Defensive Line

Right Defensive End:  (3 point sprinters stance, usually aligned in a 5 or an 8 off of the OT, but aligned in a 7 or 9 vs. a Tight End) Usually a speed rusher, since most offenses set their Tight End to the offenses right, the defenses left, the body type of the RDE is usually smaller than average.   The body type of a big linebacker that’s strong enough to handle the offensive tackle but has extraordinary speed to get around the OT to the Quarterback with little effort.

Right Defensive Tackle: (interior linemen, square 3 point stance, hand that feels most comfortable down with feet shoulder width, back flat with hips are slightly lower than the shoulders, 3 quarters of your weight on the balls of your feet.  usually in a 2 or 3 technique, aligned on the Guards or center) Depending on your defensive mind set, the DT’s are pass rushing or run stopping.  The body types are dramatically different.  The run stopping DTs are bigger, and their job is to keep the offensive line off of the linebackers.  Pass rushing DTs are still big, but they’re more of an up the field rusher getting penetration and pressuring the Quarterback.  With pass rushing DTs you need bigger Linebackers. 

Left Defensive Tackle: (interior linemen, square 3 point stance, hand that feels most comfortable down with feet shoulder width, back flat with hips are slightly lower than the shoulders, 3 quarters of your weight on the balls of your feet.  usually in a 2 or 3 technique, aligned on the Guards or center)  Depending on your defensive mind set, the DT’s are pass rushing or run stopping.  The body types are dramatically different.  The run stopping DTs are bigger, and their job is to keep the offensive line off of the linebackers.  Pass rushing DTs are still big, but they’re more of an up the field rusher getting penetration and pressuring the Quarterback.  With pass rushing DTs you need bigger Linebackers.

Left Defensive End:  (M ore of a defensive tackle stance, usually aligned in a 9 or 7 technique on the Tight End, if no Tight End alignment is 5 or 8 technique off of the OT)  This defensive end is usually bigger because he is almost always to the Tight end’s side.  He should still have the ability to get up the field but his body type should be slightly bigger or one of the stronger defensive linemen in order to fend of the extra blocker.

LineBackers

Will Backer:  (Base alignment is a 40 technique off of the OT four yards deep) Weak side line backer away from the Tight End.  Feet should be shoulder with, maybe a little wider, with the outside foot splitting the instep of the inside foot.  This makes it easier to enter into contact and harder for the Will to get hooked with this foot position.  Back and knees should be slightly bent with your hands and arms relaxed but ready to fire.

Mike Backer:  (Usually aligned in a strong 10 technique four yards deep off of the center) The Mike Backer is your defensive leader and play caller.  His feet parallel, shoulder width apart, & his stance should be on the balls of the feet.  Back and knees slightly bent with elbows bent at the sides and ready to fire.

Sam Backer: (Usually aligned in a 50 technique four yards deep off of the strong OT) The Sam is usually slightly bigger than the Will because he is almost always to the strength of the offense.  He has to handle the Tight End and is usually gets most of the action.  His stance is the same as the Will But his arms should be cocked and ready to fire.

Secondary

Right Corner:  (For alignment and stances see defense back alignments ) The right corner is usually to the weak side of the formation.  Playing on the island is pressure filled.  You have to have a short memory when playing corner because you cant stop every ball.  Your main goal is to not allow the deep ball to be completed.  If you make the plays that your supposed to make and don’t give up the deep ball you’ll have a long football career ahead of you.

Free Safety:  (Usually 10 to 12 yards deep off of the weak  tackle in a two deep defense or 12 yards deep splitting the difference of the receivers in a single safety defense) The Free Safety is the Quarterback of the defense.  He should be your best athlete.  The Free Safety has to have range in order to cover large portions of the field.

Strong Safety:  (Usually 10 to 12 yards deep off of the Tight End in a two deep defense or 4 by 4 off the Tight End in a 3 deep defense) The strong safety still has to have range to cover large portions of the field but he will also have to be strong enough to handle more run support than the free safety.

Left Corner:  (For alignment and stances see defense back alignments. The Left Corner should be your best cover guy.  He will usually be in on most of the pass action since most Quarterbacks are right handed.