Defensive Ends: Three-Point Stance or Two-Point Stance?
A classic Canadian football debate
What type of stance do you use with your Defensive Ends?
I’ve had some great conversations about this topic over the years with many different colleagues. Some sit firmly in one camp or another, while other coaches are open to compromise. Either way, there’s a lot to unpack here.
Let’s get into it.
Different Stances for Different Situations
Many Defensive Line coaches differentiate techniques when it’s a “Run Situation” versus a “Pass Situation”. Of course you can never be sure, but we all study our opponents to try and find tendencies.
So for some coaches, they might have their Defensive Linemen toggle between a three-point and a two-point throughout the course of a single football game, depending on the situation. This is one way to approach the debate, and can be effective as long as you have time to work both stances in practice.
A More Rigid Approach
Other coaches prefer to mandate one stance or another for all of their players in all situations. This is where the debate gets interesting. Which is the more dynamic and impactful stance? What are the pros and cons to each? And how will you deal with variations WITHIN each stance (which foot is forward, etc.)?
This is the topic for today.
Three-Point Stance
We’ll start with the classic three-point stance — a staple of the sport. As it’s name suggests, the three-point stance has three points of contact with the ground, those being both feet and one hand. It’s often used by interior Defensive Linemen, sometimes used by Offensive Linemen, and — as per our topic today — can be used on the edge.
In the modern CFL we are seeing less and less Defensive Ends lining up with a “hand in the dirt”. It’s probably more prevalent in that other league down south, where there is no neutral zone and the contact happens faster on the line of scrimmage.
For various reasons, however, I do feel that the three-point stance can be beneficial for certain age groups, and beneficial at all levels in certain situations.
Pros
Probably the biggest benefit to a three-point stance is that it makes it harder to false step. As we all know, a good first step is a key component to good line play.
This type of stance can also help the defender keep a low pad level. Leverage is also key on the line of scrimmage.
Cons
Some young players might have trouble getting in and out of this stance. It takes a lot of practice and good technique to make this stance work.
A player has less vision in their stance when down in a three-point.
While this stance seems to be fading away at the higher levels, it can still be a good tool in the toolbox for any Defensive Lineman. You never know when you may need it, whether it be in short yardage situations, when aligned inside a TE, or even in a sure pass rush situation when you want a good get off.
Two-Point Stance
When a Defensive End is in a two-point stance, they no longer have a hand on the ground. Even though the DE is now in a standing position, they should still maintain a good pad level and get ready for a great first step.
Pros
A Defensive End has great vision in a two-point stance. For instance, if your opponent uses a lot of crack blocks with their receivers, it’s easier to see that block coming from a two-point.
Comfort. Especially with younger players, it’s easier to be in this stance for any period of time.
It’s easier to teach this stance, though your practice time may now be more geared towards getting a great first step.
Cons
The big drawback here is ensuring you get a great first step with no FALSE steps.
As stated earlier, you may need to emphasize PAD LEVEL a little more when using a two-point.
Which foot?
Within this debate lies another great debate: which foot forward in the two-point stance? I’ve seen both used at a high level.
When the INSIDE foot is forward, this again allows for great vision to the outside. In run situations, you’ll want the Defensive End to use a jab step here with the inside foot to attack the Offensive Tackle. If the DE reads reach, they will be in position to have a great second step since their outside foot is back.
When the OUTSIDE foot is forward, now the first step is an attacking step with the inside foot.
Final Thoughts
Personally, I’ve evolved to a position where I prefer a two-point stance on most plays, with the inside foot forward. On certain plays — such as short yardage or sure pass rush situations — I’m flexible to allow a two- or three-point stance, and for either foot to be forward, if the player prefers to line up that way. In those situations, the only criteria for me is a great get off with a great first step.
Bonus
I put together a short video this week outlining a drill progression for shedding blocks with POWER:
Take care,
Jon Svec
Defensive Coordinator
St. Francis Xavier University
X-Men Football
IG: @jonsvecx
Twitter: @jonsvecx
Jon Svec is the author of the e-book Canadian Football Chalk Talk: Defensive Basics.