Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images Welcome to the Splash Zone, the quickest way to get your day started off right. We bring you a rundown of Miami Dolphins news from the last 24 hours. Through 2028, the Miami Dolphins will have their head coach and starting quarterback under contract. Entering the offseason, the biggest story around the Dolphins was a new contract for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. It took awhile, but the two sides managed to get a deal done. Now, Mike McDaniel was rewarded with an extension and helps create continuity over the next several seasons. You can check out that story here, and the rest of the day’s round-up below. What Mike McDaniel’s Contract Extension Says About Stephen Ross’ Vision for Miami DolphinsMike McDaniel and Tua Tagovailoa are now under contract through 2028 after Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross greenlit extensions for both this offseason. Dolphins Quarterbacks What Tua Tagovailoa Owes the Miami Dolphins in 2024The NFL is a pay-to-play league. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has gotten paid — now it’s time for him to play his best football for the Miami Dolphins. Dolphins Wide Receivers What to know about new Dolphins receiver DuBose. And what changed for Malik Washington – Yahoo SportsNew Dolphins receiver Grant DuBose happy for opportunity. And what changed for Malik Washington. Dolphins Offensive Line The One Wild Terron Armstead Stat That Should Make You Optimistic About Miami Dolphins’ O-LineThe Miami Dolphins built their offensive line from the outside in, and their best player — tackle Terron Armstead — has as much confidence as ever. Phinsider News You May Have Missed Miami Dolphins extend head coach Mike McDaniel through 2028 – The PhinsiderThe Dolphins have handed McDaniel a cushy new deal. Dolphins’ GM Chris Grier is not worried about the o-line — he should be – The PhinsiderRecent roster moves have left the Miami Dolphins roster with an Achilles heel. How are you feeling about the Miami Dolphins as regular season looms? – The PhinsiderAre you confident in the direction of the Miami Dolphins heading into 2024? Dolphins add Robbie Chosen to practice squad – Miami Dolphins News 8/30/24 – The PhinsiderWelcome to the Splash Zone, the quickest way to get your day started off right. We bring you a rundown of Miami Dolphins news from the last 24 hours. Miami Dolphins add former New York Jets quarterback Tim Boyle and three others to practice squad – The PhinsiderThe Miami Dolphins practice squad is up to 13 players after Thursday’s five additions. Phinsider Victory Of The Week Open Thread Vol. 600 – The PhinsiderJoin us on Friday evenings to share your victory of the week and discuss your Miami Dolphins. Could Tanner Conner emerge as a key piece of Mike McDaniel’s offense in Miami? – The PhinsiderWill Mike McDaniel and the Miami Dolphins finally utilize tight ends on offense?

Photo by Ryan Kang/Getty Images Following the Miami Dolphins cutdown to the semi-final 53-man roster this past week, I asked: Which player(s), if any, were you disappointed to see cut by the Dolphins today and why? Which player(s), if any, were you disappointed to see NOT cut by the Dolphins today and why? Below are some of your answers and thoughts on the question of the day- sdphinsfan is concerned that “nothing has changed.” I, too, am worried about the OL and hoping that we are all wrong somehow, but I know we probably are not. Everybody’s hurt and the starting IOL is comprised of the same depth players that were playing at the end of last season. So nothing has changed since this team last took the field in a real game. What’s that saying about doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result? Lefty5150 is probably sad again now that McMorris has also been cut from the practice squad. Glad they kept McMorris sad they had to cut Brooks heatforlife wants the front office to consider a player’s past injury history more before signing a guy. ez e and brooks looked good until injuries,cracaft alwasy looks good until he gets hurt.phillips and chubb were balling until injuries.waddles injured. obj cant play w/o getting hurt.wynn was always in ne .uh mr grier when u acquire players can u ck their injury history a little closer please SlayerNation1 pointed out that the roster would only take its closer to final form towards the end of the week. This roster is the rough draft that needed to be handed in to the teacher yesterday at 4:00 It will change before kickoff. We shall know of they do get it right, and very quickly, as in after 4 days of kickoff. We’ll know a lot in 4 days. Has McD’s coaching evolved to have the team prepared for a possible shootout vs JAX, to not look ahead to a short week with BUF already breathing down their necks? Weaver’s Defense? Can they afford any injury already? No pressure, just imperative to be 2-0 (no significant injuries) in 4 days when you look at the last 6 weeks of the schedule. cyberflea