The offensive line is the strength and the backbone of an offense. If you can't block, you can't run plays. As the offensive line goes, so goes your entire offense. So what is an offensive lineman, and what do they do?
An offensive lineman, as the name would indicate, lines up on the line of scrimmage on the offensive side. The line generally consists of two guards, two tackles, and a center. Tight ends are a hybrid between offensive line and receiver. |
The defensive line on a football team is made up of the biggest and strongest guys on the defense. They play the game of football in "the trenches," where they battle with offensive linemen play after play. How well they play in any given game will have a big impact on the outcome. Their primary focus is to wreak havoc on the offensive blocking and passing schemes.
Over the years, defensive linemen have also increasingly been called on to drop in pass coverage as well, particularly in zone defense. |