Mastering the 2-Gap Zone: A Crucial Kickoff Coverage Skill
The 2-gap zone is a critical phase in kickoff coverage, demanding split-second decisions and exceptional technique. This drill series is designed to refine your players’ ability to navigate this challenging area, defeating blockers and making impactful plays.
Purpose
The Kickoff Coverage 2-Gap Zone Combinations Drills are designed to work on the 2-Gap phase. In this phase, the coverage player must beat the blocker in a narrow space, making a last-second decision on which side he wants to beat the blocker on his way to the returner. This is a crucial phase in the play, and the drills are an excellent way to practice it. The combinations drills are an excellent way to provide context for the 2-Gap phase. This is achieved by including an avoid box drill before the 2-Gap situation and a make-a-play situation (such as an open field tackle situation after the 2-Gap situation).
Description
Isolated 2-Gap Drill
Drill Setup
- Use two 5-yard lines, 5 yards apart. If you don’t have permanent lines on your field, mark them with cones or markers.
- The coverage player should be positioned about 6-7 yards in front of a blocker (who can hold a hand shield).
- Place a coach with a tackle donut about 10-15 yards behind the blocker, to mimic the returner.
Drill Execution
- The coverage player will sprint on command towards the blocker, who will try to be in the way of the coverage player as much as possible and block him.
- On command, the coverage player sprints towards the blocker. The blocker will try to impede the coverage player’s progress and block him.
- The coverage player needs to pass the blocker to that same side. He can’t avoid the blocker like he’s in the avoid zone. He has to go through the blocker on the side the returner (here the tackle donut) wants to pass and make a tackle on the tackle donut.
Avoid Zone / 2-Gap Zone Combination Drill
Drill Setup
The setup for the Combination Drill is the same as for the isolated 2-Gap drill. However, you place a second blocker about 10 to 15 yards before the 2-Gap blocker, and the coverage player starts about 6-7 yards in front of that first blocker.
Drill Execution
- The coverage player will sprint on command towards the first blocker, who will try to block him in any direction.
- The coverage player will use his avoid zone techniques to pass this first blocker with minimal contact and return to his lane before approaching the second blocker.
- The returner (or coach with the tackle donut) indicates on which side of the blocker he wants to pass before the coverage player reaches the second blocker.
- The coverage player must pass the second blocker to that same side, but without avoiding the blocker as in the avoid zone. Instead, he should apply the appropriate two-gap technique.
Variations
You can apply all these variations isolated or in combination, giving you plenty of options for how to run these drills.
- Use a live returner instead of a tackle donut. The coverage player will form tackle the live returner when he reaches him. The live returner might or might not carry a hand shield.
- Position the live returner about 15-20 yards off set to the coverage lane your coverage players and the blockers are working on. Have him run laterally until he’s almost behind the second blocker. The returner then decides whether to pass the blocker on the left or right. He must start his run as soon as the coverage player is passing the blocker in the avoid zone. This places him at the optimal spot when the coverage player has to make his decision on which side he has to pass the second blocker in the two-gap zone.
- Use two neighboring coverage players. Each player must avoid a blocker in the avoid zone and beat a blocker in the 2-gap zone. This gives the returner a 3-way choice: passing right of the right blocker in the 2-gap zone, passing the left blocker on the left, or trying to break through between these two blockers. This teaches the coverage players to work together in the 2-gap zone and the make-a-play zone.
Progressions
Run any combination and variation as a drill progression. Start at a slow pace with easy-to-identify cues for the reads. Then, move on to full-speed action with hard-to-read cues.
Coaching Points
- Avoid in the avoid zone
- Play through the blocker in the 2-gap zone
- Never attack the full blocker/player but always only one half / one third (avoid any contact with the mid section of the blocker)
- Stay in your lane until you have a clear read, then react decisive
Equipment
- Cones or markers
- Hand shields (recommended but optional)
- Tackle donut
- Video equipment – ideally positioned elevated and behind the coverage players
By incorporating these drills into your training regimen, you’ll equip your players with the skills needed to excel in the 2-gap zone. From precise blocking recognition to decisive decision-making, these drills will elevate your kickoff coverage unit to new heights.
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