Pinch Stunt
Both defensive tackles slant hard into the A-gaps to clog the interior run.
Concept: Tackles step first with their inside foot and rip across the center's and guards' faces into the A-gaps.
Grows with your players
Same play, more layers as they age up — teach it once and build on it every season for a consistent program.
- 10UIntroduce: Line up right and own your gap — win with alignment, pad level, and pursuit to the ball.
- 12UAttack blocks: Add get-off and block destruction so the front controls the line of scrimmage.
- 14UAdd movement: Add the line stunt/twist to beat the offense's blocking rules. Teach the coverage drops behind the front and read run vs. pass. Combine front, pressure, and coverage — and disguise it pre-snap.
Every position's job
Step first with your inside foot and rip across the center's/guard's face into the strong A-gap.
Step inside foot first and rip across into the weak A-gap.
Rush the C-gap and hold contain (or squeeze the B-gap if paired).
Rush the C-gap and hold contain.
Read the stunt and fill the strong B-gap vacated by the pinching tackle.
Fill the weak B-gap vacated by the pinching tackle.
Cover the strong receiver/deep third.
Cover the weak receiver/deep third.
Play over the top and fill the alley on run.
How to teach it
- 1Both tackles step with the inside foot first and rip across the blocker's face into the A-gaps — drill the first step.
- 2Backers must fill the B-gaps the tackles vacate; rep the exchange.
- 3This clogs interior dive and trap — teach the tackles to penetrate, not read.
Common mistakes to fix
- !Tackles step with the wrong foot and get washed down; fix by drilling the inside-foot-first rip.
- !Backers don't fill the vacated B-gaps and get gashed off-tackle; fix by teaching the scrape-and-fill.
Build this into your call sheet.
Adopt this system in your coach portal, tag plays by situation, and print call sheets and player wristbands.