defensive line
Front blocking unit
The defensive line is the row of players positioned at the line of scrimmage whose job is to stop the run and pressure the quarterback.
In American football, this typically includes defensive tackles and defensive ends.
The term extends to the group collectively: Their defensive line dominated all season.
Outside football, defensive line describes any forward barrier of protection.
- linebackerSecond-level defensive position
- linemanUtility pole worker
- blitzSwift, overwhelming offensive
- pass rushDefensive quarterback pursuit
- bull rushForceful forward charge
front four · swim move · tackle · sack · end · scrimmage · stunts · shed · football · trench · holding penalty · red zone · NFL · shield wall · nose guard · phalanx · bulwark · fortification
- footballfootball, touchdown, field goal, quarterback, end zone
- defenseprotecting, protection, security, safety, guard
- fortificationsfort, fortress, fortresses, citadel, citadels
- Battlefrontsfrontline, Eastern Front, Western Front, combat zone, war zone
- combat tacticsflanking, ambush, feint, skirmish, firefight
- military tacticstactics, flanking, maneuver, ambush, battle formations
line, defend, defense, lines, lined, defender, lining, lineage, defended