Shoot The Gap | Shoot Gap

Shooting the gap is a term used in American football. To "shoot the gap", a defensive lineman will exploit the space between the offensive linemen. The defensive lineman is usually one of the defensive tackles. The gaps are given different letters depending on their distance from the center. The gaps between the center and guard are known as the "A gaps", and between the guard and tackle are known as the "B gaps". Shooting the gaps requires the defensive lineman to turn his shoulders and get past the offensive line into the backfield by any means possible, usually by diving through the gap. The play is often used during a blitz, as the defense will try to rush past the offensive line in order to get to the quarterback and cause a quarterback sack.

Gridiron football concepts

Codes

American
Canadian (US–Canadian comparison)
Arena
Indoor
9-man
8-man
6-man
Flag
Touch
Street/Backyard

Levels of play

High school
College
Sprint
Women's
Professional

Field

End zone
Goal line
Red zone
Line of scrimmage
Neutral zone
Field goal range
Out of bounds
Sidelines

Equipment

Football (ball)
Helmet
Shoulder pads
Uniform number

Positions

Offense	Quarterback Running backs (Halfback, Fullback, H-back) Receivers (Wide receiver, Tight end, Slotback) Linemen (Center, Guard, Tackle)

Defense	Linemen (Defensive tackle, Defensive end, Nose tackle) Linebacker Defensive back (Cornerback, Safety, Nickelback, Dimeback, Halfback)

Special teams	Placekicker Punter Kickoff specialist Long snapper Holder Punt returner Kickoff returner Return specialist Gunner

Other	Utility player Triple-threat man Skill position Game manager

Play types

Offense	Rush Pass Incomplete pass Lateral Bootleg play Draw play End-around Flea flicker Flexbone formation Fourth down conversion Hail Mary pass Halfback option play Hook and lateral Kneel Motion Hurry-up offense Option run Option offense Play-action pass Quarterback keeper Quarterback sneak Quick kick Reverse Scramble Screen pass Spike Statue of Liberty Sweep Tackle-eligible Trick play Wildcat formation

Defense	Tackle Blitz Rush Sack Shooting the gap Stunt Zone blitz

Special teams	Kickoff Kickoff return Punt Punt return Drop kick Fair catch Fair catch kick Icing the kicker Onside kick Squib kick Conversion

Scoring

Touchdown
Point after touchdown
Two-point conversion
Field goal
Safety
Single (rouge)

Penalties

Blocking below the waist
Block in the back
Chop block
Clipping
Delay of game
Encroachment
Equipment violations
Face mask
False start
Helmet-to-helmet collision
Horse-collar tackle
Illegal contact
Illegal formation
Illegal forward kick
Illegal forward pass
Illegal hands to the face
Illegal motion
Illegal participation
Illegal shift
Illegal substitution
Illegal touching
Illegal touching of a free kick
Illegal use of hands
Ineligible receiver downfield
Intentional grounding
Holding
Leaping
Neutral zone infraction
Offside
Palpably unfair act
Pass interference
Personal foul
Roughing the kicker
Roughing the passer
Roughing the snapper
Sideline infraction
Spearing
Time count
Tripping
Unsportsmanlike conduct

Turnovers

Fumble
Interception
Muffed punt
Turnover on downs

Downs

First down
Three-and-out
Fourth down conversion

Play clock

Timeout
One-minute warning
Two-minute warning
Three-minute warning
Running out the clock
Untimed play
Garbage time

Statistics

Carry
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passer rating
Reception
Receiving yards
Return yards
Total offense
Yards from scrimmage
All-purpose yardage
Touchdown pass

Celebrations

Touchdown celebration
Gatorade shower

Officiating

Officials
Penalty flag
Chain crew

Miscellaneous

Snap
Dead ball
Touchback
Instant replay
Coffin corner
Resting the starters
Glossary of American football
Glossary of Canadian football
Rules
Rules in American football
California playoff
Concussions in American football

Famous quotes containing the words shoot and/or gap:

“The only ones who are really grateful for the war are the wild ducks, such a lot of them in the marshes of the Rhone and so peaceful ... because all the shot-guns have been taken away completely taken away and nobody can shoot with them nobody at all and the wild ducks are very content. They act as of they had never been shot at, never, it is so easy to form old habits again, so very easy.”
—Gertrude Stein (1874–1946)

“The gap between ideals and actualities, between dreams and achievements, the gap that can spur strong men to increased exertions, but can break the spirit of others—this gap is the most conspicuous, continuous land mark in American history. It is conspicuous and continuous not because Americans achieve little, but because they dream grandly. The gap is a standing reproach to Americans; but it marks them off as a special and singularly admirable community among the world’s peoples.”
—George F. Will (b. 1941)