"technique" tidbit from Ethan Johnson
Reyes' article on IE (which is really fine, I must say) had this tidbit from Ethan Johnson about the different line positions/techniques in our defense:
"Honestly, I want to be able to play, by the time I get out of here, every position on the [defensive] line," Johnson said. "That's a personal goal of mine. By the time that I'm a senior, if I know how to play nose, three-technique, two-I, five and six, that would be nice."
I have a rudimentary understanding of DL technique spots, but can anyone clarify what a "two-I" would be, and the main differences between a 5- and 6-technique player?
ok
2i is inside shoulder of the guard.
5 is outside shoulder of the OT. These can be a heavy shade to a light shade.
This is where it gets interesting. From the C to the OT, the numbering makes sense. But when you hit the TE, coaches number the gaps differently.
From inside the TE, to head up on the TE, to outside the TE, it can be:
7,6,9
7,8,9
6i,6,7
etc......
No rhyme or reason.
ah!
The "i" for "inside" makes sense.
Found this on a google image search:
![[image]](http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/69347/DLine_medium.JPG)
That's the problem
coaches label them so differently. In the example you show, there is no way to label a defender lining up directly over a OL. Even if you're a one gap defense, there will be times when you line up directly over an OL and slant or angle to a gap.
It would be sooooo much easier if everyone called it the same way.
here's another one
Everything looks the same until you get to the '5' technique.
![[image]](http://forgeriver.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/technique.bmp)