2LD Defense - Gregory Double Wing

other DL personnel usually have a one-gap responsibility as well, although weoften give one Tackle or the Nose two-gap responsibility. Otherwise, we justmove the unassigned gap around in a kind of shell game.The key to all 1L maneuvers is that they begin as pass rush -- everything else isa reaction. When you give the 1L that aggressive mindset, you can still channelthat aggression into fighting through blocks to stop a running play coming atthem, or tearing down the LOS to pursue. I've found it much easier to teach D-line techniques this way than to teach gap responsibilities first and then passrush as a reaction.Second Level (2L): Speed kills, inside and out. A glue-footed Mike (whatCoach Thomson calls Gael, the middle LB equivalent in the 2LD) can be caught inmismatches against speedy receivers any time the offense chooses, so you needfoot speed at all five 2L positions. The two outside positions (I call them Lenand Ron -- CB equivalents) must be burners with big egos -- think Deion. Whilewe rarely hang them out to dry without top cover, these kids just have to bequick and cocky. The middle three positions (Sam, Mike and Will) are similar inrequirement to the Ends, but don't have to be quite so genetically superior.Body mass for plugging the inside and height for staying with crossing TEs areimportant, but again, speed shouldn't be sacrificed for size. If you have to, youcan play both a big LB type and a quicker SS type at one of the 2L positions,substituting them according to game plan.Deep Safety (DS): This can be one of the most average athletes on the team.Reasonable speed is an asset, but intelligence, timing and football sense are allvery important. The only critical trait is that he must LOVE TO HIT. He will getopportunities to lay the leather on receivers who are stretched out reaching forpasses while looking backward, and he will be expected to make the most ofthese opportunities. We see very few deep Post patterns by teams after a fewgood hits by the DS -- most teams stick to out routes and the shorter stuff afterone or two "rifle shot" collisions.We don't coach brutality, and I certainly do NOT teach head shots, but the lawsof physics dictate that a DS running forward can cover twice the ground of a FSbackpedaling, and will arrive at the point of impact with twice the momentum --which means twice the impact energy.11