Introduction
Gap scheme runs are a staple of many teams run games on offense. Whether it's the old Hogs in Washington with counter trey, North Dakota State's A gap power, Oklahoma's current mixture of counters, a form of power read, most teams have a form of down block with a kick. As a defensive coach I liked the physicality of gap scheme runs, and understood them as a concept but not the subtle details that go into making them work from a technique standpoint.
Base Puller Rules and Overview in Gap Schemes
In gap schemes we talk about them in terms of the two pullers. We have two pullers the first puller, and the second puller. The first puller is usually the closest puller of the two. Example in counter OH the backside guard is the closest he would be our first puller, the second would be our H back he's the second puller. In our gap schemes the first puller is aiming for play side V of the neck of the play side defensive end, the second puller is aiming for the play side V of the neck of the frontside linebacker. Both blocks are intended to be blocked with the shoulder they pull to. Meaning pulling right hit with my right shoulder head and body position keeping the defender outside toward the sideline away from the aiming point of the ball carrier. Both want to run their feet on contact, keep a good low pad level, time their strike right with their hands, and keep their head out of their work like we do with all blocks here.
These rules are taught at the base level against a static front assuming the defensive end will be responsible for the C gap and playing the kickout to box in the ball carrier as a force player. It is also taught to the second puller in base rules assuming that if the defensive end is playing in the C gap that the play side linebacker will fit in the B gap. Defenses are not static and can exchange gaps. As an offense we have rules for the first puller if the defensive end plays the B gap and tries to wrong arm the puller forcing the ball carrier to spill, we will engage and turn the spill player and log him inside and pin him inside. The second puller needs to read this block by the first puller for this to work. For a sound defense it is a safe assumption with a spill the backer is scraping to the C gap meaning that his inside Vis now wider. We will take a wider path expecting the scraping backer in the C gap and still kick him out in the same manner now just one gap over in the C. A coaching cue for the second puller we've used is "Numbers to you run through it, Numbers down run around."
Two-Puller Drill Set Up
For the Two-Puller Drill you're going to want at least 2 hand shields but more would be preferential if multiple groups are going at once. We use an agile bag to line up as the center, and we have two cones set up for the PSDE and PSLB to use as landmarks for their alignment as well. Space wise vary the split to match what your splits are, but you will want to make sure for safety that the guys waiting to go are 5 yards back behind the drill, and there is nothing guys can trip on, roll up on, or be pushed in to towards where you are pulling towards. Example is a picture of where we set guys up the first day running this drill in camp 2019. As you can see well it is set up for an easy transition to the right and left side so both can be done in rapid repetition with a camera behind for more coaching off of film.
Before the whistle the coach will be behind the line giving directions to the scouts with the bags telling them to either stay in their gaps, or exchange. We start on a whistle but the start could be changed to a cadence or any start that fits what you do. On the whistle the pullers will move towards their assignments. The first puller reading his play side defensive end, with the second puller keeping enough distance (about arm's length varies athlete to athlete) between himself and the first puller to see his path to the play side linebacker. On the start as well the look players will work the path they are given by the coach for the pullers to read and react to their fits.
Two-Puller Drill Explanation (Base Defensive Fit)
First looking at how the drill looks without a gap exchange. Offense and scouts line up we're running counter OH. Whistle blows, the scouts move towards their gaps, with the pullers moving towards their assignment. The first puller sees the play side defensive end inside shoulder as they approach. He aims for his inside V of the neck and engages,
keeping him towards the sideline running his feet trying to widen the hole for the run.
The second puller is keeping distance and has tempo moving on his path to the play side linebacker. Understanding he needs time to let the first pullers block to play out he keeps working towards the play side backer seeing the numbers of the first puller even with his path.
He then snaps his eyes to the inside V of the play side linebacker's neck and continues on this path making contact inside out pushing him towards the sideline. If on his way there is a more immediate threat he will not pass a bad color on his way to his assignment. The blocks will continue until a whistle which means the play is over then the next group will go on the other side, rotating from scout to back of the line, drilling to scout next man up, making sure they get reps on both sides.
Two-Puller Drill Explanation (Gap Exchange Fit)
Next looking at how the drill looks with a gap exchange. Offense and scouts line up we're running counter OH. Whistle blows, the scouts move towards their gaps, with the pullers moving towards their assignment. The first puller sees the play side defensive end coming towards him as they approach. He aims for his inside V of the neck and engages, as the defensive end most likely wrong arms. The wrong arm brings the V of the neck inside so the first puller keeps working towards it and he will try and pin him inside.
The second puller is keeping distance and has tempo moving on his path to the play side linebacker. Understanding he needs time to let the first pullers block to play out he keeps working towards the play side backer seeing the back of the first puller slightly in front of him.
He then snaps his eyes to the inside V of the play side linebacker's neck and continues on this path making contact inside out pushing him towards the sideline. The rules are the same but the path is wider dues to the gap exchange. If on his way there is a more immediate threat he will not pass a bad color on his way to his assignment. The blocks will continue until a whistle which means the play is over then the next group will go on the other side, rotating from scout to back of the line, drilling to scout next man up, making sure they get reps on both sides.
Important Cues and Tips
Depth and space are the second pullers friend as an H back. He needs time for the first block to develop.
Numbers to you run through it, numbers down run around. (second puller rules)
Push the defender out towards the sideline.
Run feet on contact
Engage with pulling side shoulder.
Keep head out of your work.
Translating the Drill to Fit What You Do
This drill was diagramed and explained with Counter OH as an example, but it can fit any gap scheme you run. The terms first puller and second puller make it easier to translate to the group as a whole compared to positions in particular. We used this counter example and flipped the pullers to describe power as a game week install. It can translate to Counter OT, G Lead, same side counter, and any gap scheme you want to translate to it. It also allows for easy transition if you want to change the puller in game because the rules are not set to specific positions.
Conclusion
We as coaches are teachers and this drill fits great as a progression in between individual blocking techniques at their most basic level, and bridges it to group work like inside run or team which is one step below game repetition. Unlike group work this drill allows the ability to get a lot more reps on a technique that involves reading the defense and another offensive player. These repetitions were crucial for us ta go from a predominantly zone run team that did not run counter to finishing the season with counter as a more efficient play for us. It does not salve all problems like a heavy box, but these rules can be combined with whatever answer you have for that as well, whether that's a check to a different run, pass, or RPO tags ta protect your gap schemes.
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