is miffed at decisions made. Easy what Grier got wrong….not addressing the IOL.The OL is worse than it was last year and will be a concern throughout the season. Dolfanjoe is another concerned with some of the injuries. The problem here is that we do not know the extensiveness of the injuries for many players. I was very bummed seeing Brooks put out on the waiver wire ! If he is near health with just a concussion i could see another team taking a chance on him. But then again we know nothing about if it is just a concussion or he is dealing with something else. Some tough cuts and maybe more to come with pickups in the next few days. Hoping we get a talented practice squad. We need the depth! Alpha6 wanted to see Brooks make it and Tindall sent on down the road. Which player(s), if any, were you disappointed to see cut by the Dolphins today and why? BROOKS/RB – played 9 games for the Dolphins in 2023, totaling 19 carries for 106 yards (5.6 avg.) only ‘cause he’s a BYU product & ‘cause he looked like a bruising back. Which player(s), if any, were you disappointed to see NOT cut by the Dolphins today and why? TINDALL/LB – ‘cause this dude was suppose to be something great. daytonadolfan is for the most part happy with how things went down. I’m good with the cuts, Needham was a surprise but i guess he’s getting a little long in the tooth so next man up ! Not happy with so many skill players on the pup list. Feels like we are starting out short handed and who get’s cut to bring them back in? It seems as if those of us here are inline with the majority of the Dolphins fans base. We are worried about the offensive line and the lack of depth in that unit. Thus far we have not seen the front office address it after the cuts so I guess we will see and they will live with the concequeses of decisions made or not made. Thank you again to each of you that took the time to answer our question of the day.

It’s Friday, so it’s time for us to welcome you to another VOTW post. Today’s open conversation prompt is just that – what is your victory for this week? Did something extraordinary happen this week? Is it the small thing worth celebrating? Was it Miami Dolphins related? Was it in your professional life? Your personal life? We all had something, big or small, that was a victory, and we want to know what yours was. This post is yours, the site member, aka one of our family here at the Phinsider. This post is your chance to share your victory from the last week. Your victory can be huge, like the birth of a new child/grandchild or finally getting that job or promotion you worked your rear off for. It can be a small thing like you won $100 on your lottery scratch-off ticket, or maybe it was a great overall week for you for another reason you wish to share. It’s your post and victory, so please feel free to share it with the rest of the site in the comment section below.

Eric Seals / USA TODAY NETWORK Jared Goff just dropped a pretty sleek line of apparel with 100% of proceeds going to a nonprofit. More info here. For the third straight year, Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff has dropped a line of apparel with all of the proceed going to charity. But this isn’t any ordinary clothing line. No, this series of shirts, hoodies, and hats were designed with the help from children in the Fate Program. A little backstory: For the last three years, Goff has partnered with Merit—a Detroit-based nonprofit aimed at youth in the hopes to provide them with the resources and opportunities to both graduate high school and go to college. Within Merit is the FATE Program, which they define as the following: This four-year, cohort-based program provides innovative programming that blends project-based learning, character development, career exposure, and mentorship into a co-curricular experience that emphasizes the value of education and its role in achieving long-term career and personal goals. Goff’s program is an innovative one. He collaborates with kids already in the FATE Program to produce some really nice Detroit apparel. Every year, they come out with new designs, and in Year 3, they’ve really hit their stride with the Grit City collection, which you can view here. Here’s a great background video on how they developed this year’s designs. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jared Goff (@jaredgoff) Of course, the best part about the programs is that 100% of the proceeds will go toward funding a college scholarship. According to Goff’s website, last year this program provided four-year scholarships for each of the kids involved in the design of the shirts, plus extra money to go towards other children in the FATE Program. Oh, and did I mention that Goff himself matches every single dollar raised? So if you purchase a $30 shirt, all $30 goes towards a scholarship, plus an additional $30 from Goff for a total contribution of $60. If you like any of the designs or just want to support a great cause, you can purchase here.

Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images We’re a week away from Detroit Lions football! What are you looking forward to the most? Detroit Lions football is just a week away. Before you know it, Sunday night will be upon us and the Lions will be ready for another primetime bout against the Los Angeles Rams. The return of football means so many things to so many people. For me, who does this for a living, it’s a return to a normal schedule and a much-welcomed structure to my weekly life. For some fans, it’s the Sunday ritual of sitting down and watching 10 hours of football with loved ones. Maybe some are just excited for their fantasy league to start up. But for most fans, it’s the nine months of anticipation for their specific team to finally take the field after a long offseason. So today’s Question of the Day is: What are you most excited to see with the 2024 Lions? My answer: The chalk answer would just be to witness a Lions season with such high expectations and unlimited potential. A true Super Bowl run for the first time in franchise history would be unbelievable to witness, and we know this because it almost came last year. But if I wanted to get more specific here, I think I just love watching the Lions offense. Thanks to brilliant offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, it’s so intricate and detailed that you could go down a rabbit hole trying to break down why they chose every little decision they made in each individual play. Beyond that, the Lions have an abundance of talent on that side of the ball that is a pleasure to watch every day. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell, Frank Ragnow, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Sam LaPorta are all arguably top-five at their position. And let’s be honest: the story of Jared Goff is one of the coolest stories in franchise history. It’s not very often a quarterback gets discarded in the way that he was and revitalizes his career—let alone doing it with one of the losingest franchises in the history of the sport. It’s an incredible tale of inspiration, hard work, and coaching done right. Every day, Goff goes out there and proves another doubter wrong, and it’s a pleasure to watch. What are you looking forward to the most for the 2024 Lions season? Scroll down to the comment section and let us know!

Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK Justin Melo of The Draft Network has Lions receiver Isaiah Williams as one of his undrafted free agents poised to make an impact in 2024. Seemingly every year, one Detroit Lions receiver captures the hearts of the fanbase during the dog days of August. For a while, it was now-veteran receiver Tom Kennedy’s reign. Someone would pop off in the preseason, and while it was fun to watch, most understood that the production wasn’t likely to translate to the regular season. However, this year’s competition was a bit different. Everything was wide open behind roster-locks Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Kalif Raymond. Coaches were nearly begging for someone to step up and take control of the race, and in an unlikely turn of events, undrafted free agent Isaiah Williams ended up seizing his opportunity. So much so that Justin Melo of The Draft Network tabbed Williams as one of his three UDFAs set to make an impact in 2024. And while Williams doesn’t really fit the bill of the traditional X-receiver the Lions are currently lacking when they go three-wide, he made enough plays in August to stick on the active roster anyway. You can read the entire article from Melo right here. And now, onto the rest of today’s notes: According to several metrics compiled by offensive line analyst Brandon Thorn, the Lions have one of the more elite offensive lines in the NFL. Here is the top 10 in weight-adjusted RAS for 2024 compared to their 2023 ranking. Keep in mind with the Saints Ramczyk doesn’t have a RAS score, so with Penning in the lineup that was the primary source of their jump. pic.twitter.com/kWs95Zf2SF — Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) August 30, 2024 New this year is a side-by-side ranking of each unit from 2023 to 2024 that I added in this morning. Here is the top 32 over the last two years in total weight. The Eagles total 1688 pounds, 38 pounds heavier than any unit over the last two years. pic.twitter.com/pHdvpHMYFD — Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) August 30, 2024 Total experience is another interesting one (combined games started). 