What Are the Different Defensive Positions on a Football Field
A football defense has 3 levels of defenders.
The defenders closest to the ball are the defensive line and are considered the first level of defense.
The second level of defenders is made up of linebackers.
The third level is the secondary who are also referred to as defensive backs.
Typically the defensive line are the biggest guys on defense.
The linebackers will be the type of player who has to be strong and fast and will be the best tacklers on defensive.
The secondary will be smaller guys need to be able to run fast and cover wide receivers.
Defensive Line Positions
A SS will sometimes be used more as a LB to stop the run or cover short pass routes.
Common Defensive Alignments 4-3 Defense A 4-3 defense describes a defensive alignment in which there are 4 down lineman, 3 LB's, 2 CB's, and 2 safeties.
In a 4-3 alignment you would have 2 DT's and 2 DE's on the defensive line.
The defensive tackles will be responsible for playing their gaps and stopping the run.
Defensive ends also are responsible for gap play and run stopping, but they are also expected to be pass rushers.
Linebackers are run first players.
They will have gap responsibilities also.
Gaps are the lanes between each offensive lineman.
The defense call these the A, B, and C gaps.
The A gap is between the center and guard.
The B gap is between the guard and tackle.
The C gap is outside the tackle.
Once the linebackers read that it is not a run play they are going to drop into their pass zones or pick up their man in man coverage.
The secondary are always pass first players.
Cornerbacks are the best pass coverage guys.
Safeties are called safeties for a reason.
They are taught to be deeper than the deepest meaning that no one on the offense should get behind them.
They are the last line of defense on a run play also.
3-4 Defense In a 3-4 alignment there are 3 defensive lineman and 4 linebackers.
In this defense the 3 lineman will be one NG and 2 DT's.
The Mike and Will LB's will play on the inside and the Sam and Bandit will play on the outside and a lot of times they will be pass rushers like Lawrence Taylor or DeMarcus Ware.
The secondary will line up just like they do in 4-3.
The defenders closest to the ball are the defensive line and are considered the first level of defense.
The second level of defenders is made up of linebackers.
The third level is the secondary who are also referred to as defensive backs.
Typically the defensive line are the biggest guys on defense.
The linebackers will be the type of player who has to be strong and fast and will be the best tacklers on defensive.
The secondary will be smaller guys need to be able to run fast and cover wide receivers.
Defensive Line Positions
- (NG) Nose guard- plays directly in front of the football
- (DT) Defensive tackle- the two inside guys of the defensive line
- (DE) Defensive end- the two defensive lineman on the end of the line
- (MLB) Middle Linebacker
- (ILB) Inside Linebacker
- (OLB) Outside Linebacker
- (Sam) Strong side LB
- (Mike) Another name for MLB
- (Will) Weak side LB
- (CB) Cornerback- line up on the line across from the WR
- (S) Safety- usually line up 10-12 yds off the ball in the middle of the field
- (SS) Strong Safety
- (FS) Free Safety
A SS will sometimes be used more as a LB to stop the run or cover short pass routes.
Common Defensive Alignments 4-3 Defense A 4-3 defense describes a defensive alignment in which there are 4 down lineman, 3 LB's, 2 CB's, and 2 safeties.
In a 4-3 alignment you would have 2 DT's and 2 DE's on the defensive line.
The defensive tackles will be responsible for playing their gaps and stopping the run.
Defensive ends also are responsible for gap play and run stopping, but they are also expected to be pass rushers.
Linebackers are run first players.
They will have gap responsibilities also.
Gaps are the lanes between each offensive lineman.
The defense call these the A, B, and C gaps.
The A gap is between the center and guard.
The B gap is between the guard and tackle.
The C gap is outside the tackle.
Once the linebackers read that it is not a run play they are going to drop into their pass zones or pick up their man in man coverage.
The secondary are always pass first players.
Cornerbacks are the best pass coverage guys.
Safeties are called safeties for a reason.
They are taught to be deeper than the deepest meaning that no one on the offense should get behind them.
They are the last line of defense on a run play also.
3-4 Defense In a 3-4 alignment there are 3 defensive lineman and 4 linebackers.
In this defense the 3 lineman will be one NG and 2 DT's.
The Mike and Will LB's will play on the inside and the Sam and Bandit will play on the outside and a lot of times they will be pass rushers like Lawrence Taylor or DeMarcus Ware.
The secondary will line up just like they do in 4-3.