Understanding Gap Down Backer in Wing T Offense
Today, I want to discuss a term that might have confused you in the past - Gap Down Backer. Once you study the Wing T language and understand the terminology, it becomes pretty simple. In this post, I will explain what Gap Down Backer means and provide some tips that we teach our kids.
What is Gap Down Backer?
First things first, let's define the term. Gap Down Backer is a blocking concept used in many offensive schemes, including the Wing T offense. The main idea is to have the offensive linemen and other blockers work together to block defenders in the most efficient way possible. Although our kids might not know the exact term, they essentially know what it means.
To illustrate the concept, let's say we're running the Buck Sweep play, where our guard pulls and leaves. This term can also apply to other plays like Power, but for this example, we will focus on the Buck Sweep. We're talking about these three players: the Tackle, the Tight End, and the Wing.
Gap and Down
These two terms in the name essentially describe who each player should block, starting with the Tackle. The blocked player will either be in the inside gap (gap) or head up an inside player (down). For example, if the Tackle has a defender in the inside gap (a 3-technique or a 2), he will block that player.
The Tight End follows the same rules. In this example, there is nobody in the gap or head up the Tackle, so the Tight End moves on to the next part of the concept – the backer.
Backer
The "Backer" part of Gap Down Backer refers to the linebacker, which is the next player our wing should aim to block. We don't know their reaction before the play, so we need to work on aiming points and not chasing.
Aiming Points and Not Chasing
We teach our players to aim at the linebacker's upfield shoulder and maintain their angle. This way, regardless of whether the linebacker plays a spill technique, plugs, stunts, or makes a mistake, our player is in position to block effectively.
The bottom line: Aim for the linebacker's play-side shoulder, but don't chase if they leave. There is probably a puller coming to take care of that.
Drills, Online Manual, and More Resources
If you're interested in exploring this concept and teaching the technique more effectively, check out my website fbcoachsimpson.com, where you can find an offensive line manual that walks you through drills for down blocks. You can also find more content on down blocks and other concepts on my YouTube channel, so don't hesitate to browse through and learn more.
Final Thoughts
Understanding Gap Down Backer can drastically improve your team's blocking efficiency and make your offense more effective. By teaching the concept and utilizing the right drills, you can get your players on the same page and set your team up for success.
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Thank you for reading, and good luck on your coaching journey.