20 Gap control Defense

I have run the system - with good success. The position specific videos are great. I use alot of his stuff and U. of Toledo. Altshuler's videos are well worth the investment. The only minus anybody had initially was the teaching - but kids pick it up well.

Coach,
I just got the videos last week, and I have some serious question. One is trap, on the videos it shows how they would play an influence trap and it makes alot of sense. Based upon his reads illustrated in the video, am uncertain on how they would play trap and or midline. Any help?

Could any of you guys tell me what Altshuler's front alignments are as well as backers. I was wondering if his defense is similar to Virginia Tech's/Washington Husky's Attack 44. I have considered purchasing the series but I am afraid to commit to it just yet.

Coach,
For the past 5 years I have been pretty multiple with a Split 40 as our base. We have tried to keep our reads very simple by keying flow. Our basic rule is "Flow to Attack, Flow away Stay." I have been researching the VaTech stuff for a couple of years now. I finally feel comfortable with the info on the defense to make the switch to that scheme. We have tried to incorcorate a few things but this Spring we are going to make some wholesale changes. I have aquired some playbooks (VaTech & Washington) and have had a chance to talk with Bud Foster at the megaclinic. He answered some questions. I hope that I got off on enough of a tangent for you! Sorry. As far as reading guards, I don't like reading covered linemen. If they are uncovered then that is okay for us. We read the OT's hat a lot with our Sam when he is in that 40 or 50 alignment. It makes for a quick reaction by Sam. So depending on the front we are in dteremines our reads. We are going to stay with an attack philosophy. We are just not big/strong enough to become a reading front.

I think that what we will do is to play the front the way that the 20 gap does and read backfield flow with the Backers. We have been a similar front to V-tech and we will continue with that except that we will be read "attack the O-Line and react to their blocking schemes" than getting penetration "Hat in the Crack" and Bending to the ball like V-Tech and Toledo do.
I agree with what 6D says that proper tech is hard to block, especially if you get the proper overlap with the ILBs. I think that the best things about the 20 Gap tapes is the oraganization of the drills and the techs used. In the end it all comes down to what you know and how you react.
Coach TSB could you explain how you read the uncovered O-Lineman. Is he your first key? or do you go backs first to uncovered OL?

Coaches I think as NYDC put it there are two schools of thought on attacking fronts. To remain as sound as possible you must drill your kids in reading on the run and being able to change direction (bending down the LOS, wrongarming traps, running the circles). Our philosophy is "Attack linemen, don't attack air". So we fall under the first of the two you mentioned. A lot of HS coaches teach there kids to penetrate on slants, twists etc. Then those kids end up running way up field and out of the play. We want to penetrate thru the OL and break down at the heel line if we lose our hand placement. We will drill our fronts/stunts with OL's backs against a wall (literally). Now the DL cannot get up field! We are going to bring as much controlled pressure as we can. This is dictated upon the offense and our personnel of course.

As far as reading guards, we usually only do that in our 50 front. Its an old fashion shade strong 50. We tell our ILBs to key the top of the OG's hat thru to flow. I beleive blocking schemes will take precedence over flow. Against the Wing T it has helped because of the old school philosophy that the guards will take you to the play. The only thing is that if the guard pulls opposite flow you are looking at the Waggle. Our OG reads are simple. If OG blocks down then replace his feet at the LOS as tight to his butt as possible. If he attacks you then you better work downhill and THROUGH his face not across his face. He pulls open and go working downhill and closing any open windows. The hardest thing to read is if the OG is downblocking or trying to get inside the LB. That must be repped and felt by the backer. WE tell ours to see the backfield and feel the blockers.

Coach I got in the discussion late, but what is the 4-4 cone system? Where can I research it?

COACH,
I HAVE USED THE 20 GAP FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF SEASONS AND FOUND THEM TO BE A GREAT COACHING TOOL. THE KEYS AND READS ARE SOLID AND HOLD UP VS MOST ANY OFFENSE. KEY TERMS FOR LB'S MAKE READS VERY SIMPLE AND EFFECTIVE. WHAT I REALLY LIKE IS YOU CAN USE THE POSITION TAPES AS TEACHING TOOLS TO NEW COACHES AND PLAYERS.
COACH ALTSHULER IS A MASTER TEACHER WITH A GREAT KNOWLEDGE OF MATERIAL PRESENTED.
GLAZE