Positions and roles
Defensive lineman (DL)
An interior defender who occupies blockers, stops the run and collapses the pocket.
A defensive lineman plays inside the tackles. His job is to occupy blockers, hold his gap against the run, and push the pocket back into the quarterback's lap on passing downs.
A 3-technique who wins one-on-one against a guard wrecks a run game before it starts.
Related terms
- Defensive line techniques (0 to 9)The 0 through 9 numbering that describes where a lineman lines up, from a 0-technique nose over the center to a 9-technique out past the tight end.
- Run gaps (A, B, C, D)The lanes between offensive linemen: A between center and guard, B between guard and tackle, C outside the tackle, D outside the tight end.
- EDGEThe outside rusher who sets the edge against the run and attacks the tackle in the pass game.
More in Positions and roles
- Head coach (HC)
- Offensive coordinator
- Defensive coordinator
- Quarterback (QB)
- Running back (RB)
- Fullback (FB)
- Wide receiver (WR)
- X receiver
- Z receiver (flanker)
- Slot receiver
- Tight end (TE)
- Offensive line (OL)
- Center (C)
- Guard (G)
- Left tackle and right tackle
- EDGE
- Linebacker (LB)
- Cornerback (CB)
- Slot corner (nickel)
- Safety (SAF)
- Kicker (K)
- H-back