Defense
The defensive side of American football is tasked with preventing the offense from advancing the ball and scoring points. Defensive players want to tackle the ball carrier, force turnovers, or have ample enough coverage and pressure to disrupt plays from being made. Much like there is an offensive line, the defensive line rival the quarterback and are meant to make room for edge rushers to sack the quarterback. A sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled to the ground and results in a loss of yards for the offense. Behind the defensive line are the linebackers, they want to stop runs and are often the ones to make tackles. The secondary consists of cornerbacks and safeties and assist in pass defense.
Defensive strategies often center around confusing the offense and creating opportunities for turnovers. Defensive coordinators use a variety of schemes, including zone defense where players cover specific areas of the field, and man-to-man defense where players match up directly with offensive counterparts. Blitzes are meant to employ as much pressure onto the quarterback as possible and rush them in a way where they are forced to make a mistake. Defensive leaders must read the offense as efficiently as possible in order to keep them at bay.
