Football Positions: Defensive Wing

Overview:
A defensive end (DE) is a defensive lineman whose standard alignment is on the outside edge of the forward defensive formation. There is usually a defensive tackle flanked to his inside shoulder. As for physical attributes, most professional defensive ends possess an amazing combination of speed and strength; They are both fast and extremely powerful. In fact, they need every ounce of that power and quickness when locked in a grid war with the offensive unit. On each and every try, defensive ends are locked in deadly combat with wave after wave of offensive linemen, tight ends and fullbacks.

When it comes to body stature, DEs often stand out as amazing physical specimens. While most Pro Bowl-caliber wingers in the NFL are strong men, they’re almost always lean and muscular. However, a couple of these guys are direct mutants. Take Mario Williams, the former No. 1 overall pick for the Houston Texans, for example. He had to have grown up near a nuclear reactor, seriously. This guy breaks the mold of what a DE should look like, standing at an incredible 6’7″ and weighing under 300lbs. And he runs a 4.6 in the forty yard dash. Ouch! Other more compactly built DE’s though considerably smaller, they’re just as effective pass-rushers. Look at Robert Mathis of the Indianapolis Colts, he’s an absolute stud at defensive end. This guy racks up double-digit sack numbers annually, and he’s smaller than a lot of linebackers in just 6’2″, 245 lbs.

Defensive ends are like the “Swiss Army knives” of their unit because of their versatility and multiple responsibilities. A DE’s typical length and athleticism give them incredible range, so they excel at both defending the floors and containing QBs. Depending on the scheme he’s running, a defensive coordinator might even ask his DEs to get off the line and guard against short passes and drag routes. But what they excel at, what they live for, is quickening their pace. Elite defensive ends take down quarterbacks like hunters take down prized dollars. When a Tom Brady or a Peyton Manning suddenly find their rear end in the turf, they usually look up to see a menacing DE standing over them. Even when they’re not demolishing QBs, a big DE will create constant, relentless pressure from the rim. In the fourth quarter, the opposing quarterback will be so nervous that he’ll force bad shots and show a serious case of happiness. The saying rings true: defensive ends engage in psychological warfare with quarterbacks and often come out on top.

Defenses that can consistently stop the run are solid at all positions, including DE. An offense that relies heavily on tying plays can have great success against an undisciplined defensive end. So a DE can’t just blindly pin its ears back and play a heat-seeking missile; they have to be aggressive but under control during their forays into the backfield. On the run defense, they are also responsible for containing the outside and defending against sweeps, tosses, and tosses. If they can’t make the entry into space, a clever DE will “draw the game” until more reinforcements arrive. Also, effective DEs won’t get caught by offensive blockers. Instead, they use superior technique and sound fundamentals to remove blockages and flow into the game. More importantly, an ED’s ability isn’t simply measured by catches; the overall tackles they make in the backfield or tackles for loss (TFL) is an equally important barometer for measuring the true value of a DE.

The elites of the past:
Because sacks are one of the most universally recognized sports statistics, defensive end is among the most popular positions in the game. There are so many famous former defensive ends in NFL history that it’s hard to name them all. Michael Strahan, the toothless killer in DE for the New York Giants, made multiple Pro Bowls in the 2000s by turning wood at quarterbacks across the league. He currently holds the NFL record for sacks in a single season at 22.5, and he also sports a Super Bowl ring. Reggie White, considered by many football watchers to be the king of all time, terrified players who played for both the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers. His tenacity and leadership anchored a defense that helped the ‘Pack capture a Super Bowl victory in 1997, and he retired with the all-time sack record. However, the current NFL career sack leader is none other than the Buffalo Bills’ Bruce Smith. With a non-stop engine that would put a Ferrari to shame, Smith racked up a mind-boggling 200 sacks when all was said and done. He was also the linchpin of a defensive unit that helped the Bills make four straight Super Bowl appearances in the early 1990s.

Current Elites:
Over the past decade, the NFL game has moved toward powerful passing attacks, and many offenses are easy to pass as a result. Subsequently, the defenses of today’s dominant defensive feature end to combat this non-stop aerial bombardment. For example, the Indianapolis Colts hire the services of Dwight Freeney, and he delivers them every Sunday. What delivery? Bone-shaking, teeth-rattling collisions against any quarterback brave enough to line up under center, that’s what matters. Freeney is always at the top of the leaderboard in both collecting quarterback sacks and chickening out left tackles. Justin Tuck of the New York Giants leaves offensive coordinators sleepless as they try to figure out how to contain him. The Giants have one of the best defensive forward fours in all of football because of his penchant for stalking quarterbacks. Tuck’s partner in crime, Osi Umenyiora, lines up on the opposite side and takes equal delight in beating QBs. This sack-happy duo rivals the Colts’ Freeney and Mathis as the best in the league, bar none.

Show me the money:
Defensive ends in the NFL today make a very good living, trailing only quarterbacks with an average annual salary of $1.6 million. A few guys at the DE spot make the league minimum of $310,000, but they’re rare. Superstar pass-chasers, on the other hand, subscribe to Forbes magazine, where they read about themselves. Julius Peppers, formerly of the Carolina Panthers and now with the Chicago Bears, recently signed on the dotted line for a reported $90 million over 6 years, with about half in guaranteed money. The Vikings’ Jared Allen was in line for a similar payday and got it in the form of a 6-year, $73 million deal. The Falcons paid their passing fiend, John Abraham, $8 million last season. The message from NFL owners is clear: He produces at the DE position and we’re going to make him a very rich man.

Training:
As mentioned above, DEs are fast and strong. They spent long hours in the weight room and on the practice field. Young soccer players who envision themselves playing in the DE position should do the same. On the practice range, pulling weighted sleds, running with parachutes and bungee harnesses, and doing cone and ladder rope drills should be a staple of any DE workout. These exercises serve to develop the explosiveness, agility and footwork that are essential in the position. In the weight room, the focus is strength. Front and box squats, clean and jerks, and incline bench presses help maximize the power a DE will need to crush any tackle that comes between them and the quarterback. Combine them with a comprehensive core development regimen and a young player will have all the tools necessary to become a DE QB without sleep.