As a coordinator, Ive consistently found it difficult to fit my linebackers into gaps.

It could become
confusing at the high school level to tell LBs to watch gaps and not people. As I started to do
this, I began to think I was committing LB blasphemy until I heard esteemed Michigan State
defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi talk about how he does some of the same things out of his 43 scheme. In true Narduzzi fashion, he quipped about how his diminutive sized frame in high
school prevented him from doing anything else but running to the football full speed. Thats
exactly what I want my LBs to do, run full speed to the football. If I can teach them about the
importance of gaps in the process, thats a bonus. But to me, nothing compromises speed.
We operate mainly out of the under front vs. two back sets, but with the advent of spread
formations, weve often had to make adjustments. What we try not to adjust is our core, which will
primarily be a six-man box with two 30-technique inside LBs. From a philosophical standpoint,
our goal is to outnumber offensive backs with linebackers. Well be in a three-linebacker core
against any two-back sets, and a two-linebacker core against any one-back sets. For the purpose
of this report, well focus on our Mike LB (strong side) and our Will LB (weak side).
Quick Note about the Sam (SLB) I should mention that when you run the under front, your Sam
LB is treated as a different animal. Against tight end personnel teams, hell play on the line of
scrimmage, essentially as a glorified defensive lineman. So when we start our installation, hell
go down with the defensive line and work our "V" of the neck reads (a report for another time).
Hell have to spill all perimeter plays to our strong safety. Then when we play spread, no tight end
structures, hes a "space" player. His reads will still be the end man of the line of scrimmage, but
usually now hell become the force player. Based on who you have, it may make sense to rotate
that player with more of a Nickel type. Like I had mentioned previously, we play the Under front
defense against TE personnel teams (Diagram 1). But the premise is simple, we want a six man
box. A coach once told me, "dont alter the box." We try to keep our two inside linebackers (Mike
and Will) in 30-techniques (outside shoulder of the guards) with our heels at five yards.

We all know you defend what you see, and in our conference, at least 75 percent of the teams we
play are two-back teams. We see a variety of 21 personnel pro, 22 personnel pro, Wing T and
Option-like structure. When we do see some form of one-back spread, we will play more of a 4-25 structure, because we want to keep our core intact (Diagrams 2 and 3).

We are big believers in muscle memory. We want our kids to be comfortable with their line of
sight pre-snap. The Mike and Will linebackers are generally our best defensive players, so we
want to just wind them up and let them play. Often times, repetition can override talent, so we
continually work to teach the "same as" theory, many different schemes will look the same to
those two players. This is something Ill address later.
Surprisingly, we dont talk much about gaps. Sure, we teach our LBs the structure of the
defense, but we rely on understanding gaps only during pre-snap. Getting aligned correctly is our
first responsibility; it was Bill Belichick who once said "Over 90 percent of breakdowns on defense
are caused by being out of position pre-snap." But we all know that once the ball is snapped, that
technical thinking goes out the window, and organized chaos ensues. We want to get to the ball
in a hurry, and the last thing we want to do is slow them down by fitting into a voided gap,
particularly if the ball is not there.
With that said, everything we do mirrors the steps of the back, regardless of the formation. We
talk about path to flow in our reads. Our keys are back to near guard in that order. Weve tried to
get on the guards first (and we usually will when playing non-conventional offenses like Wing T or
Option) but our kids are looking in the backfield anyway. So why not help them do it the right
way? Our two 30-tech backers will mirror the step of that back immediately. If hes downhill,

were downhill. If hes lateral, were lateral. If hes tight, were tight. Everything is predicated on
that back. If its a two back set, were on the tailback. I realize that many coaches teach their
backers to key the fullback in I sets because hes the one that creates the extra gap, but
traditionally hes not the one getting the ball. If its a single back set, were on the single back.
The only time were on the fullback is when we play unconventional offenses, like Wing T or
option schemes, because in those schemes the FB is the featured back.
Play Side Guard Reads Once that back gives us our direction, we are able to pick up the flow of
our play side guard. We identify what that guard is doing by four movements:
1. Is he gap stepping (blocking away from us)?
2. Is he zone stepping (laterally stepping towards us)?
3. Is he base blocking (vertically stepping towards us)?
4. Is he pulling? 5. Is he pass protecting?
Once we diagnose that, we search for open gaps in the defense, but not particularly the ones we
had pre-snap. Gaps move consistently, so we look for what we call cloudy and clear reads in
regards to gaps. If the gap is clear, we take it. If its cloudy, we scrape for the next open gap.
Back Reads We classify our path to flow as four potential directions in which I will discuss in
detail. For every flow we see, we have a systematic approach to how we are going to handle
them. Our progression includes back path, guard flow, post-snap movement and proper block
destruction. Our four schemes are the following:
1. Tight flow
2. Full flow
3. Fast flow
4. Split flow
Tight Flow:
Potential Play Structure: Dive, Trap, Iso, FB Belly
RB Path: Downhill, no lateral step
Guard Flow: Play side - Base or gap block, Back side - Base or gap block
LB Post-Snap Movement: Attack step, fill open window with force
Block Destruction: Play side - Shock. We will "shock" the opponent by using a near foot,
near shoulder technique, meeting him on his side of the line of scrimmage. Back side Compress

