Explanation on a few positions

Question

So, could someone explain these position to me or tell me if I'm incorrect please?

OLB is same as DE

OLB Covers close passes

OLB sacks QB

MLB doesn't worry about sacking QB

MLB's job is to tackle runner if it get's through the gap, get runs to the outside and cover short passes.

So, OLB's main jobs are to sack QB, get runs to outside and also cover short passes.

Safety is behind cornerback

Safetys job is to cover deep passes and stop runs the cornerbacks miss

Cornerbacks job is to cover long passes and tackle what linebackers miss

Answer 1

a lot of it depends on the defensive scheme you are running.

OLB- in a 3-5 your right, they pretty much are a glorifyed DE.

        in a 4-4 they don't worry about the QB so much. their main job is to protect against the outside run (anything off tackle) and the short pass in the flats (the area from the tackle to the sideline from the LOS to about 7 yds deep)

        in a 5-3 its pretty much the same as a 4-4, but they cover more of the run game (anything that comes to their side)

        a 3-3 is the same as a 5-3 exept that now the DE is in a 2 point stance, not a 3 point stance (he is standing with no hand on the ground like the D line)

MLB- any defensive scheme he is responsable for 1st- the dive (quick handoff to the RB or a QB sneak that goaes right up the middle) 2nd- any other run play. 3rd- a short pass (up to about 7-10 yds deep) that is thrown down the middle of the feild (usually anything between the hashmarks)

Safety- Depends on how many WR there are, and whether he is the SS (strong safety) or FS (free safety). The SS usually plays to the strong side of the field (the side with more WR's) and the FS usually plays to the weak side of the field (the side with fewer WR's) depending on the down and distance, and the number of WR's on the field, the SS usually plays run first (his first step will be foreward) if he reads run, he will play downhill (toward the LOS) if he reads pass he will drop back into coverage (where he drops to depends on the coverage they are in). The FS is a pass first defender (he is covering a WR untill the ball crosses the LOS) once the ball does cross the LOS, he (and everybody else on the field) nolonger has an assignment (unless you call trying to tackle the guy with the ball an assignment)