The Gap Whisperer: Mastering Vision and Explosiveness with the Daylight Inside Drill
Equipping your running backs with the ability to identify and exploit running lanes is crucial for a successful ground game. The Daylight Inside Drill, also known as the “Gap Whisperer,” is a versatile tool for honing their vision skills, reading defenders, and executing decisive cuts to hit the hole with maximum power.
Purpose
- Enhance Vision and Reading Skills: This drill trains running backs to scan the defensive front quickly and identify the open gap (daylight) within the defenders’ alignment. This skill translates to success in live games where running backs need to react instantaneously to the evolving defensive picture.
- Develop Decisive Cuts: The drill emphasizes the importance of decisive cuts. Running backs learn to adjust their path explosively based on the opening revealed by the defender movement. This allows them to attack the hole with full speed and momentum, maximizing yardage gained.
- Cultivate Explosiveness: Throughout the drill, running backs practice maintaining good acceleration and explosiveness through the cut. This ensures they hit the hole with power, breaking tackles and generating positive yards.
- Maintain Focus at Full Speed: The drill simulates the pressure of a live game by requiring running backs to maintain focus and read defenders even while approaching the line of scrimmage at full speed.
Description
Drill Setup:
- Mark an offensive line on the field using pylons or a linestrip marker. This designates the line of scrimmage (LOS) for the running back.
- Position 3 players on the defensive side, approximately 1 yard behind the designated LOS. These players will simulate defenders and hold tackling shields.
- One defender should stand directly at the designated point of attack (POA), mimicking the primary defender the running back should initially focus on.
- The remaining two defenders should flank the defender at the POA, positioned 1-2 feet apart.
- The running back lines up in their normal pre-snap position according to the play call.The coach acts as the play caller and signals to the “shield holders” which defender should “open” the gap by stepping back, creating the running lane.
Drill Excecution:
- On the coach’s signal, the running back explodes forward, simulating their running path in a live game. They should maintain good posture, ball security, and focus on reading the defensive front.
- As the running back approaches the LOS (approximately 1 yard away), the designated defender with the shield will take two steps back, creating the open gap (daylight). The other two shield holders may take a single step forward to maintain a somewhat realistic defensive line appearance.
- Variation: Instead of simply stepping back, the defenders with the shields can slide laterally 1-2 steps to the left or right, simulating a shifting defensive line and presenting a more dynamic running lane for the back to exploit.
- Upon recognizing the opening created by the defender movement, the running back should react instantly. They should execute a sharp, decisive cut towards the open gap (daylight) while maintaining good balance and explosiveness.
- The running back drives through the gap, attacking the shield simulating the defender they would have to break through in a live game. They should run through the gap with full speed for 3-5 yards to complete the drill.
Coaching Points
- Attack the POA Initially: Reinforce the importance of attacking the designated POA with full speed and focus initially. This keeps the defense honest and sets up the running back to exploit the opening as it develops.
- Maintain Focus at Speed: Emphasize the need to maintain focus and reading ability even while approaching the LOS at full speed. The running back should be prepared to react and adjust their path based on the defender’s movement.
- Don’t Slow Down: Discourage running backs from slowing down as they close in on the defenders. Remind them that there will be an opening, and they need to be ready to exploit it with explosiveness.
- Sharp Cuts and Body Control: Focus on the importance of executing sharp, decisive cuts while maintaining good body control. This allows the running back to change direction quickly and efficiently while keeping their balance to avoid fumbles.
- Hips and Shoulders Downfield: Remind running backs to keep their hips and shoulders pointed downfield throughout the drill. This ensures they can maintain forward momentum and maximize yardage gained after hitting the hole.
Equipment
- Footballs (1 per running back)
- 3 Shields
- Cones or Linemen-split marker
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