Positions and roles
Guard (G)
The linemen either side of the center, who handle interior power and pull on run plays.
Guards line up either side of the center. They handle interior power against 3-techniques and nose tackles, and in gap schemes they pull across the formation to lead at the point of attack.
Interior pressure hurts a quarterback more than edge pressure, because he cannot step up away from it.
Related terms
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)
- Left tackle and right tackle
- Defensive lineman (DL)
- EDGE
- Linebacker (LB)
- Cornerback (CB)
- Slot corner (nickel)
- Safety (SAF)
- Kicker (K)
- H-back