2024 to 2023 differences: pic.twitter.com/XMSe4xoqew — Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) August 30, 2024 If you live in the Metro Detroit area then chances are you are aware of Gardner White Furniture. And if the Lions win a certain big game in February of 2025, then your furniture could be free. Lions rookie cornerback Terrion Arnold visited his former stomping ground in Tuscaloosa ahead of his NFL debut next week. Terrion Arnold in attendance for Alabama vs. Western Kentucky. pic.twitter.com/ceqd2jgZUe — Touchdown Alabama (@TDAlabamaMag) August 31, 2024 Sports Illustrated’s Greg Bishop wrote about how Jared Goff’s resurgence in Detroit has been essential for the Lions’ ascension to a team with championship aspirations. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press wrote about how Lions defensive end James Houston offers a completely different type of rusher off the edge. This was hilarious and the editing was S-tier. Definitely take the time to watch it if you are looking for a few good laughs. We are so back. Milk and Cookies, Episode 1, featuring @JKERB25 and @ArnoldTerrion pic.twitter.com/iZpNhUmSFZ — Detroit Lions (@Lions) August 31, 2024 Another funny and unique concept from the Lions media department—smoothie competition between three rookies. This offseason, our rookies competed to make the best smoothies incorporating protein and carbohydrate-rich dairy products to help fuel their bodies. Part 1 | Terrion Arnold, Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Mekhi Wingo pic.twitter.com/ABe2dbyOlz — Detroit Lions (@Lions) August 31, 2024 I love this mentality from Lions receiver Jameson Williams. Williams had his number retired at his high school back in St. Louis over the weekend. #Lions’ Jameson Williams to ESPN on Year 3 goals:“I just want to have the most yds and TDs – that would be my personal goals. Out of the whole NFL, I want to have the most receiving yds and TDs. It don’t matter about catches, because I know what I’m gonna do when I get the ball.” pic.twitter.com/5XssWdK6XT — Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) August 31, 2024

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports The Lions were able to re-acquire LB Trevor Nowaske this past week and we explored the reasoning behind that move, as well as what his role could be in 2024. When it comes to team building, the Detroit Lions have maintained several philosophies over the past four offseasons. Two of the most common are as follows: they’re never comfortable with where they’re at and are consistently working to improve the team, and secondly, they also strongly believe in building all three phases of football, giving equal attention to offense, defense, and special teams. On Wednesday, the Lions stayed true to those two primary philosophies when they claimed Trevor Nowaske off waivers, returning their 2023 UDFA linebacker to the roster. Nowaske (6-foot-3, 237 pounds) played his college ball locally at Saginaw Valley State where he stood out for his positional versatility (he played at MIKE and SAM) and athleticism (9.86 RAS). His college film displayed strong tackling skills, fluid lateral movement, some pass-rushing chops, as well as the ability to drop into zone coverage. In my initial analysis, I favorably compared Nowaske to Anthony Pittman—Lions’ long-time special teams stalwart who departed in free agency this offseason. After a solid training camp in Detroit, Nowaske was brought back to the Lions practice squad, and then in November, he was elevated to the active roster after the Dallas Cowboys tried to poach him. Nowaske lasted nearly two months on the roster before Detroit reluctantly waived him to make room for an influx of players returning from injured reserve. The Arizona Cardinals would claim Nowaske off waivers. After spending the end of last season and this offseason in the desert, Nowaske was released by the Cardinals at cutdowns, and the Lions seized their opportunity to bring the young linebacker back home. When general manager Brad Holmes was asked why—with a roster capable of competing for a Super Bowl—he claimed Nowaske, his immediate reaction was simple: “Well, special teams,” Holmes responded. “it’s just as important as offense and defense for us.” For the previous three seasons, the Lions have kept six linebackers on the active roster, with all of them active on game days for special teams. The Lions returned five of the six linebackers from last season, with the aforementioned Pittman as the only one to exit in free agency. That led me to speculate: Is Nowaske viewed as the next Pittman in the Lions’ eyes? To answer that, I went back through the Lions’ press conferences from 2023, both the offseason and regular season, looking for clues on how coaches viewed Nowaske. Sure enough, the special teams angle rang true every time Nowaske’s name was brought up. Here are a few samplings of Lions coaches discussing Nowaske in 2023: From coach Dan Campbell following 2023 preseason Game 1: “He’s developing, he’s getting better. I