Positions and roles
EDGE
The outside rusher who sets the edge against the run and attacks the tackle in the pass game.
An EDGE is the outside rusher — a defensive end in a four-man front or an outside linebacker in a three-man front. His two jobs are setting the edge so runs cannot bounce outside, and beating the offensive tackle as a pass rusher.
Premium EDGE rushers are highlighted on the site because a single dominant rusher changes a quarterback's whole afternoon.
Related terms
- Left tackle and right tackleThe two outside offensive linemen; the left tackle usually protects the blind side while the right tackle sees heavier run duty.
- Wide-9An EDGE aligned far outside the tackle to win with speed.
- Pressure rateHow often a defense forces a quarterback off his spot — sacks, hits and hurries as a share of dropbacks.
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
- Defensive lineman (DL)
- Linebacker (LB)
- Cornerback (CB)
- Slot corner (nickel)
- Safety (SAF)
- Kicker (K)
- H-back