Shaded Nose vs. 2i

I agree 100% with coach Easton - we have covered the center even when we ran a 6-2 front(1shade, 3 shade) If you play an outside shade it makes the tackle(3 tech) and Nose(1tech) interchangeable and gives you added depth. Any inisde shade has a completely different set of keys and reactions. We have played some inside shade with our tackles in the 5-3 but have decided to play outside shades to make our reads easier. As far as the abilities of the center I have seen it done both ways but I know that things go much better when you have a good one.

coach varley

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Any inisde shade has a completely different set of keys and reactions.

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Can you be more specific in the differences between an inside or outside shade. Do you mean that the shade will primarily key the C whereas the 2i would key the G or are there fundamental differences in the techniques they play?

Would R or L handed stance be a factor? I coach younger kids and don't like to try and force them to change their natural stronger side. So if a kid with a R handed stance lines up on the R of the line- should he be a 2i so that he has his shaded hand on the ground and shaded foot back? I play an under front so that my shaded nose is usually on the L of the line and can play his R handed stance. My 3 tech to the weakside is also R handed but I feel I can adjust his footwork as the distance between him and his key is bigger.

I love these types of discussion as folks in Scotland may speak about 3techs,shades, and 2i's but we don't really know the theory behind these techniques.

Cover the center!
If you dont you may allow a lesser player to be more effective than he should be. If he is a good player - you neutralize him by making him snap and block. Good centers will be able to snap and take the appropriate step to execute the assigned block - thus eliminating the natural disadvantage of snapping the ball first. Especially on passing situations, a defender on the snap hand with a quick get off can cause protection problems.

Our base defense last season was a pro 4-3 under front (SAM on LOS vs. TE in a tight 9)

Since we had 1 stud d lineman, we played the SAM in a 9, SDE in a 4 (with primary responsibility C gap), either a 2i (we called it a 1), gap, or strong shade DT, a backside 2 tech DT, and a 5 tech DE.

We changed up the strongside DT aignment based on the personnel match-up that week, with the intent of forcing a Double team to allow our Mike (Head up on Guard) to free flow.

Often times we would make a preliminary judgement as to the best mismatch via film and scouting, but we always tested each alignment early in the game. In the case of either the 2i or a strong shade the assignment was the same - drive into and control the lineman, anchor the A gap. Hands had to be on the blocker to keep him off the LB. If the O - linemen were equal, we would align based upon strong vs. weak run tendency.

[Once in a while we would let the strong DT stem / shift alignment, just to continually mess with the mental processing of the Olinemen, especially if we got a bead on the count.]

Strong tendency, DT in a 2i, Weak tendency/balanced, then shade. Again the object is to keep the MLB clean to run. IN essence, the DT's assignment is to block the blockers.

In passing situations / or to change up we would have the DT(s) just line up and blow the A gap.


If our weakside DT matched up OK, we would keep him in a 2 tech, with dual gap responsibilities - he usually outweighed the opposition by 75-100 lbs, so he ate up a lot of space. He helped to screen our Will, who we lined up on the inside shoulder of the OT.

Our strong side 4 tech just locked down the strongside off tackle hole, plus could also 2 gap into the B gap.

Our 9 tech's job was to jam the TE to flatten inside on every play - to keep him off the 4 tech.


To go to a 5-3 look out of this we would invert the SS from a 2 safety shell. He was coming downhill at the snap, after cheating up a couple steps between his traditional level and LB level.

We run a 4-3 and our base is a 1 & 3 technique. 3 is the more physical guy, 1 being the quicker smaller guy. for the most part they read the G's in our front. We attempt to 2 gap if we can. Anyway, if we have a smart and quick NT, I will allow him to line up where he wants. I want him to confuse the hell out of the OL. Even in our base, he can be a 2, a 1 (your 2i), in the gap, shade C or on C - as long as he can fulfill his responsibility. Now I normally dont give him this leeway until midway through season. The advantages are that our base can have 'multiple looks. We also stem - so that an option team trying to call plays at the line have trouble. another thing is that we have our 1 & 3 learn each other's positions. So if the QB is actually looking for the jersey# of a kid, he could make a mistake on his call in the case of the option.