thought he showed up the other day too. I thought he showed up in the game. Look at all those kickoff reps, he’s the first one down the field. I mean, it’s just over and over and over […] He’s a guy that’s intriguing on special teams, is a core player, and then in the meantime, he continues to grow at linebacker so he’s doing good.” Campbell, following Nowaske’s promotion to the active roster: “Yeah, he was being poached, potentially, so we didn’t want to lose him and we felt like we had the flexibility to make that move. We feel like we’re going to need him before it’s all said and done and we like where he’s going. […] it’s an outstanding (linebacker) room between what they’re able to do defensively, but special teams too. I mean, we rely on them for a lot, so yeah, he was a guy that we didn’t want to lose.” Special teams coordinator Dave Fipp following the promotion: “If he (is) up and playing in a game and active on game day, we’d get him in right away at a bunch of different spots.” Fipp after Nowaske’s first NFL game against the Saints: “He was great. And the thing about him, I mean, I love talking about him because I feel like he’s been a great football player since training camp and has just done a great job, […] I was excited to see him be able to get out there because a guy like him, he’s doing all this work in practice, he’s giving the looks to the other team every single week and all he wants is a chance to play and finally got a chance to play, I thought did a nice job for us.” So to answer my question, the Lions seem to have identified Nowaske as a potential key contributor on special teams for some time now, and I believe they view him as a Pittman-type of player. “He does have a lot of upside with his size, he’s got straight-line speed, he’s tough, he’s physical, he has instincts for special teams,” Holmes said on Thursday. “I think that’s one of the things that, you look at a special teams player, you look at size, speed, trying to get downfield, being able to break down in open field. But he has instincts, he’s got the spatial awareness to understand where the ball’s coming. And so, all those things, it makes him have a bright future at special teams and he’s still going to be growing as a linebacker well.”

Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images Which player currently on the Detroit Lions practice squad will end up making the biggest impact in 2024? The Detroit Lions’ initial 16-man practice squad has been settled. While the group will undoubtedly change throughout the season, many of the players in that group will likely stick around for the entire season. Every week, the Lions are allowed to elevate two players from the practice squad and make them part of their gameday roster. Practice squad players are often eventually signed to the 53-man roster, as well. Given the strength and experience of several players on the practice squad, it seems inevitable that a few players of the current 16 will end up making a difference on Sunday. That’s why general manager Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell continue to call it the 69-man roster (53+16). They’re all important. So today’s Question of the Day is: Which Lions practice squad player will have the biggest impact on the 2024 Lions? My answer: Well, first take a look at the Lions’ practice squad with Erik Schlitt’s fantastic breakdown of each player. Early in the season, the answer will undoubtedly be Kyle Peko. With Brodric Martin on injured reserve and DJ Reader’s Week 1 status still very much up in the air, Peko is currently in line to be the starting nose tackle—as he has been in training camp for the past month. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him make it on the 53-man roster after Week 1 (the Lions are likely waiting because the salaries of veteran players become guaranteed if they’re on the Week 1 53-man roster). But he’s the easy answer. Let’s dig a little deeper beyond Peko. The Lions’ WR-X position remains essentially unfilled among their 53-man roster. Yes, the Lions are likely to play Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Kalif Raymond when they go three wide, but none of those players possess exactly what they’re looking for in the position. Detroit will continue that WR-X position battle with three practice squadders: Donovan Peoples-Jones, Tim Patrick, and Allen Robinson. Peoples-Jones likely has the early advantage simply for being with the team since late October. However, I think Patrick eventually wins that job and gets added to the 53-man roster. If you need any convincing, check out our 6 Questions with Mile High Report on Patrick’s career. Who else on the practice squad will have an impact in 2024? Scroll down to the comment section and let us know your thoughts!

