In American football...what must the defencive players try to do?

Question

When defending in Amercian football...must one guy try to stop the quarter back throwing the ball, and getting through the players protecting the quarterback?

A

B

O O

QB

If A and B are defensive...and O and O are attacking with QB being the quarterback...what must A and B do?

Answer 1

what Eienstien said is on the money; but, you know, the defense is going to be dictated by the offense man.  "It depends!" is about the only answer that really covers this one without writing out "War & Peace"; but, you have to remember, it's a "Ground Aquisition' game, and there are defenses that cover "Zones", and some go "Man to Man"; but most are a combination of both, and require split second decisions by the "Defensive Ends" And every other player with his neck hangin' out in the wind!  Because IF it's a running play; they can leave they're man and add to the players on the "Back's" case, However; IF, the back decides to drop back and throw downfield they CAN'T just let the Tight ends run around free as a bird, or there wouldn't be a game; just chaos! Certain situations are going to call for certain tactics; and everybody knows THAT much; then they' send the WE'nd's Long, and the TE'nd out 20 yards on a "Buttonhook" route for instance, and while the defesive coodinators are jumping up and down with thier clipboards on the sidelines waving they're hands trying to get this one, or that one's attention, the TE drops back a few yards and everybody shoves the Quarterback, the blockers, the TE, the Center, and anything else they can gather up on the way, and that my friend is the good 'ol quarterback sneak!!..  The thing that baffles most Non Americans about our sports is that "Cheating' is a built in, perfectly accepted, nervously expected, part of the game...  It took the Japanese 30 years to process why that player on 1st base would make him not be able to use that wild wind up that actually is what makes him a effective pitcher away, by taking atvantage of the half second it uses to get that "Jump" on him to steal second base and put himself in "Scoring Position" eventually making the earned and un-earned runs on that ONCE Japanese superstar pitcher just another "Rubber Armed Wonder", heading back to Japan, or the minors; IF, they think it can be fixed...  This question is taking me all over the place.. Good question man.  It takes us a lifetime to understand all this stuff; and you'll still see something you've NEVER seen before every single game you see.. Good Question though!!

Your diagram actually ain't making much sense to me BUT, IF it's what I think your tryin' to say, the "QB" MUST first call "Time Out!", and get his offensive line on the field or he's about to die the death of a rag doll!!

Rosinbagger

California

Answer 2

kill the other qb is the lines job safteys and line backers follow the resevers

Answer 3

It depends on what the goal of the play is for the defense.  Think of a football play as a game of chess.  Except in this case every piece moves at the same time and they can make mistakes.

Typically there are four players trying to tackle the QB or at least put enough pressure on him that he cannot freely do what he wants to do.  But sometimes teams only rush three or even fewer.  Other times they will rush five or six.  They may even come from different places on the field to cause confusion.

The other players are then trying to keep the receivers from catching a ball that is thrown.  They either run with the receivers (man-to-man) or divide the field into areas of responsibility (zones).  Still other players may be assigned to just stay in an area to keep a runner from coming their way.

Answer 4

The primary objective of the defense is to prevent the other team's offense from scoring as many points as their own offense will, thereby winning the game.

The ideal goal of the defense is to not allow any scoring at all. Accomplishing this, they can never lose a game.  They may tie 0 - 0, but they can not lose if the opposition does not score.

Preventing scoring is accomplished by stopping the opposition from securing enough yardage to secure a "first down" (allowing them four more offensive plays) and/or cross the goal line and/or kick the ball through the uprights (goal).  The offense has 4 downs/possessions/plays to move the ball 10 yards or more down the field.  If they do so, they gain another first down and continue toward the goal line for a score on subsequent downs.  If they do not, they may choose to "punt" the ball to the opposing team on 4th down, rather than running/passing and being stopped; or they may risk running/passing it if the fourth down situation is small enough yardage and the offense's position on the field is such that it justifies the risk of potentially "turning the ball over" (to the opposition).

To specifically neutralize the play above that you've drawn - assuming it is a run - each defender should line up on the outside shoulder of the two offensive linemen, drive them together on the snap, and make the play by tackling the quarterback.  

Answer 5

All eleven players have a certain duty on every play and usually don't know what they are supposed to do until the offensive play starts to reveal itself. If the QB is passing there can be anywhere from 3-6 or more rushing the QB depending on the defensive strategy on that particular play.  Others have to guard players and areas, for instance, linebackers, cornerbacks, and safety's.