This type of flow is common in short yardage and goal line situations. Its a clear read for our
backers, but the key is to attack the lead block on his side of the line of scrimmage. Its an
aggressive offensive scheme, but we need to be the aggressor. Our block destruction is a shock,
which to us is a near foot, near shoulder technique. We dont use our hands; we feel we need to
be thicker than that. We try to win outside, forcing the ball in, but as stated previously, we will
always have a force player to either side of the front side backer. We emphasize being more
physical than anything else. Its a bonus if were able to separate and make a play on it. We just
want the ball to bubble out.
Full Flow:
Potential Play Structure: Inside Zone, Power, Sprint Draw
RB Path: Downhill with lateral step
Guard Flow: Play side - Gap step away, Back side - Pull away
LB Post-Snap Movement: Shuffle and press to next open window
Block Destruction: Play side - Compress or Shock (based on cloudy or clear), Back side Compress C Play with hands, squeeze (constrict) the gap

We see this type of flow more than anything else. The key to this action is to keep the LBs
shoulders square. Again, we need to match the action of the back. If his shoulders are squared,
our shoulders are squared. This is essential because potential cutback. Nowadays the inside
zone is a cutback play and the power play is hitting in the A gap, so we tell our LBs "if the backs
in the box, youre in the box." Again, rarely do they have force so they dont need to be over the
top. We dont talk about "stacking the DL," we talk more about "tracking the back." The proper
block destruction is a "compress" technique, which means we will play with our near shoulder and
our near hands. The word compress simply means we will shorten, not expand any play side
gap. If we cant make the tackle, we will take our blocker and push the hole. The back side LB
must play with his hands and try not to come underneath any gap blocks.
Fast Flow:
Potential Play Structure: Speed Option, Jet Sweep, Toss, Outside Zone (Stretch)

RB Path: Ear hole look, shoulder perpendicular to L.O.S.

Guard Flow: Wide zone step, bucket step or pull
LB Post-Snap Movement: Open shoulders, get out of the box
Block Destruction: Play side/Back side LB - Dip, rip and run (no contact zone)

Again, well mirror the back. If the back is out of the box, were out of the box, its that simple.
Some teams pull that front side guard on these schemes (which make it easier for us) but some
do not. Either way we are trying to cross face all blocks, constrict our front shoulder level and get
running. We try not to use our hands. This is the easiest scheme to diagnose. Our two interior
backers can run and not worry about cutback. Were mainly a quarters coverage team, so the
cutback responsibility will be handled by our back side safety.
Split Flow:
Potential Play Structure: Counter Trey, HB Counter, FB Counter, Split Belly, Wing T Sally
RB Path: Misdirection step
Guard Flow: Play side - Gap step away, Back side - pull away
LB Post-Snap Movement: Shuffle then rock step
Block Destruction: Play side/Back side - compress
Finally, split flow is the flow we see least of unless playing a Wing T team. Pro teams have gotten
away from the traditional Redskin counter trey, but instead they are pulling an H-back or full back
off the ball. To us, its the same read. The key to diagnosing this scheme is what we call "seeing"
color. To the back side of the play (usually the Wills read) its a simple identification if his guard
pulls. If that guard doesnt pull and the offense still runs misdirection, he looks for any color
opposite the play. As soon as that color flashes, hes tacking his rock step and pressing the next
open window (gap) just like he would in a full flow scheme. The front side or play side backer is
still working his compress technique with his hands and constricting and open gap. Perhaps the

biggest concern weve toiled over the last few years is whether or not we will allow our LBs to
come underneath gap blocks. Staying with the principle of playing fast, well tell them if they can
press quickly enough, constrict their pads and flatten out then go make a play. I realize this is
nowhere near remarkable coaching, but youll find some kids can do it and some cant. In any
case, cant chew him out for making a play.
Concluding Report: One of the best things Ive done as a coach, and Im not sure where I got
this, is film each of these path/flow concepts from the perspective of each of those linebackers.
For example, I would have our kids line up as an offensive line and I would stand as a linebacker
and film all of those concepts as the Mike and as the Will. Now they can actually see what each
play concept looks like coming at them. I would give them a copy of the film so they can study it.
We did this early in the pre-season. One of the major advantages of predominantly running one
front is that you know how teams are going to block it. You just need to classify your run game
into two and three man surface blocks. If we ever get Y trade (which we do a ton because of how
we play) we will just switch the Mike and Will pre-snap and bring the Sam over. Now, that Mike is
still seeing three man surface blocks and the Will is seeing two man surface blocks. In my
opinion, nothing gets players to play faster than comfort ability. I learned that one the hard way.
When you put your players in a spot they are used to playing, you have a greater chance of
success because theyve seen it all and youve repped it all. Now when things go wrong, its a
matter of execution, not scheme.