Joyner on 2-Gap DT's

For those of you who have ESPN Insider access, KC Joyner has a great write up on interpreting the effectiveness of a 2-gap tackle. This makes a great supplement to my recent article "Triaging Denver's Defensive Line."

In this article, Joyner dispels several myths. For one, he points out that an NT in a 3-4 defense is not really different than a 2-technique tackle in a 4-3. According to this logic, a 3-4 defense effectively plays the 4-3 a high percentage of the time. The definitional difference is that a true NT would line up at the 0-technique (nose to nose with the Center). In practice we know that this is rarely--if ever--true 100% of the time.

It would behoove Broncos fans trying to intellectualize the failings of our run game under Jim Bates to familiarize themselves with the nuances of these different positions and systems. As I've stated earlier, I'll be covering 2-gap options in this year's draft in the near future.