Gap 8 Defense

eaglecoach
Member

Posts: 80

Gap 8 Defense Jun 7, 2004 9:39:21 GMT

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Post by eaglecoach on Jun 7, 2004 9:39:21 GMT

How many of you use a gap 8 defense? I'm curious as to how much success you have stopping the off tackle plays. I've considered using it at our level this year (9-11 yrs), but was interested in seeing how many of you are able to defend the off tackle play. We play a stick I team that absolutely loves to outnumber you at the off tackle hole.

CoachBiggy
Member

Posts: 30

Gap 8 Defense Jun 7, 2004 10:10:14 GMT

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Post by CoachBiggy on Jun 7, 2004 10:10:14 GMT

Coach,
We used the Gap-8 all last year. By alinement the off tackle hole is defended well, however
the players you put in those positions must be your best tacklers. We would have two or three shots at the ball carrier behind the LOS and a couple of broken tackles later..... So yes the Gap-8 is sound VS the off tackle play. Just make sure you coach up your players on the fine art of tackling. Coach Reed has some other tips to help with off tackle plays on his web site.
Good Luck Coach

perridale
Junior Member

Posts: 6

Gap 8 Defense Aug 28, 2004 17:53:37 GMT

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Post by perridale on Aug 28, 2004 17:53:37 GMT

I jumped into a GAP 8 defense last season, right before our league playoffs started. My team was 12 and 13 year olds and were the first place team at 7-2 and 1 tie. Our two losses came against the same team who killed us off tackle. I put the system in anticipating a third game against the team that beat us twice. In three playoff games we gave up 6 points (on a late broken play with the game in hand). We never got the rematch (whew), and won the championship. We were in the backfield on every play. I put our smallest fastest kids in between the C-G gaps and had them dive into the backfield, get up and wreak havoc. These guys blew up about 60% of the plays before they developed. The 8 GAM (Gap-Air-Mirror) can be weak against the pass, but we had several Ints solely because of intense pressure on the QB.

You must have your three fastest/meanest/best tacklers at the corners and MLB/FS spot.
Strongest beef at the tackles, 1 yd penetrate and read.
Smart, instinctive kids at LB (line up over the TE).
Speed in the middle.
2 kids you can teach to contain at the end, going as deep at the deepest offensive player.

I took about 20 minutes to introduce this defense!

Semper Paratus

thakatalyst
Member

Posts: 20

Gap 8 Defense Aug 31, 2004 22:59:42 GMT

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Post by thakatalyst on Aug 31, 2004 22:59:42 GMT

I agree that the 8 gap is a good defense to run at the youth level, but unfortunately many of the coaches I will be facing this year tend to want to go with at least two receivers, putting pressure on contain at the corners. What I have decided to go with is a 5-2 invert where the safeties move up and corners back off to about 10 yards from LOS. My safeties are playing right on the outside shade of my DEs and at the same level as my two interior LBs. I have concerns about the middle, but I plan to blitz from all corners and have my two inside LBs dropping back in passing situations. I feel that it gives us good balance and kind of makes the offensive players uneasy because of the amount of players in the box. Again the 8 gap is a good defense, but what happens when you play up against a Mike Holmgren type coach who wants to spread the ball out? I know I will be facing these types of coaches.

TIGER ONE
Senior Member

Posts: 6,423

Gap 8 Defense Sept 1, 2004 5:44:05 GMT

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Post by TIGER ONE on Sept 1, 2004 5:44:05 GMT

Coach T,

Thats the beauty of the spread, isn't it? You can't compress those defenses anymore like the old days!
As for the gap 8, it's still a good goal line defense, but as an ex-QB and 40 years of coaching behind me now, I'll be the first to tell you that any QB that sees 8 in the box today is going to automatically check out of any huddle run call and throw it, if he needs more than 2 yds. for a first down in todays world, 99% of the time. I know that you are a youth coach and depending upon what age group kids you work with, are limited in what they can handle. I know the mentality of a lot of OC's is that no DC is going to dictate to them when they can run the ball, no matter what D they put out there! That all looks good in the movies, but in real life, you have to deal with it realistically. I think you are making a wise decison to run another base.

J.C.Easton

J.C. EASTON<BR>HEAD COACH<BR>GA TIGERS FOOTBALL<BR>PROFESSIONAL MINOR LEAGUE

Coach Campbell Forum Owners Welcome to JCFB.com website and Forum Posts: 7,867	Gap 8 Defense Sept 3, 2004 12:13:16 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Coach Campbell on Sept 3, 2004 12:13:16 GMT For you option coaches the load option is a great play on the goal line or whenever this type of front is presented. The double option to 6 man defensive fronts is good for double options. Coach CAmpbell

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Post by eaglecoach on Jun 7, 2004 9:39:21 GMT

Post by CoachBiggy on Jun 7, 2004 10:10:14 GMT

Post by perridale on Aug 28, 2004 17:53:37 GMT

Post by thakatalyst on Aug 31, 2004 22:59:42 GMT

Post by TIGER ONE on Sept 1, 2004 5:44:05 GMT

Post by Coach Campbell on Sept 3, 2004 12:13:16 GMT

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