In continuing this two-part series, let’s flip sides of the line of scrimmage to the defensive side of the ball; the defensive lineman. Again, this is an area where these guys are not necessarily highlighted or appreciated for the dirty work that they do on the gridiron. Controlling the line of scrimmage from a defensive perspective is just as important and it is from the offensive perspective. Just as I mentioned last week about you will go where your offensive line will take you, the same can be said of the defensive line. Additionally, I will cover two of the greats that played defensive line at the highest level.
Defensive Linemen
Defensive linemen are just different! They are built differently and the play the game differently. I like to call them the big nasties because of their tendencies to get down and do the dirty work. There are many pieces to defensive linemen, but I think the single most important piece is gap control. Having proper gap control up front sets the rest of the defense up for success. This includes their alignment as well. Properly aligning the defensive front is keen for the backers to align and can set the defensive unit up for success on the play that they are running. Want to watch a defensive coordinator lose their every loving mind; misalign a defensive front and it quite possibly result in cardiac arrest or at least some funny outtakes from the sideline.
Many people, outside those who play, coach, or have played, do not understand that there is a specific way that defensive linemen line up to make sure that they are in the same spot for alignment. I will not even begin to indulge in the reason why the defensive numbering system is the way that it is. Essentially, there is numbers (sometimes numbers and letters) for each defensive lineman to know exactly where to line up against the offensive lineman (see chart below). Many factors go into this like knowing the offensive strength (strength as in offensive formation not necessarily what they are good at). Also, this can be played around with to ‘mess’ with the offensive coordinators so they are ‘tricked’ into calling a play into the defensive strength. This is one of the games within the game.
Stopping the run game is an extremely important part of the role that defensive lineman play in today’s game as well. Forcing an offense to become one dimensional for the game can help pay dividends to the defense. Knowing that the offense cannot run the ball on you will force them to pass which allows for so many different options for the defense to scheme up. Not to mention that this gives the defensive line the freedom to pin their ears back and go get after the quarterback, something that no offensive coordinator wants.
Which brings me to the best part of defensive lineman, getting sacks! This is what every defensive lineman works for, that pure rush of bringing down the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage before they can let loose of the ball. This is their time to shine, dance, get highlighted in a positive way, and to showcase that big men are athletes too. If they are lucky enough to get through on the blindside (their back) of the quarterback and then can take their arm over the top and scrape downwards to cause a fumble, it is just icing on the cake for them. A strip-sack-fumble is the trifecta every defensive lineman dreams of, aside from a big man touchdown!
Defensive linemen are unselfish too. One of the tasks that they are asked to perform is that of taking on double teams. This means that part of their role is literally be such a beast and a menace to offensive units that have to use two players to block you. There are many benefits to a defense to have defensive linemen doubled, one includes having the linebackers freed up to go make plays behind the line of scrimmage. Also, this puts the offensive unit at a disadvantage because they are eating up an extra blocker to account for a defensive lineman that requires two to block. Now the defensive unit has an extra, unaccounted for and unblocked, free to go make a play. This is a defensive coordinators heaven!
Two Defensive Dudes
Aaron Donald was a force to be reckoned with. Named the NFL 2017, 2018 and 2020 defensive player of the year, he is an 8 time All-Pro, and in his 10-year career he had 111 sacks and 543 total tackles. What was unique about Aaron Donald was that he had the ability to play inside the defensive line as a nose or tackle but could also play as an end as well. With this his versatility allowed his defensive coordinator to scheme him to the best opportunity to impact the defensive unit. Check out some Aaron Donald highlights, man he was so good!
You can catch this guy every Sunday at 11 a.m. CST on Fox NFL Sunday as one if the hosts, Howie Long. Howie, known for that fabulous flat top and the massive neck roll, was a force while he was playing. Howie had 84 sacks in his 13 seasons as a Raider. I think what stands out the most about Howie Long was that he was relentless on the field. He had a motor that continued throughout the entire play. Additionally, Howie was another guy that the defensive coordinators would bounce along the interior and exterior of the defensive front to gain as much advantage as they possibly could. Howie Long was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000. I enjoyed this tribute video created for Howie.
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