7 Technique is an alignment designation for a defensive lineman that is lined up over the inside shoulder of a tight end, outside the offensive tackle and shaded toward the C gap. From this position, the 7 technique can be responsible for delivering a jam on the tight end to prevent a free release into the route.
A 9-technique aligns outside of the tight end. Any defender aligning in that area is considered a 9-tech regardless of whether a tight end is present or not. A 9-technique is also called a wide-9. 9-techniques are pass rush specialists. They aren't expected to contribute as much in the run game.
A 7 technique in football refers to a defensive lineman position that lines up on the tight ends inside shoulder. A seven technique defensive end is usually used in a 4-3 defensive formation. When lining up the seven tech is going to be between the tight end and the offensive tackle.
6-techniques align directly over the tight end. If no tight end is present, but the defender is still aligned outside the frame of the tackle (where a tight end would be), they are called a 6-technique. The alignment names still apply regardless of whether a tight end is present to align over.
In this case, the defensive end lines up outside the offensive line (for the purposes of keeping with the numbers, pretend there is another offensive lineman next to the tight end, which would represent the 8-technique, then the 9 would on his outside shoulder).
The 0-technique, also called the Nose Tackle (NT), plays directly over the center or “head-up” on him. The 0-Tech is generally responsible for defending both gaps between the center and the guard (A-gaps) and is most often used in a 3-4 defensive front.
So, as you can see a 3 technique is a defensive lineman who typically lines up on the outside shoulder of a guard. A 5 technique is a defensive lineman who typically lines up on the outside shoulder of the offensive tackle.
In some defensive schemes, the 4 technique will align slightly over the inside shoulder of an offensive tackle and play the B Gap – in more of a penetrating role. This designation is commonly referred to as a 4i Technique.
The 3 Technique is the defensive pre-snap positioning where the defensive linemen position themselves on the outside shoulder of the offensive guard. They will be shaded toward the offensive tackle on that side of the field. Back in the day, the 3 Technique was used almost exclusively in a base 4-3 defense.
So a linebacker in 50-technique is off the line of scrimmage, positioned between a tackle and a tight end on the tackle's outside shoulder. A 3-technique tackle, therefore, is one who usually lines up between the guard and tackle, with all privileges, rights, and responsibilities associated with the position.
You will notice that there is no “8” technique above. This is because the even numbers reflect an alignment that is “head-up” on an offensive linemen, and there is no fourth offensive lineman on either side of the center on the line-of-scrimmage.
A player aligned directly in front of an offensive tackle is a 4-technique. A 4i would be on the inside shoulder of the tackle. 4-techniques are usually 3-4 defensive ends. They're a little slimmer than 3-techs and often work against tackles by alignment. They have to be impact players in both the run and pass game.
A three tech or three-technique in football refers to a defensive tackle that lines up on the outside shoulder of the guard. In most cases, a three tech defensive tackle is going to play in a 4-3 formation. The name three tech refers to the location on the field in which the defensive tackle lines up.
2 technique is an alignment and technique designation for an interior defensive lineman on the line of scrimmage that is positioned head up over an offensive guard. In most defensive schemes, the 2 technique defender is responsible for controlling both the A Gap and B Gap – making him a two-gap player.
Wide 9 technique is an alignment and technique designation for defensive linemen. A wide 9 technique player is often a speed pass rusher, who aligns well outside the offensive tackle, or even outside the tight end. This player uses pure speed and agility to get to the quarterback. (Example: Dwight Freeney).
A little outside the tight end would be the eight and far outside the tight end would be the nine. Thus, when a defensive end (DE) lines up way outside, the technique is called the wide nine. The two DEs get into a sprinter's crouch, ready to explode towards the quarterback when they see the ball snapped.
When the draft rolls around we hear talk about the traditional 5-tech, the long, strong 3-4 defensive end who plays over the offensive tackle and dominates against the run. That player is actually a 4-tech in the most widely used naming system. The 5-tech actually lines up shaded to the outside of the offensive tackle.
Aaron Donald is known as a 3-technique defensive tackle, or “under-tackle” in a 4-man defensive-line scheme. 3-technique is simply the name of the defensive-line technique that sees a player lined up over the outside shoulder of the guard, ready to attack the gap to his outside.
A good 1-tech is an immovable force in the middle that requires two players to try and shift him from the point of attack, leaving his teammates single-blocked along the line, and allowing linebackers to run free to the ball and make stops close to the line of scrimmage.
The Eagle front, unlike the Okie, is a one-gap system with the Sam linebacker over the tight end being the only one with two-gap responsibility. The ends align in a 4i, so the Sam linebacker has to control both inside and outside of the tight end.
The gaps on either side of the offensive center and between the guards are called "A" gaps. A gap between the offensive guard and tackle is called a "B" gap. The gaps outside the offensive tackle are called "C" gaps. If there is a tight end, the gap outside the tight end and opposite the tackle is a "D" gap.
In American football, a trap play, or trap run, is a run consisting of a defender on the line of scrimmage (either a defensive tackle or defensive end) getting trap blocked by an offensive lineman or back from the opposite (other side of the center) side of the ball.
The strong side linebacker, or SAM, got its name because it is generally positioned on the strong side of the defense, which is the tight end side of the offensive formation.
Over the years, defenses have moved from that shade technique to a 2I, which puts the defensive tackle on the inside shoulder of the guard and not touching the center. For this player, getting up the field is often the goal.
The 3-4 defense consists of three defensive linemen (two defensive ends, one nose tackle) and four linebackers (two outside linebackers, two inside linebackers).
