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If a defensive lineman is face to face with an offensive center, he is said to be in a 0 technique. [11] If he is face to face with a guard, the defender is in a 2 technique. [12] If the defender is face to face with a tackle, he is in a 4 technique. [13] If the defender is aligned directly across from a tight end, it is described as a 6 technique.
38 refers to the positions of the defensive players on the line of scrimmage. Two "3" techniques (DT, lined up outside of the guards) and two "8" techniques (DE, lined up outside of end man on line of scrimmage). The DT's are the only down lineman. Two standup players (Monster and Rover) are in "5" techniques.
Safeties are designated as strong safeties ("SS") or free safeties ("FS"). The strong safety usually plays closer to the line, matches up against tight ends, and is more involved in stopping the run. The free safety, on the other hand, typically plays farther from the line and acts as the "last line of defense" in both the pass and run game. [5]
The two most common formations are the 3–4 defense and the 4–3 defense, where the first number refers to the number of defensive linemen, and the second number refers to the number of linebackers (the number of defensive backs can be inferred, since there must be eleven players on the field). Thus, a 3–4 defense consists of three ...
In the NFL, a defensive back is allowed any sort of contact within the 5 yard bump zone except for holding the receiver, otherwise the defensive back can be called for an illegal contact penalty, costing 5 yards and an automatic first down, enforced since 1978, and known colloquially as the Mel Blount Rule. [5] [3]
Paul Brown describes the defense as having a tight five man line, and linebackers who were to jam offensive ends as they came off the line. [3] Brown goes on to say that the use of four defensive backs was innovative at the time. By 1950, the base defense of NFL teams were five man line defenses, either the 5–2 Eagle or the 5–3–3. [4]
Nose tackle (also nose guard or middle guard) is a defensive alignment position for a defensive lineman. In the 3–4 defensive scheme the sole defensive tackle is referred to as the nose tackle. [2] The nose tackle aligns across the line of scrimmage from the offense's center before the play begins in the "0-technique" position. [3]
The 5–3 was regarded as a pass defense, the 6–2 the run defense. [4] The usage of the 5–3 defense accelerated as the T formation became more popular and more effective. [5] Dana Bible, in his 1947 coaching tome, called it the best defense against the T formation. [6] By 1950, the base defenses in the NFL were all five man line defenses ...