The Eagles head coach spoke about playing in a neutral site Week 1 and explained his role in the offensive game planning. The Eagles were back at practice on Sunday preparing for their Week 1 game in Brazil, and head coach Nick Sirianni spoke to reporters prior to taking the field. He said a lot of words about playing in Brazil, and tried really hard to sound positive about the international game — but, the head coach was less than effusive in his excitement about it. Sirianni also kept bringing up that game is being played on a neutral site, which felt like a thinly veiled irritation about not having an actual home game. Here’s what he had to say: On playing in Brazil Sirianni was asked about some comments made by players about having to play in Brazil, but the head coach said they just have to make sure that the players are in the right mindset to play, because their only goal is to win a football game. He noted that they just have to focus on the things that they control. “We’re going to Brazil to play, and that’s what it is, and we’re excited about that. We’re excited about the opportunity to play in a neutral site, and having a slightly different schedule of things that happen — like, you have a mini-bye coming off of it. So, there are a lot of positives in it. And, it’s also to spread the game to a new country which is exciting.” The head coach emphasized controlling what they can, and being prepared to play at a neutral site. He likened it to playing in the rain, and whichever team is better prepared to play in the rain, will win. “It’s going to be good for us just to go play in this neutral site and handle the different things that pop up in the NFL.” Sirianni also talked about the travel implications of a 9-plus hour flight, and acknowledged that it’s something they’ve put a lot of thought into. The medical, training, and strength staffs have been giving their input and forming a plan for pre-flight and post-flight things, like IVs, to make sure they’re in a good position when it’s time to play. On his role in offensive game planning The head coach said that he still enjoys sitting in and listening to — and contributing to — the offensive game planning meetings, but he also likes being able to step out and talk to a player, or to Howie Roseman, or check in on the defense. “I find that very freeing — that I’m able to stretch myself to different spots that I’m needed, and not have to be hunkered down.” He went on to admit that he had a hard time finding time to meet with Howie in past years on Mondays or Tuesdays because there wasn’t time after players left, so being able to handle a greater variety of things is important. Still, Sirianni said that it’s still important for him to lend his expertise to the offensive room, and for him and OC Kellen Moore to be on the same page as far as some of the game management decisions during those meetings. Sirianni later talked about Moore’s teaching ability and quipped about how he’ll sometimes sit in on the offensive group meetings and observe — he also referenced the defensive team meetings being a little cramped, so they don’t always have a seat for him. On Jalen Hurts calling protections The Eagles QB mentioned on the radio this week that he was told to let Jason Kelce handle all the protection calls, so he didn’t get to develop that part of his game as much as he would have liked. Sirianni confirmed that this was “100% true,” noting different offenses give the QB all the control, and others give that role to the center, and some use a collaborative effort. Hurts will be collaborating with Cam Jurgens this season, a new role for both players. Sirianni said that Jurgens has stepped up into more of a leadership role, and will have to be confident getting the offensive line set up and on the same page. Other notables Sirianni confirmed that James Bradberry got dinged up in practice, and the DB will miss some time, which is why they put him on IR. He wouldn’t name any starters just yet — the head coach notoriously waits until the last minute citing competitive advantage —, but said that Mekhi Becton had a good camp at right guard. Addressing DeVonta Smith not being a captain this season, Sirianni said that he had to go with the players who had the most votes, but noted that doesn’t mean that Smith and other guys like Saquon Barkley and C.J. Gardner-Johnson, aren’t still leaders on the team. There can only be so many captains, and the head coach admitted he may have had a couple too many last season.

