Football - The Defense

By: Michael Russell
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:25:43
Print this article | Tell a friend | For publisher | Social Bookmarking
Rating:
 

As important as the offensive unit is to scoring in the game of football, the defensive unit is just as important for keeping the opposing team from crossing the goal line. In baseball they say good pitching stops good hitting. Well, in football a good defense stops a good offense. We're going to briefly review the roles of the defensive unit for a team.

It's hard to say what the most important part of a defensive is. Each part of the unit has a different function and each function is important in its own way. If any one part of the unit breaks down, it usually ends up in a score for the opposing offense.

The main line of defense is the defensive line which is made up of tackles and ends. These are the men who rush the quarterback if they see a pass play coming or try to tackle the running backs on a run play before those backs get too much yardage. This is called down in the trenches because the game of football is a game of gaining ground a very little bit at a time. If you need 10 yards in 4 downs to make a first down then that means a running back only needs to gain 2.5 yards for each time he runs the ball. That means the defensive line has to hold him to under 2 yards per carry. Not an easy thing to do. On pass plays they want to get to the quarterback as soon as possible because the longer a quarterback has to throw the ball the better the chance that his pass will be completed. Yes, the defensive line has a very big and important job.

After the defensive line is the secondary unit. These are the linebackers. Should a running back make it past the defensive linemen, it is the linebackers job to tackle them before they gain too much ground. The linebackers also protect against pass plays. Because of the complex pass routes that receivers run, most linebackers play in what is called a zone so that if any receiver enters that zone they can be ready to prevent a pass from being caught. The middle linebacker is the pretty much the coordinator of the defense. He is usually the one who has his eyes on everything that's going on.

The cornerbacks are the ones who shadow the wide receivers on deep routes. It's their job to stay with the receivers every step down the field. Because receivers are so fast, cornerbacks have to be just as fast in order to keep up with them. It's their job to make sure that any pass thrown their way is not caught. If they can intercept a pass, all the better.

Finally there are the safeties. These two guys are pretty much the last line of defense. If anyone gets past the linebackers and cornerbacks, it is the job of the safeties to prevent the opposition from getting into the goal area.

The defense of a football team, if it's good enough, can many times snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Never underestimate a strong defense.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Football

Article source: Expert Articles

Most Recent Articles in Football category

  • Deck the halls with Dallas Cowboys Christmas decors starting this year - By: Maunik Desai
    Dallas Cowboys fans can now enjoy a true blue Cowboys Christmas. The online NFL sports shop brings Cowboys fans everything they can wish for in a Christmas decor - blue and bold with the Cowboys logo. From the front door to the holiday tree, the online shop gives your visitors a Cowboys greeting.
  • Make The Man in Your Life Smile With NFL Apparel for That Special Day - By: Kimberly Green
    Any occasion can be a special one with NFL jerseys in his favorite team colors!
  • NFL Jerseys & NFL Sports Apparel - The Fashion for the Passion - By: Kimberly Green
    Tis the season, time to warm up your pig skin and hit the field for some football!!
  • Gear up for the Game with NFL Sports Apparel & NFL Jerseys - By: Kimberly Green
    With football fans rallying around the weekend highlights, sharing Fantasy Football news and getting ready for Monday night games, now is the ideal time to take inventory of your gear. Whether you're looking for cold weather apparel for looking your best at the games, tailgating threads to sport your team in style or you just want to say I'm a fan like no other, NFL apparel has never come in more varieties or styles. From replica jerseys, throwback jerseys or true authentic NFL Jerseys, to pullover sweatshirts, tank tops, flannel pajamas, hat and beanies you can support your team and celebrate all that football season entails with NFL Sports Apparel.
  • Sports Apparel Is Big Business - By: Scott Jarvis
    In days past shouting from the couch with a group of friends was considered supporting the home team. Fans could also make a trip to a stadium to catch a home game or throw parties in honor of a big game, which was also a way to support your favorite team. Make no mistake, sports apparel has been around for as long as professional sports have, however the selections and quality of such apparel used to be extremely limited and expensive.
  • Football betting - By: KW Singh
    Betting and gambling through sports has become a major concern for our society today. It has become an issue of serious concern for the lawmakers on how to monitor and curtail unauthorized betting through sports. Lawmakers have been thus penned down to make tough new measures to crack down on corruption in sports related betting. Bets are placed on individual player's performances, the winning team, scores in the game, etc.
  • The 7 Laws of Football Quarterbacking - By: Kanwar Narendra Singh Jodha
    In all of my research, over a period of several years, the finest information I have ever read on quarterback leadership came from my friend Frank Carideo. The purpose of this information was to outline the process by which a quarterback was trained at Notre Dame, under Coach Knute Rockne. This course of quarterbacking was as exacting in many respects as any collegiate course. Coach Rockne had seven cardinal principles of quarterbacking that were preached over and over again.
  • Winning at NFL Football - By: Joe Pav
    There is an old misconception among fans that a great defense is needed to win at NFL football. The problem with that philosophy is that your highly talented defensive teams would be worn out due to being on the field too long. Also, a few key injuries to a few skilled players can mean the difference between last and first.
  • Strategies For Higher Win In Football - By: Fantasy Saturday
    Football betting adds thrill to the game. Predicting outcomes and betting money on it excites football lovers. However, nothing beats the excitement of winning on bets. Using strategies in betting increases your chance of winning. What football strategies work?
  • Football Scouting Software - By: Todd Krueger
    Football is all about timing. Not just the timing that is required between the offensive line and the running back, or between the safeties and linebackers on a blitz play, but also the timing of the coach to choose the right plays at the right time. The difference between success and failure rides upon play selection more than any other factor.