
Cardinals
Chargers
Texans
Steelers
Chiefs
Saints

I don't know about the following teams:

Redskins

Anybody know what the Redskins play?

[KCrockaholic]

I'll give my quick input on it...

Basically a 1 gap 3-4 relies on the d-line to target one hole along the offensive and "shoot the gap". A NT in a 3-4 RARELY lines up straight across from the Center. Usually the NT will line up just off set of the center, putting himself in position to penetrate the 1 hole along the offensive line.

The 2 gap 3-4 teams like Kansas City, need the defensive line to tie up blockers, typically you want the Nose to take up 2 blockers, 1 always being the center obviously, and the "5 technique" defensive end like Tyson Jackson and Glenn Dorsey are asked to tie up the tackles on both sides. This allows for the outside linebackers, and at times the inside linebackers to shoot an open gap, and get free to the backfield and disrupt the QB or HB.

And the term 2-gap represents how many gaps each lineman has to control. Once a play begins the d-line goes head up on an offensive lineman, and they now have the read the play, and control each gap on both sides of them. If a play goes outside, the Nose wants to shed his blocker and fill his gap before the runningback can hit an open hole and reach the 2nd level of the defense.

Hope that helps some people.

[shocked]

The Jets/Ravens often seem to shoot the gap in pass situations.

[Direckshun]

Bump. Thought people could use the primer.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by KCrockaholic

I'll give my quick input on it...

Basically a 1 gap 3-4 relies on the d-line to target one hole along the offensive and "shoot the gap". A NT in a 3-4 RARELY lines up straight across from the Center. Usually the NT will line up just off set of the center, putting himself in position to penetrate the 1 hole along the offensive line.

The 2 gap 3-4 teams like Kansas City, need the defensive line to tie up blockers, typically you want the Nose to take up 2 blockers, 1 always being the center obviously, and the "5 technique" defensive end like Tyson Jackson and Glenn Dorsey are asked to tie up the tackles on both sides. This allows for the outside linebackers, and at times the inside linebackers to shoot an open gap, and get free to the backfield and disrupt the QB or HB.

And the term 2-gap represents how many gaps each lineman has to control. Once a play begins the d-line goes head up on an offensive lineman, and they now have the read the play, and control each gap on both sides of them. If a play goes outside, the Nose wants to shed his blocker and fill his gap before the runningback can hit an open hole and reach the 2nd level of the defense.

Hope that helps some people.

which is why we need an upgrade over Belcher ... the MLB needs to be raping people in a 2-gap 3-4 defense.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Laz

which is why we need an upgrade over Belcher ... the MLB needs to be raping people in a 2-gap 3-4 defense.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Laz

which is why we need an upgrade over Belcher ... the MLB needs to be raping people in a 2-gap 3-4 defense.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by Satanic Goat

what the **** ever ... if i wasn't so lazy i could show 5 times the number of plays where Belcher didn't penetrate and got caught up in the wash. In fact, against Baltimore it happened several times.

maybe Belcher will learn and develop like DJ did ... but not so far.

[whoman69]

Dolphins are also going 4-3

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Laz

what the **** ever ... if i wasn't so lazy i could show 5 times the number of plays where Belcher didn't penetrate and got caught up in the wash. In fact, against Baltimore it happened several times.

maybe Belcher will learn and develop like DJ did ... but not so far.

You are a ****ing idiot.

I bet you are one of those stupid mother****ers that was crying for Brandon Carr to be replaced for 3 years, and now are crying that he was lost to free agency.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Laz

what the **** ever ... if i wasn't so lazy i could show 5 times the number of plays where Belcher didn't penetrate and got caught up in the wash. In fact, against Baltimore it happened several times.
.

Wrong, he had a very positive grade in run defense.

Does his job well.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by Satanic Goat

Wrong, he had a very positive grade in run defense.

Does his job well.

should we just change your name to Profootballfocus Goat and get it over with?

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Laz

should we just change your name to Profootballfocus Goat?

Here's a clue, moron: I was touting Belcher at the beginning of 2010, long before I had a subscription to PFF.

He's always been an above average thumper.

PFF only confirms my keen football insight.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by Satanic Goat

Here's a clue, moron: I was touting Belcher at the beginning of 2010, long before I had a subscription to PFF.

He's always been an above average thumper.

PFF only confirms my keen football insight.

and i don't give a shit

i've seen it myself ... don't need a website to watch for me.

perfect example in that very Baltimore game

Baltimore sweep left
means DJ is lead LB on the play ... he shoots the first gap and blows up lead blocker, stalling the play and allowing other guys to make tackle.

later

Baltimore with sweep right
Houston couldn't contain so Belcher is lead LB
Belcher doesn't shoot gap and just slides down the LOS
finally DJ has to come from the far side and attack the sweep but it takes longer so the tackle ends up happening 10 yrds down field

Baltimore with draw play
Belcher again just waits
Belcher makes tackle but RB runs him over and the tackle is more of a 'catch'
several yards down the field.


maybe his 'grade' in run defense is like a shortstop in baseball who never extends his range so he never makes an error. I dunno but Belcher needs to be much,much more aggressive and attack the lead blocker in the hole instead of pulling a Donnie Edwards and making tackles 5 yards down field.

[Direckshun]

Am I still right about the Dolphins?

Does anybody have a read on what the Redskins are doing?

[Direckshun]

This thread was bumped due to confusion in the Poe thread about 3-4 defenses that different players play in.

Hopefully this will set folks straight for yet another offseason.