How To Tackle And Play Defense In Football

To play on a great defense, you need to pursue relentlessly, have sure-handed tackling and a nasty mean streak. The defense is filled with 11 players and each man has his own job to do.

Step 1: The Front Line

A defense places three to five men on the defensive line to control the line of scrimmage. These guys are big and mean, and if they're not barreling their way to the quarterback, they're filling up gaps on the line scrimmage, making it hard for a ball carrier to find room to run.

Step 2: The Linebackers

Linebackers are all-purpose defenders who can do it all on a football field: blitz, stop a run, or cover a receiver. There are inside linebackers who focus on the run and outside linebackers who focus on plays to the outside. Both need to be the complete package, fast and strong.

Step 3: The Defensive Backs

DBs are a team's last line of defense. There are two cornerbacks whose primary focus is on an opponent's receivers and two safeties who line up the farthest back and provide help all over the field. All of them protect against the pass and help tackle ball carriers.

Step 4: Wrap 'Em Up

The defense is dependent on putting the player with the ball on the ground. To tackle, they keep their head up, and after making contact with the ball carrier, they wrap their hands around them and drive their feet until the opponent's on the ground or out of bounds. A defender needs to give an all-out effort on every play until the whistle is blown. You never know if you'll be the one to make the game-saving play. After all, defense wins championships.