Spill the Trap by Trapping the Trapper
Playing and reacting to trap schemes. The initial mirror step helps in reacting to any type of influence or down block (inside release). When reacting to an inside release our defensive linemen will get their eyes inside as they react with their mirror step. With an inside release the eyes of the defender
reacting to the inside release will look for a level one puller. If no level one puller (guard, tackle) the the eyes of the defender will then look for a level two (running back)kick-out.
Key coaching points for taking the trapper on is to squeeze the down block with eyes going to the level one puller. The defender being trapped will throw his outside shoulder to the up field knee of the trapper. In order to throw the arm and shoulder to the upfield knee we will ask the defender to pick grass when using the wrong arm SPILL technique. By picking grass this will reduce the blocking surface the trapper has to work with.
With any inside release or influence by an offensive lineman your defenders will first get their eyes to check for a level one puller, if no level one puller the defenders eyes will then go to level two to read a kick out block by a running back. The defender being blocked by a running back trying to kick the
defender out will use the same technique as he would for a level one puller, trap the trapper.
If a defender reacts to a guard or tackle pulling long and a long pull is any trap that crosses the center. A short trap will be a guard who pulls outside and does not cross the center. A short pull will be considered an influence trap.
In this illustration the three technique is being trapped. The defensive tackle will wrong arm the trapper attempting to SPILL the player outside.
Any time a defender is being trapped he will use the wrong arm SPILL technique when he has another defender aligned on his outside.
After throwing the wrong arm to the up field knee of the puller the defender will bounce back up with shoulders parallel to the L.O.S.
Defensive Front and Playing The Trap
Playing and reacting to trap schemes. The initial mirror step helps in reacting to any type of influence or down block (inside release). When reacting to an inside release our defensive linemen will get their eyes inside as they react with their mirror step. With an inside release the eyes of the defender reacting to the inside release will look for a level one puller. If no level one puller (guard, tackle) the the eyes of the defender will then look for a level two (running back) kick-out.
Whenever a defensive end reads trap and has no outside secondary support he will take the trap block on with his inside shoulder and keeping the outside arm and leg free. In this illustration the Defensive end is responsible for contain.
In this illustration we have a contain defender located outside the trap block thus allowing the defensive end to wrong arm/spill the trapper.
In this situation when playing in Wide Cover 2 the defensive end reacts to the down block by the tackle and takes his eyes to level one. The defensive end sees no puller thus takes his eyes to level two and takes the kick out block on with his inside shoulder because he is the contain and has no support outside.
About the Author of this post:
Jerry Campbell has over 30 years of high school and college coaching experience. He has experience as a head coach, offensive coordinator, and various position coaches. He has written numerous football coaching articles in various publications, is the author of over 30 books on coaching football, and has produced 12 coaching video series. Additionally, he is a nationally sought after speaker on the coaching clinic circuit.