Official @ Ravens Week Discussion

[bobblehead]

Well this is getting tech(nical). Okie, eagle and that stuff are defensive formation terminology which varies from coach to coach and team to team. Tell you the truth, I don't really bother with that stuff. What Capers calls an okie isn't what I call an okie. An okie is a stack. The lb plays right behind the DL. The principal is that the DL keeps the blockers off the lb, so the backer can make the tackle. Capers calls his Okie something different, it seems.

What we are discussing here is more basic. And it gets more confusing, which I'll get into.

Technique is the term coaches use to define pre-snap positioning and it is constant across formations, personnel, and teams. A 3 tech with the Raiders plays the same spot as a 3 tech with the Packers. That same player knows where he is in a 3 tech, but Eagle, fire, Jumbo are the different formations and that varies from team. That's where the coaches installing the various schemes come in. When you install a defense, you start by making sure each player knows his assigned position at the pre-snap.

The front techniques are termed by numbers and go all the way out. 0 is your nose tackle playing right on the nose. To the right of 0 is 1, 2 feet or so to the right of that is a 2 tech, couple feet to the right of that is 3 tech. A 3 tech plays right on the guard and the numbering system goes all the way out to 9. Remember when Philly was playing a defense call the wide 9? That's what they were talking about, they played both DE's in a 9.

This system also accounts for the LB's but they add a zero to their positioning = 10, 20,30, etc also going out to 90.

This gets confusing because technique also can be used by some coaches as the term for mechanics, but generally when a coach discusses technique, he is referring to the players pre-snap position.

Each foot along that front is accounted for and woe the rookie that doesn't know or understand his technique on a particular call. Usually, when you see multiple DL's adjust their technique, it is response to a line call. They change the defense slightly, so the lineman adjust their technique.

This is really just the bare bones basics of Dline technique. As I said, each bit of DLine real estate is accounted for. For instance, 3 is right on the guard's nose, you are nose to nose with your opponent. But some D's will make very minor changes to that. 3i is on the guards inside shoulder, 3 O is on the guard's outside shoulder, This may seem piddly to you, but it's a huge thing to a DLine coach.

So, for a bit of a recap, technique refers to pre-snap position and is defined by a precise numbering system.

Huh, I learned something truly new. I never played big school ball, so I had no clue that okie, eagle, ect. had multiple meanings. I always thought it was much the same way as tech #'s. I think I got that idea because the packers used to run an elephant position with a few different coordinators and it was the same each time...but they probably all ran the same scheme now that I think about it.

[KYPack]

Let's see if this helps...


This one also shows 'gaps'. <insert your favorite miley cyrus joke>

http://www.profootballfocus.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/D-line-alignment-and-gaps-copy.png

My understanding is that Wilson is a pretty good run defender, but with so may teams trotting out 4000 and 5000 yard passers, he's a bit of a throwback. Pass rush isn't his forte, and while TC reports were that he had improved on that, he's probably not as talented as Daniels or Raji. With all the efforts to "juice" the pass rush and the reemergence of Johnny Jolly, he's the odd man out.

I still think he's a keeper for depth or when playing against a team that has a 20th century offense and wants to run the ball at you. If someone on the DL catches the hamstring flu he'll be in there over Boyd.

Thanks for posting this, Run.

I probably should have added a diagram to my post, but this one does the job.

The other thing to know is the gaps.

While the offense has it's terminology, we on defense are trying to stop those bastards, so the terms are different.

While the offense speak of holes, defensively, we talk about gaps and gap control.

There are 3 on each side.

The A gap btw the center and guard
The B gap btw the guard and tackle
The C gap btw the tackle and TE.

Every DC in a 30 front wants a zero tech that can two gap, cover the A gap on either side of him. A Vince Wolfolk dude who can eat bolts and shit metal filings. On the Pack, we really have two guys who can two gap, Pickett and Jolly. Raji was tried as a two gap, he's more effective one gapping. Boyd? Maybe some day, but I sure ain't seen it yet.

Once on the forum, Wist was discussing this & somebody posted that Wilson was a two gap DL. I went a little nuts, but then I realized that a lot of people don't know what that is. I hope this thread sheds a little light on the subject. It's really easy and basic stuff. Once you learn it, the game makes more sense. It 's better to see it at a live game. TV to me is like watching thru a port hole.

On Sunday, we play one of the best two gappers in the league, Haloti Ngata. That boy could two gap a freight train. He is also a rare two gap guy in they move him around. They don't play him at a zero much. he's slide from a two all the way out to a four tech. Guy can routinely break a double team. He's a load.

[denverYooper]

Interesting breakdown of the Packers O vs the Lions and possibly against the Ravens.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1806051-nfl-week-6-breaking-down-this-weekends-biggest-matchups

[mraynrand]

Once on the forum, Wist was discussing this & somebody posted that Wilson was a two gap DL. I went a little nuts, but then I realized that a lot of people don't know what that is.

Perhaps it was me. I knew exactly what a 2-gapper was, what I didn't understand was what people thought of Wilson and why. It seems like the view is that he is a good run defender, but not a 2-gapper. Since he can't 2-gap, he isn't an exceptional run stopper, and isn't all that great at pass rushing, so that he's gonna be inactive more than not, unless you play a team that is just run heavy and can't pass - like maybe the Ponder-led Vikings. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[hoosier]

Perhaps it was me. I knew exactly what a 2-gapper was, what I didn't understand was what people thought of Wilson and why. It seems like the view is that he is a good run defender, but not a 2-gapper. Since he can't 2-gap, he isn't an exceptional run stopper, and isn't all that great at pass rushing, so that he's gonna be inactive more than not, unless you play a team that is just run heavy and can't pass - like maybe the Ponder-led Vikings. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Or if you play a team that only has, like, three gaps. Wilson takes one and a 2-gapper like Raji takes the other two and then you're set.

[run pMc]

Perhaps it was me. I knew exactly what a 2-gapper was, what I didn't understand was what people thought of Wilson and why. It seems like the view is that he is a good run defender, but not a 2-gapper. Since he can't 2-gap, he isn't an exceptional run stopper, and isn't all that great at pass rushing, so that he's gonna be inactive more than not, unless you play a team that is just run heavy and can't pass - like maybe the Ponder-led Vikings. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Yeah, I have no idea if Wilson can be an effective 2-gap player (I assume not). Maybe I'm wrong, but I thought those players are uncommon/valuable since most DL can only 1-gap.