Unlike the offensive group, the defensive group needs to cover the entire field, so their teamwork is even more crucial—both specialized and comprehensive.
Thus, the structure of the defensive group is a bit clearer and can be simply divided into four lines, spreading across the field layer by layer from near to far.
The first line, the defensive line.
As the name suggests, corresponding to the offensive line, they stand at the very front of the team. Their task is very simple: break through the offensive line and stop the quarterback.
It may be interference or it may be applying pressure, but the best case is a sack, which is wrestling the quarterback to the ground to end the offensive play right there.
The second line, the linemen.
They stand behind the defensive line, two to three steps back, divided into inside and outside linemen according to their positions, with two main tasks.
One is to defend against short passes.
The other is to defend against running plays.
In other words, according to the official tactical manual, "lineman vs running back" is the standard matchup.
Of course, the actual game may see many variations.
In the tactical systems of the NFL and NCAA, there are two defensive systems: "4-3" and "3-4".
"4-3" means four defensive linemen paired with three linemen, focusing more on pocket pressure, hence the defensive line has two defensive ends and two defensive tackles.
"3-4" has three defensive linemen paired with four linemen, focusing more on defending the short pass area, with the defensive line featuring one defensive tackle and two defensive ends. Here, the defensive tackle is the sole point of attack, hence also known as the spearhead.
Both defensive systems have their pros and cons; their success depends entirely on the coaching level.
The University of Alabama employs the "3-4" tactic.
The third line, the cornerbacks.
They are like wings, each positioned at the edges of the defensive line near the sidelines; their specific positions are not fixed and are generally adjusted according to the wide receiver.
From here, it can be seen that their task is to tie up the wide receivers, covering short and intermediate pass areas; but occasionally, they also need to match up with the tight end and running back.
The fourth line, the safeties.
They stand behind the team’s main camp, the last line of defense, but unlike the goalkeeper in soccer, they can move freely in the backfield, ready to fill in any gaps.
One piece. Then another piece.
First, deconstruct the offense and defense into scattered pieces, understand the role and duty of each piece, and then put them back together again.
In a Football game, everything is interconnected.
If one only focuses on oneself and fails to see the bigger tactical picture, one often falls into the dilemma of "not seeing the true nature of Mount Lu", hitting wall after wall without knowing why, thus unable to solve the problem.
Of course, seeing the bigger picture doesn’t necessarily mean the problem will be solved, but at least it means one won’t be trapped in a vicious cycle.
Initially, Li Wei thought he would just come to work and clock in, but now he had changed his mind. It was as if he had received a complex Rubik’s cube. Restoring it to its original state was fun, but nowhere near as fascinating as exploring the principles to reveal the mystery, which made Li Wei eager to start.
This spring was getting interesting.
Bang!
Another loud noise, Allen embraced Jacobs and took him down hard with a scissor-takedown move, just like in a video game.
Li Wei licked his lips, as if he could sense the scent of blood, "Wait, why did the pocket collapse so quickly this time?"
Clark caught Li Wei’s slightly upturned mouth corner and the excitement in his eyes, blinking: Is this guy a vampire?
"Fifth substitute?" Li Wei called out, receiving no response.
It was then that Clark snapped back to reality, took a deep breath, "Oh, because of the blitz. The Defensive group chose to blitz."
"Blitz?" Li Wei savored the word carefully—
The lineman, who should be waiting for the running back or a short pass, took the initiative to move forward, converging with the Defensive line, and using their numerical superiority to forcefully breach through, causing the offensive line’s Pocket to collapse directly. Hertz was like a lamb surrounded by wolves, with no chance at all.
In haste, Hertz hurriedly threw the football to Jacobs, trying to avoid being sacked.
But Allen read the play, relaunched from his spot, and gave Jacobs no escape as he intercepted him fully, ending that offensive drive.
"Heh, interesting." Li Wei showed a smile.
It seems that the Defensive group isn’t entirely passive; they could also lay out plans and take the initiative. This is a clear difference between Football and sports like soccer or basketball.
In soccer and basketball, the defense is often in a passive situation, with their goal/basket on the other side of the field, needing to cross halfcourt again to attack; but in a Football game, defense can mount an "offensive" right from their position, turning passivity into activity, and even score—
Yes, the Defensive group can score too, and this is what makes the turn-based territorial game so interesting.
Seeing Li Wei’s smile, Clark shivered and gulped nervously: there’s something a little off about you.