Gap (American football)

Gaps in American football are the spaces in between the splits of the offensive linemen.

[13] If the defender is aligned directly across from a tight end, it is described as a 6 technique.

[18] Assignments of 7 and 9 are not universal, but a 7 can mean a player on the inside shoulder of a tight end, and a 9 technique is usually a couple feet on the outside away from any blocker.

In a one-gap defensive line technique, a player is assigned a single gap to defend against the run.

[24] In a two-gap defensive technique, the defensive lineman generally has to control or defeat the offensive player in front of him to guard the run on both gaps that flank the offensive player.

[26][27][28] To "shoot the gap", a defensive lineman will exploit the space between the offensive linemen during a pass rush.