THE NEW NFL season is nearly upon us and, once more, the American football audience is set to grow on this side of the Atlantic.
With that in mind, we’re putting together a number of guides designed to improve the viewing experience of rookies and casual fans alike.
If you already know the difference between a cornerback and safety, this may not be the guide for you. However, you can also check out our Coaches Film series – which explores the sport in greater detail – here.
In this edition, we’ll focus on the defensive positions and the types of coverage you’ll see throughout the season.
Positions
JJ Watt (99) is one of the most feared defensive players in football. David J. Phillip / AP/Press Association Images
David J. Phillip / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
Defensive tackle (DT)
The defensive tackle (of which there can be one or two) plays at the heart of the defensive line and their role is to try to tackle either the quarterback or a running back whose route takes him towards the middle of his offensive line.
Defensive end (DE)
The two defensive ends play at the edge of the defensive line. Like the DT, their job is to get to the quarterback as quickly as possible or stop runs aimed at either side of the offensive line.
Middle Linebacker (MLB)
Also known as an inside linebacker, the MLB is the quarterback of the defence and he is frequently asked to adjust the defence to how the offence lines up. Their primary role is to stop running backs who make it past the defensive line but must also prevent short passes and tackle the quarterback on some blitz plays.
Outside Linebacker (OLB)
In a 4-3 defensive front (more on that later) the strong side linebacker lines up on the same side of the field as the offence’s tight end. The TE and running back are often their responsibility on plays. The weak side linebacker is often asked to attempt to tackle the quarterback or running back before they get past the line of scrimmage.
Khalil Mack (OLB) is a highly rated young player in the league. Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP/Press Association Images
Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
Cornerback (CB)
There are typically two cornerbacks whose job it is to stop the wide receivers from catching the football. On running plays, their job is ‘containment’ which is, essentially, making sure the running back doesn’t make too many yards.
Strong safety (SS) The safeties are the last line of defence on both passing and running plays. The strong safety usually lines up on the same side as the strong side linebacker and is the ‘last man back’ on run plays.
Free safety (FS)
The free safety is generally the faster of the two safeties and plays closest to his own endzone as his job is to be the ‘last man back’ on passing plays.
Types of defensive front
During NFL games, you’ll often hear commentators discuss the defensive front. This describes how the defensive line and linebackers position themselves before the start of the play.
There are any number of variations (4-4, 5-2, etc) with the first number describing the amount of defensive tackles and ends on the field and the second the number of linebackers. We’ll go into defensive fronts in much more detail over the course of the season.
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Here, we’ll deal with the two most common.
4-3
The 4-3 used to be the most common defensive front in football but it’s popularity has waned as teams discovered it was much easier to draft good linebackers than it was defensive linemen.
As the name suggests, it consists of four defensive linemen — two tackles and two ends — and three linebackers.
3-4
While popular in the 70s and 80s, the 3-4 went out of fashion for two decades but is now used by more than half the teams in the NFL.
This defensive front incorporates three defensive linemen — two DEs and one DT — and four linebackers.
A brief note on linebackers
You’ll hear the following words used a lot in relation to linebackers. Here’s a brief synopsis of what they mean:
Mike
The designated middle linebacker in the 4-3 defence. M = middle and Mike.
Sam
The designated strong side linebacker in the 4-3 defence. S = strong and Sam
Will
The designated weak side linebacker in the 4-3 defence. W = weak and Will
Jack
The ‘other’ linebacker in a 4-3 defence. J = joker and Jack.
Types of coverage
Man coverage This is where defensive backs are assigned to cover specific offensive players. The defender must follow (cover) the attacker wherever he goes to on the field until the end of the play. There are three main types.
Man free in action
Man free
All defensive backs play man coverage with the exception of the free safety who stays in a specific area to prevent a long run or long pass completion.
Straight man
All defensive backs play man coverage with no safety valve.
Combo man
As the name alludes to, this is a combination of man coverage which could see, for example, two defensive backs cover one star wide receiver. This defence is designed to force the quarterback to throw to a less talented wide receiver in another part of the field.
Zone coverage Zone coverage is generally deployed by teams defending the pass and, instead of defenders covering individual players, they’re asked to cover certain areas of the field known as zones.
Cover 3 from the Seahawks.
When watching the NFL, you’ll hear commentators talk about Cover 1 or Cover 3, etc. These refer to the coverage shell the defence adopts after breaking from the huddle. The digit refers to the number of defenders guarding the zones of the field closest to their own endzone.
The main — but not all — coverage shells are as follows:
Cover 1
Cover 2
Cover 3
Cover 4
Cover 6
Cover 0
Other key terminology you’ll hear
Blitz
The term used when more than four defenders try to tackle the quarterback before he has a chance to throw the football. Defences can blitz with all 11 defenders if they like but the more they use, the more free receivers for the quarterback to aim at.
Sack
The name for when a defender records a tackle behind the line of scrimmage. A strip sack is when the quarterback fumbles the football because he has been tackled and the defence wins possession.
Pick
Another name for an interception, that is, when a defensive player wins possession of the football through the air. A Pick Six is when the defender returns that interception for a touchdown.
Nickel & Dime packages Quite often during NFL games, you’ll hear references to defences going to their ‘nickel and dime packages.’ A nickelback (not the band) is the name for a fifth defensive back brought in on defence rather than the traditional four. The extra back can be a saftey or cornerback.
A dimeback is a sixth defensive back on the field. Usually two safeties and four cornerbacks.
A Nickelback (yellow circle) in action for the Rams.
