Munich – Eleven players each belong to an offense and defense in American football. It’s easy to lose track of what tasks the individual positions have to perform.
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As a former NFL coach and ex-France national team coach, ranNFL expert Patrick Esume knows exactly what players have to do. An overview of the positions in American football – without special teams.
OFFENSE
Quarterback (QB): The attacking playmaker, who can either throw the ball to his wide receivers (WR) or pass it to his running back (RB) on any play. The quarterback, like the running back, can run by himself.
Wide Receiver (WR): Usually the fastest players on the field. They have to catch the quarterback’s passes in order to then sprint as far as possible towards the end zone.
Running Back (RB): The ball carrier who, after the quarterback passes the ball, makes his way through the defense to get into the end zone. Running backs (similar to wide receivers) can also catch balls and run into the end zone.
Fullback (FB): One of the ball carriers who rarely gets the ball but clears the way for the running back through defense.
Halfback (HB): Also a form of running back.
Tailback (TB): Also a form of running back. Depending on the game system, he is – for example, in the i-formation at the end of the “back chain”, ie behind quarterback and fullback.
Tight End (TE): A so-called hybrid position with a wide variety of tasks. Capable of catching balls like a wide receiver as well as blocking tall defenders on the line of scrimmage (LOS).
Offensive Line (OL – Guard und Tackle): Squad players who need to either stop the defender to give the quarterback time or block gaps for the ball carrier during running play.
Center (C): The middle player in the line of scrimmage who snaps the ball between his legs to the quarterback on every play. Otherwise he has the same tasks as the rest of the orienteering team.
DEFENSE
ran expert Patrick Esume explains what the roles of a defense are. © 2015 Getty Images / © ProSiebenMAXX/Stefan Hobmaier
Defensive Tackle (DT – belongs to the Defensive Line): The inside players on the defensive line who both pressurize or trip the quarterback on the passing game and stop the opposing ball carrier on the running play.
Defensive End (DE – belongs to the Defensive Line): The outside players of the defensive line who, like the defensive tackles, attack the quarterback and stop the opponent’s run play.
Linebacker (LB): The second line of defense behind the Defensive Line, which both stops the ball carrier in running play and becomes active in pass defense. In some cases, linebackers perform the same function as the D-line, pressuring (blitz) the quarterback.
Cornerback (CB): The outside man defenders who play against the wide receivers in the passing game.
Safeties (S): The inside/deep pass defenders are the last line of defense.
