Double A gap pressure

[chiller99]

One of the strong points Spags brought with him from Jim Johnson was the double a gap blitz.Creating mismatches and disrupting blocking schemes were key points on Spags last go round.Moves from dropping Strahan into coverage and moving Osi and Tuck into a gap creating a nightmare of a back and center blocking this pair.Perhaps having these faster smaller lbers might be how Spags attacks this season or having them set the lbs set the edge.

The double a gap also forces a team out of the shot gun and takes the long passing game out of the play calls when run successful.Just lining up in the a gap proved to be a problem for the Pats in XLII and Kawika Mitchell got the initial sack on Brady after a few bluffs then fire blitz.

[jimmyz]

chiller, why does Double A Gap pressure prevent shotgun?  It seems if you are bringing that pressure directly up the gut on either side of the center, you'd want some distance from Center for your QB.

Does it have something to do with the long snap?  Or is it the positioning of the blocking back?  Or is it the deeper routes one normally associates with the shotgun?



btw, i think this is exactly your scenario.  back and center attempting to block in shotgun formation....only the blitz is run against us.   

[chiller99]

The rotation of the players in the gap change all the play responsibilitites changed weather its JJP or Ayers,then the lbers set the edges or coverage so the ball has to come out fast,Next line up he will have both lbs walk into A gap and 1 stay 1 go  next I delays and goes

[chiller99]

This type of blitz can be a challenge if you do not have your blocking rules to account for all the players. In an even man front defense, if you have one guard first start with the inside gap and the center start with gap away, then you at least have a helmet on any blitzing linebacker. If two backers come in either A gap, you will have them blocked.

In a 50 defense, the center may be occupied with the nose so only the guard on the play side can block the inside gap to begin with, but you may find that you need to have the off-side guard have an inside gap rule also.

As far as plays you can use to attack this type of blitz, you can start with a quick trap on one of the linebackers. The center would block the other backer, and the guard would pull and short trap the other backer who is blitzing across the line of scrimmage.

Moving to the outside, you can run an option, pitch or quick toss to get the ball away from the blitzing backers and in position to make some yards.

Passing can be another challenge in setting up your protection. One way is to block the five offensive linemen right or left and have a back or tight end stay in and block on the side away from the offensive line's block. This type of blocking can be used with a movement pass [roll out - sprint] or with a drop-back pass.

Another way is to run a play-action pass and have one of the backs faking the run picking up the blitzing backer in the A gap to the side of the fake. The center will then block back and pick up the blitzing backer on the other side leaving the guards and tackles free to block the defensive linemen as the quarterback sets up to pass.

Your quick three-step drop passing can also be effective, where the entire line blocks inside on the snap and both backs divide to block to the outside. Here you can throw a four-yard hitch, slant or quick out to either wide receiver or a look in pass to the tight end. Make sure the quarterback knows to get the ball released right away.

[chiller99]

Also jimmy cheating the safety or corner can add to this all out blitz as the time allowed to complete a long pass has been cut a lot shorter,and with the oncoming rush you force the qb to throw across his body more when he sees the pressure.One last advantage I can think of is in on the field personnel ,you cant risk having the speed back with you there who has no chance of making the block.

[vette5573]

I don't want this to get lost so I'm moving it to the Chalk Board.