First Down Scotland logo
Pick My Team

Lesson 4 of 14 · 8 min

Offence vs defence

Who does what, without a 40-page playbook. Quarterbacks, the pocket, and why the other lot keep substituting.

Path 0/14

Cream circle = offence (they have the ball)Gold letters on dark = defenceGold oval = the ballSolid gold line = line of scrimmage (LOS)Red arrow = rush

Offence (cream circles)

  • QB quarterback
  • RB running back
  • WR wide receiver
  • TE tight end
  • LT LG C RG RT the offensive line (left tackle to right tackle, centre in the middle)

Defence (gold letters)

  • DE defensive end
  • DT defensive tackle
  • LB linebacker
  • CB cornerback
  • S safety

Special teams (when they appear)

  • K kicker
  • ST coverage / special teams
  • RET returner

You do not need every position name to enjoy a game. You do need a rough map: who is trying to move the ball, who is trying to flatten that plan, and why 22 people keep changing.

The offence, in plain language

  • Quarterback (QB): the organiser. Takes the snap, then hands off, runs, or throws.
  • Running back (RB): takes hand-offs and short passes. Often the person bursting through the middle.
  • Wide receivers (WR): the sprinters out wide, trying to get open for a catch.
  • Tight end (TE): a hybrid: blocks like a lineman, catches like a receiver.
  • Offensive line (OL): five big people whose job is mostly thankless: protect the QB and open holes for runners.
Cream circles are offence (they have the ball). Dark circles with gold letters are defence. Five blockers on the line, quarterback behind them, a running back deeper, receivers out wide. Defence mirrors that with a line, linebackers, corners and safeties.LOSLTLGCRGRTTEQBRBWRWRDEDTDTDELBLBLBCBCBSS
Cream circles are offence (they have the ball). Dark circles with gold letters are defence. Five blockers on the line, quarterback behind them, a running back deeper, receivers out wide. Defence mirrors that with a line, linebackers, corners and safeties.

Most plays are either a run (the ball is carried) or a pass (it is thrown). Play-action is a bit of theatre: the QB pretends to hand it off, then throws, hoping the defence bites.

The defence

  • Defensive line (DL): try to shove the offensive line backwards, sack the QB, or stuff the run.
  • Linebackers (LB): the all-rounders behind the line. Tackle, cover, blitz.
  • Cornerbacks (CB): mark the wide receivers.
  • Safeties (S): the last line, deeper down the field.

Motion graphic

The pocket

The little space the line tries to keep

How the pass rush collapses the pocket around the quarterbackThis space is the pocket. The five offensive linemen try to keep a little pocket of grass around the quarterback. From here the QB can see, step, and throw. Cream circles are the offensive line and quarterback. Dark circles with gold letters are the rushers.LOSThe pocketLTLGCRGRTQBDEDTDTDE

The pocket

Protected space behind the line

This space is the pocket

The five offensive linemen try to keep a little pocket of grass around the quarterback. From here the QB can see, step, and throw.

Cream circles are offence. Gold letters on dark are the rush. The dashed gold oval is the pocket. If those red arrows arrive, the quarterback is sacked, throws it away, or scrambles.
The offensive line tries to keep a little pocket of grass around the quarterback. Red arrows are the rush. If those arrows arrive, the QB is sacked, throws it away, or scrambles.LOSLTLGCRGRTQBDEDTDTDE
The offensive line tries to keep a little pocket of grass around the quarterback. Red arrows are the rush. If those arrows arrive, the QB is sacked, throws it away, or scrambles.

Why they keep changing players

Because the jobs are different. A 140kg lineman is not asked to chase a receiver for 40 yards. A receiver is not asked to stop a running back in a phone box. Coaches swap packages the way a cricket captain changes the field: more tall people if they expect a pass, more heavy people if they expect a run.

Sack
Tackling the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage, before they throw or hand the ball off.
Blitz
Sending extra defenders after the quarterback, gambling that you hit them before they find a receiver.
Coverage
How the defence marks receivers: man-to-man, or a zone where each defender patrols an area.

Finished this one?

Next: Common plays →See this week’s games →