FOOTBALL IN HIGH HEELS: TO DEFEND AND PROTECT
We recently covered the formation the offense uses in a football game, and now it is time to get into the defense.
The defense lines up based on what they think the offense is going to do, in hopes of stopping them and getting the ball. (so it’s a huge guessing game, followed by Capture the Flag?) Most of the defenses are based on the number of linemen and linebackers who align in front of the defense backs.
4-3 Front:
Consists of: Two defensive tackles, two defensive ends, two outside linebackers, a middle linebacker, two cornerbacks, two safeties
They have strong pass rushers who are tough against the run, as well as defensive tackles who are not only strong, but agile enough to maintain pressure on the quarterback.
So, basically imagine a bunch of dudes with the strength of Power Ranger-turned-MMA fighter Jason David Frank on the field and you’d be close….or at least that is how I imagine them to be.
3-4 Front:
Consists of: Three defensive linemen (complete with nose tackle), four linebackers and two defensive linemen that has one rugged defender and one superior pass rusher.
This usually is used for multiple offensive formations and are usually bigger players and take on and defeat blocks in the running game.
Basically, they are built like the Rock and are responsible for blocking.
Cover Two:
This stops short passes by being divided into zones. Each one is responsible for a safety, cornerback or linebacker.
The safety is responsible for the two large zones in the deep part of the field and guard against receivers running downfield and catch long passes.
The cornerback or linebacker are responsible for the area between the line of scrimmage and he deep part of the field. They want to stop the short pass or if it is caught, keep them from getting more than a few yards.
The safeties are supposed to stop a receiver from breaking off a long gain if they break tackle.
The linemen are there to pressure the quarterback into throwing the ball before the receivers can break into the open areas between zones.
In my mind, I am seeing this as the cafeteria in Mean Girls, as described by Damian and Janis.
Stay tuned for more football lessons!
