Three Defensive Players In Football

Football is not just about scoring. It must also be the goal of the team to stop the other team from scoring. The way to do it is to limit their movement on the field, either by tackling the players holding the ball or limiting their forward movement to less than 10 yards to make them unable to make a first down. They can also intercept a pass or break up a play, cause a fumble or even tackle the quarterback in the end zone (which is called a safety). But in order to make this happen, the team needs three kinds of players to get the job done.

1) The tackle

The tackle is a player on the line of scrimmage who faces off with the offensive team's line. What the tackle does is to push off against the offensive line to either put pressure on the quarterback or to tackle the running back as the offensive team attempts to run the ball on the ground. Depending on the defensive formation, there are three or four tackles at the line of scrimmage. One of the more famous tackles in NFL history wAs William “the Refrigerator” Perry of the Super Bowl champion Chicago Bears team.

2) The linebacker

The linebacker, similar to the tackle, is a player on the defensive team whose main responsibility is to keep the ball from advancing up the field. This can be done by tackling the running back or advancing to the quarterback and tackling the player before release of the ball. By tackling the quarterback, the defensive team forces the offensive team to a loss in yardage. Furthermore, this play, called a sack, shows the vulnerability of the quarterback's protection and the great ability of the defense to stop the offense. Some of the notable linebackers include Lawrence Taylor of the New York Giants and Warren Sapp of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

3) The safety

The safety, on the other hand relies on speed and anticipation to do their part on defense. The strong safety and the free safety cover the field behind the line of scrimmage and patrol the passing lanes. What they do is guard against the pass either by batting the ball or intercepting the ball. If the pass is completed to a receiver, it is their duty to tackle the ball carrier to avoid a touchdown altogether. It is their duty to prevent the passer to connect with the receiver to advance the ball up the field or score the touchdown.

The defense is that part of the team which uses its power and skill to prevent the other team from scoring. The game is about possession and the efficient use of those possessions to score touchdowns. The tackle, the linebacker and the safety working together as a unit would provide the defensive intensity needed to limit the other team's possession. With good defense, this affords the offense more opportunities for their team mates to score touchdowns and to win the game.