What are the numerical techniques?

Coach Campell,

In our system, the seven is an outside shade on the TE, head up on the TE is a six, and an inside shade on the TE is six I. The inside part of your technique system (Center to Tackle) is the same as ours with the difference being the shades on the TE. How did you arrive at these numbers for the alignments on the TE?

As pdow mentions several methods and systems out and have been used, its been my experience from doing the clincs around the country that in some sections of the country coaches have their methods by which they number defenders and holes. A good way is to remember and widely used is that even numbers are defenders playing head up and odd numbers are shaded defenders. Coach Campbell

When I joined the football staff back in 98, we had that numbering system with the heads up being even and the shaded positions being the odd numbers. We ran this untill 2001 when we changed it to the system that DC29 talks about. When we changed we found out that the DL cut down on mistakes of being misaligned and we were able to cut down teaching time at practice. This system is more straight forward than the others I have seen, but it boils down to what your team is able to do and you just model that system according to their strengths and weaknesses.

I've heard that the 7/6/9 technique descriptions were developed by Coach Bum Phillips. I was told to ask him why he chose to number them like he did! Since he now lives on a ranch in Goliad, TX (about 25 miles from here) I guess I really don't have much of an excuse for not asking that question!

I sure don't know who started changing things around, but for 42 years this is what MOST COACHES AROUND THE COUNTRY USED. It is still our method.


0= head up on center
1= inside shoulder of guard(now often called 2i)
2= head up on guard
3= outside shoulder of guard
4i=inside shoulder of tackle
4= head up on tackle
5= outside shoulder of tackle

7= inside shoulder of TE
6= headup on TE
9= outside shoulder of TE

ghosted 9= wide on outside shoulder of TE
ghosted 5= wide on outside shoulder of BACKSIDE Tackle


I hear all the time: why isn't it 0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 as that would be much simpler? I don't know, but unless you want to change the GENERALLY ACCEPTED SYSTEM it will remain as I have outlined. I just can't accept it is easier for a kid to learn 6-7-8 than it is to learn 7-6-9. I started coaching in 1964 and noone had heard of Bum Phillips at that time, so I would doubt the validity of him being the innovator of the system. I do know that when you go to a clinic and hear an NFL coach or Div.1-A college coach speak and they use anything except the above, it would be news to me. Just my opinion as always.

Coach Easton

COACH CAMPBELL,

I agree wholeheartedly with your above post, as to my knowledge, it has always been that way and coincides with my post above.

Coach Easton

Tiger One/Jerry:

Well at least I finally feel confident I have the right terminology. I've used three different sets of numbering so far in an effort to teach my kid the proper terminology. Each time I think I have it, someone tells me it's wrong. Funny, this was the first one I used. Yes it is odd that 7 and 5 are next to each other but 1 and 3 are not (here you slip in the 2i and the 4i).

You do note that the 1 is often called the 2i, is that to make room for a 1 technique to be outside shoulder of the center, or do you not have a concept of a 1 technique if you have a 2i technique?

I've also been told that when in an even technique that the defender is to use a bull rush whereas in an odd technique he uses gap control. Is there any rule here?

Just to add fuel to the fire, in college our d-line coach used the above numbering system, but our Offense used 1 to describe inside shade, 2 for head up, and 3 for outside and would just say the letter of the position, so a g3 would be an outside tech on the guard, e1 is inside shade on TE etc. I think the offensive way is actually a little simpler if you only need to know the offensive side of the ball, it is obviously not as good for simplicity's sake if you are trying to align a defense just bay calling numbers for alignments.