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22-459: Generally, pro-style offenses are more complex than typical college or high school offenses. They are balanced, requiring offensive lines that are adept at both pass and run blocking, quarterbacks (QBs) with good decision-making abilities, and running backs (RBs) who are capable of running between the tackles . Offenses that fall under the pro-style category include the West Coast offense ,

44-401: A running back to engage a defensive player beyond the initial width of the offensive line. This technique is used in most playbooks for outside runs, where the play-side guard pulls as a lead blocker, and on counter plays, where the far-side guard pulls to block a play-side lineman. Vanderbilt 's Dan McGugin is credited with first pulling guards. While tackles can also pull, this strategy

66-409: A linebacker, enabling a big running play. Defensive linemen, particularly defensive ends are typically lighter and faster than defensive tackles and offensive linemen. Defensive tackles weight averages between 260 and 310 lbs. Guard (gridiron football) In American football , a guard ( G ), otherwise known as an offensive guard ( OG ), is a player who lines up between the center and

88-417: A pro-style offense is that it can help players make transitions from the college level to the professional level quicker as a result of their familiarity with the system's complexity. Offensive line In gridiron football , a lineman is a player who specializes in play at the line of scrimmage . The linemen of the team currently in possession of the ball are the offensive line , while linemen on

110-431: A single defensive tackle, called the nose tackle (and a defensive line of three men, with four linebackers behind them). Defensive ends in a typical 3-4 have responsibilities more similar to a 4-3 defensive tackle than 4-3 defensive ends. On running plays, the goal is to tackle the ball carrier. The defensive line attempts to maintain their original formation (even spacing without holes), but also to prevent any members of

132-671: A system in which they operate their blocks. The passing game as a result often employs play-action , often with the QB dropping back from under center, as a means of passing the ball while building on the running game. Coaches who make the transition from the NFL to the NCAA as head coaches often bring with them their pro-style offenses. Such examples include Charlie Weis (former HC at Kansas), Dave Wannstedt (former HC at Pittsburgh), Bill O'Brien (former HC at Penn State). One positive aspect of employing

154-403: A two-WR shotgun formation. Another aspect of the complexity is that the running game is primarily built on zone blocking or involves a power run scheme. Both of these require an offensive line that is very athletic, one play they could be trying to zone block a Linebacker, and the following one could be power blocking a defensive line. Most of the blocking schemes involve a series of rules, or

176-408: A wrestling match similar to sumo . Offensive linemen thus tend to be the largest and strongest players on the field with excellent agility and balance, but limited straight-line running speed and stamina. On some running plays, an offensive lineman will pull by backing out of his initial position and running behind the other offensive linemen to engage a defensive player beyond the initial width of

198-453: Is called a blitz . Because the defense does not know whether the offense is attempting a passing play or a running play (or whether a quarterback will give up on an attempt to pass and instead run with the ball), they must balance passing and running strategies: running around offensive linemen and avoiding contact may allow faster pressure on a quarterback, but it also leaves a hole in the defensive line and frees an offensive lineman to engage

220-400: Is generally less common as they are too far away to pull to the opposite side of the formation for counter plays and have the responsibility of blocking the outside defender (generally the defensive end ) for outside runs. Since the guard is free of responsibility for play-side outside runs and far-side counter plays, pulling is generally a unique responsibility for guards. The Packers sweep

242-522: The Air Coryell offense, and the Erhardt-Perkins offensive system. Often, pro style offenses use certain formations much more commonly than the air raid , run and shoot , flexbone , spread , pistol , or option offenses . Pro-style offenses typically use the fullback (FB) and TEs much more commonly than offenses used at the collegiate or high school levels. Part of the complexity of

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264-419: The center , who is responsible for snapping the ball into play, two guards who flank the center, and two offensive tackles flanking these guards. In addition, a full offensive line may also include a tight end outside one or both of the tackles. An offensive lineman's motion during a play is often limited to just a few quick steps (typically from a three-point stance ) to establish position, followed by

286-422: The running backs to head through. Guards are automatically considered ineligible receivers , so they cannot intentionally touch a forward pass, unless it is to recover a fumble or is first touched by a defender or eligible receiver. Aside from speed blocking, a guard may also " pull ", which is when the guard backs out of their initial position and runs behind the other offensive linemen to sprint out in front of

308-431: The tackles on the offensive line of a football team on the line of scrimmage used primarily for blocking . Right guards ( RG ) is the term for the guards on the right of the offensive line, while left guards ( LG ) are on the left side. Guards are to the right or left of the center. The guard's job is to protect the quarterback from the incoming linemen during pass plays, as well as creating openings (holes) for

330-410: The ball before an actual tackle is made; the goal is thus to put pressure on the quarterback as quickly as possible to force him to throw the ball before he can find an open receiver. Defensive ends are usually the most skilled pass rushers on the team. In order to increase the pressure on the quarterback, teams will often have players other than the defensive line attempt to tackle the quarterback; this

352-417: The ball. The defensive line consists of one or two defensive tackles and two defensive ends who play outside the defensive tackles. The defensive line works with the linebackers to try to control the line of scrimmage . The 4-3 defense , most commonly used in the NFL, employs two defensive tackles (and a defensive line of four men, with three linebackers behind them), while the 3-4 defense uses just

374-452: The initial snap from center, offensive linemen are not eligible to handle the ball- with the exception of recovering fumbles- and are not allowed to advance more than two yards past the line of scrimmage at the time a pass is thrown, whether they are engaged with a defensive player or not. On running plays, the primary job of the offensive line is to create space for the ball carrier to run, either by pushing all defensive players backwards past

396-481: The line of scrimmage, or by pushing defensive players to the side to allow the ball carrier to run past them. On passing plays, the offensive line is tasked with stopping defensive players from tackling the quarterback before he has thrown the ball. Stopping these players indefinitely is practically not possible, so the main objective of the offensive line is to slow them down, providing the quarterback with enough time to identify an open, eligible receiver and throw him

418-498: The offense is that teams at the professional level often employ multiple formations and are willing to use them at any point during an actual game. One example might be that a team uses a Strong I formation run (FB lined up where the TE is located on the line of scrimmage) on 1st Down followed up by a running play out of the Ace formation on second down before attempting a pass on 3rd down out of

440-412: The offensive line; in modern games this duty usually falls to guards . When an offensive lineman knocks a player down on a block, leaving the defensive player lying flat on his back, it is known as a pancake block. When an offensive line has an equal number of men on either side of the center, it is known as a balanced line . The interior offensive line consists of the center and guards. Besides

462-405: The opposing offensive line from successfully engaging the linebackers, who chase down the ball carrier. The defensive tackles are usually the most skilled run defenders on the team. On passing plays, the defensive line tries to reach the quarterback . Ideally, the defensive players are able to tackle the quarterback for a loss (a sack ), but in practice the quarterback will usually manage to throw

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484-537: The opposing team are the defensive line . A number of NFL rules specifically address restrictions and requirements for the offensive line, whose job is to help protect the quarterback from getting sacked for a loss, or worse, fumbling . The defensive line is covered by the same rules that apply to all defensive players. Linemen are usually the largest players on the field in both height and weight, since their positions usually require less running and more strength than skill positions . The offensive line consists of

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