Defensive end

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Defensive end (DE) is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.

This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years.

[edit] History

Early formations, with six- and seven-man lines, used the end as a containment player, whose job was first to prevent an "end run" around his position, then secondarily to force plays inside.

When most teams adopted a five-man line, two different styles of end play developed: "crashing" ends, who rushed into the backfield to disrupt plays, and "stand-up" or "waiting" ends, who played the more traditional containment style. Some teams would use both styles of end play, depending on game situations.

Traditionally, defensive ends are in a three-point stance, with their free hand cocked back ready to "punch" the offensive lineman, or in a "two-point stance" like a linebacker so they can keep containment. Some defensive ends play the position due to their size; they close down their gap so the running back has no hole to run through. Other ends play the position due to their speed and agility; they are used to rush the quarterback. These ends can time the snap of the ball in order to get a jump on the rush.

Most of the time it is the job of the defensive end to keep outside contain, which means that no one should get to their outside; they must keep everything to the inside. The defensive ends are fast for players of their size, often the fastest and smallest players on the defensive line. They must be able to shed blockers to get to the ball. Defensive ends are also often used to cover the outside area of the line of scrimmage, to tackle ball carriers running to the far right or left side, and to defend against screen passes. Defensive ends are usually the only players on the line who are ever used to cover offensive players running receiving routes, ones that are very close to the line of scrimmage, when the called play is for a short yardage gain, whose only intent is get a first down or a quick score over the goal line.

This can occur when the strategic objective of the offensive play is disguised. When a short yardage play is disguised as a long or intermediate yardage pass play intended for the defensive secondary, backfield, or (at the goal line) the back of the end zone. When the defense moves in response to the apparent intended motion of the offense play and the ball, they may uncover and create gap or space near the line into which a receiving route may be run. When successful, it appears that an eligible receiver has "appeared" out of thin air and has an unimpeded reception. In most cases it appears as a "miracle" touchdown just inside the goal line, when the expectation was a running play or a lobbed pass to a larger open space at or near the back of the end zone, where the height advantage of a receiver is used to obtain a reception, both feet are in-bounds and the player maintains control of the ball while being pushed or falling out-of-bounds.

[edit] See also

• Glossary of American football