7 tech

We align in the inside shade of the TE and attack the TE with our eyes and hands. He is responsible for the C-gap. This takes care of drive, reach, and down blocks. When the TE releases outside our eyes have to go inside to the first threat. This may be a tackle that is fan blocking, a back that is kicking out or play away. We have had more success with this method than any other. Whenever we had our eyes on the OT we got knocked off the ball to the TE.

We feel the TE and read the Tackle. He lines up with shade side hand down and foot back, on the snap takes a power step to replace his hand. He must get this step down before the TE engages him. If the TE is trying to cave he pressures him back out into D-gap like ONEBACK said, but his eyes are inside and he will come off on any inside action. If the tackle turns out, which rarely happens, he will keep his head outside and squeeze. If he doesn't feel the TE and the Tackle blocks down, he screams off the tackles butt and blows up the first thing he comes to (FB diving, trapping guard, own teammate - anything!). He has to go FLAT down the line and not get one more inch of depth than that first power step got him. There aren't really a whole lot of other things they can try to do to him, if they can master holding their ground on the down block and blowing up the trapper, they can play.

TWO things he must do (they come in all sizes & shapes):

#1 Hold up against the TE's run blocking;

#2 Contain the passer (don't let him outside WITH the ball).

the BEST I ever had in HS ball (Art Jimerson) was 6'4 & 219. Ran a 4.4/40 & was "NASTY"! He later became Special Teams Captain of the Raiders in the early 90's!

As Mike Smith - coach of Hampton HS (Virginia) says - "7 techniques have to be WEREWOLVES"!!!!!

PS: Mike's 7 techniques are usually just that! They play in the Va. 5A State Finals today!

I have 3 really big kids and one smaller more athletic type. I plan on playing the more athletic kid on the open end side but I am still trying to find the guy for the 7 tech. The one in mind is 6'2 260. He is a soph. I would rather have him at DT but I have one there that is bigger and the soph can move better. I do not question his run stopping ability but it concerns me on pass contain. Just looking for some insight into next year.