What is the most commonly used numbering system for defensive alignments?

Coach,

In my 41 years of coaching I have always used the following: 0=head up on center 1. inside shoulder of guard 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. head up on TE 9. outside shoulder of TE

The line techniques are numbered the same on both sides of the center (for example, if you were in double tites the techs listed above would apply to both sides of center.)

Gap designations are also the same: center-guard gap is the A gap guard-tackle gap is the B gap Tackle- TE gap is the C gap. The word "hole" is synonymous with the word "gap".

Hope this helps you get started correctly.

JC

Coach, here's a common version which I learned from one of Coach Campbell's defensive manuals several years ago. I hope to have the opportunity to ask Coach Bum Philips about where the 6,7,9 numbering came from within the next couple of weeks.

Dave Hartman
CYFL Coach

0 TECHNIQUE - Head up alignment by the nose on the center.

1 TECHNIQUE - Shaded defender splitting the crotch of the center with his inside foot.

2 TECHNIQUE - Head up alignment on an offensive guard.

2i TECHNIQUE - Shaded defender aligned on the inside crotch of the offensive guard.
Defender will split the crotch of the guard with his inside foot.

3 TECHNIQUE - Outside shade alignment on an offensive guard. Defender will split
the crotch of the guard with his inside foot.

4 TECHNIQUE - Head up alignment on an offensive tackle.

4i TECHNIQUE - Inside shade alignment on the offensive tackle. Defender will split
the crotch of the tackle with his outside foot.

5 TECHNIQUE - Outside shade alignment on an offensive tackle. Defender will split
the crotch of the tackle with his inside foot.

6 TECHNIQUE - Head up alignment on a tight end by any defender.

7 TECHNIQUE - Inside shade alignment on the tight end. The defender will split the
crotch of the tight end with his outside foot.

9 TECHNIQUE - Outside shade alignment on the tight end. The defender will split the
crotch of the tight end with his inside foot.

GHOST 9 TECHNIQUE - Outside alignment by a defender to the openside (no TE) and
aligned on the L.O.S. .

Thanks for the replies guys. So the system used by most coaches is the one CYFL Coach described?? I would also like to know where the 7,6,9 numbering came from. The system Lou Cella described is without a doubt the simpliest.

Dave,

Very cool to pull that off! Good going!

JC

I never read Phillips book, but I had the understanding that it is 7/6/9 techniques on the tight end is because he wanted all head up defensive players to be an even number. If you look, head up players are 0,2,4,6. That is how I always explain it to my kids.