Of course, there’s A LOT more we could go into but this guide should help you get to grips with some of the terminology used by the commentators when your favourite team is on defence.
Cornerback to linebacker - a brief introduction to NFL defences
THE NEW NFL season is nearly upon us and, once more, the American football audience is set to grow on this side of the Atlantic.
With that in mind, we’re putting together a number of guides designed to improve the viewing experience of rookies and casual fans alike.
If you already know the difference between a cornerback and safety, this may not be the guide for you. However, you can also check out our Coaches Film series – which explores the sport in greater detail – here.
In this edition, we’ll focus on the defensive positions and the types of coverage you’ll see throughout the season.
Positions
Defensive tackle (DT)
The defensive tackle (of which there can be one or two) plays at the heart of the defensive line and their role is to try to tackle either the quarterback or a running back whose route takes him towards the middle of his offensive line.
Defensive end (DE)
The two defensive ends play at the edge of the defensive line. Like the DT, their job is to get to the quarterback as quickly as possible or stop runs aimed at either side of the offensive line.
Middle Linebacker (MLB)
Also known as an inside linebacker, the MLB is the quarterback of the defence and he is frequently asked to adjust the defence to how the offence lines up. Their primary role is to stop running backs who make it past the defensive line but must also prevent short passes and tackle the quarterback on some blitz plays.
Outside Linebacker (OLB)
In a 4-3 defensive front (more on that later) the strong side linebacker lines up on the same side of the field as the offence’s tight end. The TE and running back are often their responsibility on plays. The weak side linebacker is often asked to attempt to tackle the quarterback or running back before they get past the line of scrimmage.
Cornerback (CB)
There are typically two cornerbacks whose job it is to stop the wide receivers from catching the football. On running plays, their job is ‘containment’ which is, essentially, making sure the running back doesn’t make too many yards.
Strong safety (SS)
The safeties are the last line of defence on both passing and running plays. The strong safety usually lines up on the same side as the strong side linebacker and is the ‘last man back’ on run plays.
Free safety (FS)
The free safety is generally the faster of the two safeties and plays closest to his own endzone as his job is to be the ‘last man back’ on passing plays.
Types of defensive front
During NFL games, you’ll often hear commentators discuss the defensive front. This describes how the defensive line and linebackers position themselves before the start of the play.
There are any number of variations (4-4, 5-2, etc) with the first number describing the amount of defensive tackles and ends on the field and the second the number of linebackers. We’ll go into defensive fronts in much more detail over the course of the season.
Here, we’ll deal with the two most common.
4-3
The 4-3 used to be the most common defensive front in football but it’s popularity has waned as teams discovered it was much easier to draft good linebackers than it was defensive linemen.
As the name suggests, it consists of four defensive linemen — two tackles and two ends — and three linebackers.
3-4
While popular in the 70s and 80s, the 3-4 went out of fashion for two decades but is now used by more than half the teams in the NFL.
This defensive front incorporates three defensive linemen — two DEs and one DT — and four linebackers.
A brief note on linebackers
You’ll hear the following words used a lot in relation to linebackers. Here’s a brief synopsis of what they mean:
Mike
The designated middle linebacker in the 4-3 defence. M = middle and Mike.
Sam
The designated strong side linebacker in the 4-3 defence. S = strong and Sam
Will
The designated weak side linebacker in the 4-3 defence. W = weak and Will
Jack
The ‘other’ linebacker in a 4-3 defence. J = joker and Jack.
Types of coverage
Man coverage
This is where defensive backs are assigned to cover specific offensive players. The defender must follow (cover) the attacker wherever he goes to on the field until the end of the play. There are three main types.
Man free
All defensive backs play man coverage with the exception of the free safety who stays in a specific area to prevent a long run or long pass completion.
Straight man
All defensive backs play man coverage with no safety valve.
Combo man
As the name alludes to, this is a combination of man coverage which could see, for example, two defensive backs cover one star wide receiver. This defence is designed to force the quarterback to throw to a less talented wide receiver in another part of the field.
Zone coverage
Zone coverage is generally deployed by teams defending the pass and, instead of defenders covering individual players, they’re asked to cover certain areas of the field known as zones.
When watching the NFL, you’ll hear commentators talk about Cover 1 or Cover 3, etc. These refer to the coverage shell the defence adopts after breaking from the huddle. The digit refers to the number of defenders guarding the zones of the field closest to their own endzone.
The main — but not all — coverage shells are as follows:
Other key terminology you’ll hear
Blitz
The term used when more than four defenders try to tackle the quarterback before he has a chance to throw the football. Defences can blitz with all 11 defenders if they like but the more they use, the more free receivers for the quarterback to aim at.
Sack
The name for when a defender records a tackle behind the line of scrimmage. A strip sack is when the quarterback fumbles the football because he has been tackled and the defence wins possession.
Pick
Another name for an interception, that is, when a defensive player wins possession of the football through the air. A Pick Six is when the defender returns that interception for a touchdown.
Nickel & Dime packages
Quite often during NFL games, you’ll hear references to defences going to their ‘nickel and dime packages.’ A nickelback (not the band) is the name for a fifth defensive back brought in on defence rather than the traditional four. The extra back can be a saftey or cornerback.
A dimeback is a sixth defensive back on the field. Usually two safeties and four cornerbacks.
Of course, there’s A LOT more we could go into but this guide should help you get to grips with some of the terminology used by the commentators when your favourite team is on defence.
Read more of our introduction to the NFL here.
Everything you wanted to know about American football but were afraid to ask
10 terms you’ll hear in every NFL game this season
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