What is weak side and strong side in football?

Question

i play left defensive end and my coach gave me a playbook but i dont understand wen it sayz 2 go 2 weak side or strong side

Answer 1

Ask him.  Sometimes weakside is away from the tight end and sometimes weakside is the short side of the field.

Answer 2

since you play left defensive end you'll usually be on the strongside(right side offensively) if you go to weakside(left side offensively) then you'll usually be blitzing.

Answer 3

Strong side, is the side the tight end lines up on. Weak side is the opposite side. You're lucky, your coach actually gives you a playbook.

Answer 4

Strong side is the side the tight end lines up on.

Answer 5

Strong side has more players or TE lined up on the end of the line. w/ a balanced line two TE's tight strong side is usually left due to most offenses favoring the right side or wide side of the field.  

Answer 6

O.K.  I played DE strong side, so I sympathize.   The strong side, technically, refers to the side with the tight end, assuming there is one.  The weak side is frequently called "back side" today--its a motivational/pc thing.

Offenses can also go balanced, such as Ace Big or frequently in short yardage formations/situations, which means a tight end is on both ends.  Furthermore, they used to commonly have a true strong side--i.e., one tackle and guard always went to the same side as the primary tight end.  Today that is seldom seen.  Interestingly, the University of Tennessee is going back to it. (Read SI's College Preview issue.)  This means each play is really just one play as far as learning assignments go.  If you are backside tackle, you only have to know the backside assignment.  The weakness is that everyone knows which side of the ball you are more likely to pound it on.  Every defensive coordinator has his rules for how to line up in accordance with these variations.  Make sure to ask either your DL coach, the DC or even your captain.  (I like when my players ask these types of questions--it shows they know enough about football to just ask the dang question.)

Back side traditionally means pass protection and counter--your best pass rushers are often back side DEs and OLBs.   As someone else has said, the back side is (or weak side) is often the left side of the Offense, which is to the blindside of the QB--hence the placement of your pass rusher on the backside.  But if you are switching sides, the offensive coordinator knows your best DL for plugging the run are lining up with his best blockers.  This is why the no. 1 (most frequent) run in the NFL for the past few seasons has been the backside Iso.  

Where you line up differs according to whether you are weak or strong DE.  Commonly in a 40,  the stong DE is on the inside shoulder of the TE, whereas the weak DE is located on the outside shoulder of the back side tackle.  However, the thirty stack varies so much from coach to caoch.  Its what I used to run as a head coach.  You are most likely going to be moving alot before the play anyway, or you may be slanting and stunting.  If you take the Georgia Military 3-5-3 that so many schools use, your bigger concern really is whether you should line head up or on a shoulder of the tackle.  It can also be like a 46 Bear as is popular in Tennessee at the high school level, which changes everything for you.

Its an amazing defense, and regardless of the breed you use I think you'll find you make more plays as a down lineman.   Happy hunting.



Clear as mud?

Answer 7

To sum it up, the strong-side is the side with more players on it, the center being the middle. Most of the time it is recognized by whatever side the TE is on. The weak-side is opposite of the strong-side.