The “Fangio defense”. Named after its creator, Vic Fangio, who was recently hired as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator, this defense is known for being complex. In particular, Fangio’s defense is known for using confusing terminology that can make things sound more complicated than they are. I wanted to study Fangio’s defense again and write a series of posts where I will attempt to simplify the Vic Fangio style defense, breaking it down into easy-to-understand parts. Numerous writers have already written incredibly in-depth articles on Fangio’s defense. I have learned the most from Honest NFL, Shawn Syed, and Cody Alexander (Match Quarters). I will frequently use their work in these articles, and I can’t thank them enough for their work and for teaching me the intricacies of Fangio’s defense. However, while these accounts do a brilliant job explaining the intricacies of the Fangio defense, I think some of it can be too complicated or necessary for the fan who wants to understand the basics when watching the game on Sunday. Not everyone needs to analyze football, but understanding the schemes can make watching the game more enjoyable. So, my goal for this series is to simplify the Vic Fangio-style defense and break it down into easy-to-understand parts. Please read the articles in order so they make sense. Previously: Previously: Part 1: The Basics / Part 2: MFO Coverages / Part 3: MFC Coverages This will be the final one, so I hope you have enjoyed and found this study on Fangio interesting! Run Fits In this section, I must discuss gap identification and technique alignments. This handy graph from Big Blue View includes both the gaps and the techniques of defensive linemen. The nose tackle is the 0 technique directly over the top of the center. Anything shaded to the center’s outside shoulder is called a 1 technique or a shade. A handy note to remember is that any defender aligned directly in front of an offensive player receives an even number. You can see that above. Additionally, Any defender aligned on the inside shoulder of a guard or tackle is referred to as the corresponding number with an “i” next to it. It’s pretty simple! Historically, you will have heard analysts talk about ‘2-gap’ and ‘1-gap’. This refers to whether defensive linemen are responsible for 2 separate gaps or 1 specific gap. Linemen love playing in 1-gap systems (think Jim Schwartz) as it makes their role easier! Here are a couple of great examples from Blogging the Boys. A 2-gap often comes from 3-4 looks, and you must be a big defensive tackle to deal with 2-gaps. Think back to Bennie Logan 1-gap often comes from 4-man fronts as the defensive tackles. Think Fletcher Cox in his prime with Jim Schwartz as the DC. This is a very simplified version of 2-gap and 1-gap, but it is necessary. Now, let’s get into Vic Fangio’s run fits… A Gap and a Half? Some of you may have heard of Vic Fangio’s defense using a technique called a ‘gap and a half.’ Before getting into this, we must remind ourselves that Fangio wants a two-high pre-snap look on most snaps. If you can’t remember why, go back and read part 1. This is a standard Fangio look against 11 personnel. Let’s do some simple math. Two deep defenders + three cornerbacks = six in the box, just like above. Fangio has a problem. The offense has seven in the box, not even including the quarterback. This means seven gaps are available to the offense, but the defense only has six defenders because the two safeties are deep. If you aren’t sure what I mean by 7 gaps, have a lovely edited photo from yours truly. To deal with this, Fangio asks his defenders to play ‘gap and a half.’ This sounds a bit silly, and it is. Now, I had to do some of my own research on this because I haven’t studied Fangio’s run fits in too much detail. So a massive shoutout to one of my favorite football nerds on X @PhillyWannabGM who gave me a ton of information on run fits. I almost have too much information, so I’m just going to fire off a bunch of key points on Fangio’s style. I will call it 1.5 -gap, too, as I’m bored typing out a ‘gap and a half.’ Here we go… The defensive tackles usually play a hybrid read-and-react/aggressive style. They have to be stout and get their body in their main gap. However, ideally, they need to ‘help out’ a second gap. So it is a 1-gap defense, but rather than fly upfield, they are a bit more passive to help with a second gap. As the defense is often outnumbered in the box, you almost need to ‘steal’ a gap. You are responsible for your primary gap, but when it is clear that the runner will not take it, you can try to help out your secondary gap. Watch #72 Moro Ojomo in this clip below; this is perfect. He controls his gap but still helps out in the gap next to his. This is 1.5-gap, but you can see he doesn’t fly upfield and has to play a read-and-react style. Sometimes, you may ask one defender (Jordan Davis) to truly 2-gap to make it easier on the others. When watching a film, it is hard to tell if someone is playing 1.5-gap or 2-gap. It is a grey area. Similarly, you may allow certain defensive linemen (Jalen Carter) to 1-gap if they are explosive and want to fly up the field. With a 5-man front, you will often see the 3 interior’s 1.5-gap, but the EDGE defenders will set the edge and play contain. In this case, the two 4i techniques will have to control the B gap but will also try to help out the nose tackle in the A gap, too. So it’s sort of a 1.5 gap. This is a great