The gap scheme, or gap blocking as it’s otherwise known, is a popular scheme among offenses – both from power and spread sets.
Gap scheme is when an offensive lineman uses leverage instead of power when blocking another player. It includes blocking a defender “down” away from the play, and creating a natural wall between the defender and the ball carrier. Put all of these blocks together, and they make up gap scheme runs.
In this article, we’re going to dive into the fundamentals and principles of the gap scheme and how you can implement them into your offense.
Why Gap Scheme?
The gap scheme is great for all types of linemen. Small, big, slow, or fast linemen are fit for the gap scheme.
As mentioned above, the gap scheme relies solely on “gap” blocks or down blocks. This requires players to get their heads and hands on the player’s side and leverage to drive the player out of the hole.
This works with lineman types because the player creates a natural barrier between the defender and the ball carrier. To lose in a down-block situation, the defender must either fight over it or fight around it. 90% of the time, when the defender fights around, they will take themselves out of the play.
As a defender, fighting over a down block requires practice and quick reaction skills. It’s a skill that even professional players have a tough time reacting to.
Gap Principals & Rules
The Gap principles are simple: If there’s someone in your gap, opposite of the play-side call, block them. We’re going to go over split concepts like power and counter, but for a simple ‘gap across the line’ scheme, these are general principles. Study the diagram below.
Most offensive plays use a 1/2 line gap scheme, with the added combination of pulling guards. However, we created the diagram above with 11 personnel to give an extreme example of the gap scheme for reference to the gap scheme.
As you can see, the play is being run to the left side. The offensive line will block the player in the gap opposite the play (the right side). The two tackles and the center will block the defensive lineman away from the play. The H-back will also block down on the play-side defensive end.
The tricky block is the guards getting to the linebackers. In years past, players could cut blocks at the second level, making this block a bit easier.
Because of the rule changes, players must take a better angle to the linebackers to make the block.
Gap Schemes With Guard Pull
As mentioned, most gap schemes involve some guard pull to take care of the extra defender. In the example above, the H-back was used to take care of the defensive end.
In most cases, teams will pull a guard with a kick-out block or a wrapped block to seal the edge. Let’s look at a simple counter play below out of a spread look.
The Play Side: Simple gap scheme with the play side tackle, guard, and center blocking away from where the ball is run. Depending on the scheme, coaches may have the play side guard attack the play side linebacker or backside linebacker.
The Back Side: Coaches have gotten creative in utilizing the backside linemen. Along with tagging the plays with RPOs and Read Options, the backside linebacker and defensive lineman can be held away from the plays in many ways.
In this play, the guard will kick out the play-side defensive end, and the tackle will wrap up through the hole and take care of any linebackers who trail the play.
Teaching The Gap Scheme
To teach the gap scheme, there are a few fundamentals that must first be put into place:
Rules
Gap schemes typically carry basic rules for offensive linemen:
- Gap – If there is somebody in your immediate backside gap, block them
- Down – If there is somebody over or inside shoulder of the linemen in your backside gap, block them.
- Backer – If there is nobody in the gap or down, head to the linebacker that would be in your backside gap or down rules.
Technique
The technique of a down block in a gap scheme is crucial. As mentioned, we don’t want the defender to slip the down block toward the play, otherwise known as “cross face” on our offensive lineman. Proper steps in completing a down block include:
- Taking a 45-degree step toward the defender
- The second step needs to be square and not crossed over
- Fit both hands to the near side chest plate and shoulder
Learn more about spread offense runs and plays from the articles below.
Spread Offensive Run Plays – Complete Guide
The Basics Of The Oklahoma Trey Counter
How To Run Counter In Football – Complete Guide
Running The Power Play In Football – Complete Guide
Complete Outside Zone Guide & Tutorial