What is Edge in Football? Edge strategies and importance

by

The edge position in football is an extremely critical position on defense in football.

The edge position refers to a defensive player who lines up on the outside of the last offensive player on the line of scrimmage. Playing a critical role in both run and pass defense, the edge rusher has become one of the focal points of defense.

Often called an edge rusher, this player can be either a defensive end or an outside linebacker, depending on the team’s defensive setup.

Their primary responsibility is to maintain the integrity of the line, ensuring that runners are directed toward the heart of the defense and limiting the offense’s ability to score.

What Is Edge in Football

The term “edge” in football refers to the furthest point of the line of scrimmage on the defensive side. It’s the position where a player lines up on the outside of the last offensive player on the line of scrimmage. Not outside of the WR’s though.

Players who play at the edge are often called Defensive Ends, Edge Rushers, or Outside Linebackers.

Edge rushers are generally defensive ends in a 4-3 defense or outside linebackers in a 3-4 defense. Their primary objective is to put pressure on the opposing team’s quarterback, disrupt the offensive play, and prevent successful passes or runs.

Importance of the Edge Rusher on defense

In recent years, the importance of the edge position has grown as teams look for ways to attack the quarterback in innovative ways. This has led to the emergence of hybrid players who can perform the duties of both a defensive end and an outside linebacker.

Responsibilities of edge players in football include:

  • Applying pressure to the quarterback to force poor decision-making or inaccurate throws
  • Playing the run and tackling running backs attempting to rush outside
  • Setting the edge to keep the play contained and maintain gap control

The edge position is crucial for a defense’s success as it can directly impact the outcome of a play and game. By having a skilled edge rusher, a team can shut down the opposing team’s passing game, create turnovers, and ultimately win games.

The edge in football is a critical position for defensive players as they play a crucial role in disrupting offensive plays. This by applying pressure to the quarterback and maintaining control of the line of scrimmage. These players are often versatile athletes who can adapt to different defensive schemes and effectively execute their tasks on the field.

Importance of Edge in Football

Tactical Advantage

Understanding the role of the edge position in football is essential as it can provide a tactical advantage on the field. Edge players contribute significantly to nullifying the opposing team’s offense.

They are primarily responsible for rushing the quarterback, preventing running backs from reaching the outside, and occasionally dropping into pass coverage.

A skilled edge player can alter the course of the game by putting constant pressure on the quarterback or limiting the opposing team’s rushing game.

Defensive Strategies

Edge players play a crucial role within defensive strategies. They are responsible for setting the edge. Meaning they must prevent the ball carrier from getting outside their position. This ensures that the play is funneled back into the field, where more defenders are available to stop the ball carrier.

In addition, edge players should focus on rushing the quarterback, aiming to sack or disrupt throwing attempts. By doing so, they can force poor decisions, interceptions, or incompletions that ultimately benefit their team.

Offensive Techniques

In order to counteract the pressure from edge players, offensive teams must develop specific techniques or strategies. These may include:

  • Chip blocking: Offensive players can provide extra blocking assistance to help slow down the edge rusher. This by chipping or hitting them on their way to their primary assignment.
  • Slide protection: The entire offensive line adjusts their blocking assignments to emphasize stopping the edge rusher. Which can leave other areas of the defense exposed.
  • Quick passes: Quarterbacks may opt for shorter and quicker passes. This to avoid giving the edge rushers enough time to reach them or disrupt their throws.
  • Screen plays: Offenses may use screen plays as a tactic to use the momentum of the aggressive edge rusher against them. Allowing for a quick pass to a running back or wide receiver behind the aggressive rush.

Recognizing and exploiting these offensive techniques allows teams to negate the impact of formidable edge players. Ultimately ensuring a more level playing field.

Famous Examples of Edge in Football

Legendary Players

There have been numerous outstanding edge players in the history of the NFL. Some of the most legendary edge players in football history include:

  • Reggie White: Known as the “Minister of Defense”. White is widely regarded as one of the most dominant defensive players of all time. With 198 career sacks, he held the record for most sacks in NFL history until Bruce Smith surpassed him.
  • Lawrence Taylor: A Hall of Famer and two-time Super Bowl champion. Taylor revolutionized the linebacker position. Becoming one of the most feared pass rushers in NFL history.
  • Derrick Thomas: Thomas, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, amassed 126.5 sacks during his career with the Kansas City Chiefs. He earned nine Pro Bowl selections and was known for his incredible speed and agility as an edge player.

Iconic Matches


Edge players have played pivotal roles in some of the most iconic matches in NFL history. Here are a few examples:

  1. Super Bowl XX: Led by edge player Richard Dent, the Chicago Bears’ fierce defense, also known as the “46 Defense”. Dominated the New England Patriots, resulting in a 46-10 victory. Dent was named the Super Bowl MVP for his performance, which included 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
  2. Super Bowl XXV: In this nail-biting championship game, the New York Giants narrowly defeated the Buffalo Bills, 20-19. Lawrence Taylor had a key role on the Giants’ defense. Contributing to their victory by disrupting the Bills’ offensive line and putting pressure on quarterback Jim Kelly.
  3. AFC Championship Game, 1998: Denver Broncos edge player Neil Smith made a game-changing play by blocking a critical field goal attempt by the New York Jets. Which ultimately contributed to the Broncos’ 23-10 victory and their second consecutive Super Bowl appearance.

It is evident throughout football history how important the edge position is. These legendary players and iconic matches showcase the remarkable impact of edge players.

Conclusion

In summary, the edge position in football refers to a defensive player who lines up at the furthest point of the line of scrimmage, often a defensive end or an outside linebacker. These players, also known as edge rushers, play a crucial role in applying pressure to the quarterback and disrupting the opponent’s offensive game plan.

The specific responsibilities of an edge player depend on the base defensive alignment:

  • 4-3 defense: Defensive ends take on the edge role, focusing on both pass-rushing and run-stopping duties.
  • 3-4 defense: Outside linebackers act as edge rushers, utilizing their speed and agility to challenge offensive linemen and make plays on the ball.

Over time, the edge position has gained much importance in modern football, as the passing game has become increasingly prevalent. Coaches and teams alike are always on the lookout for versatile, athletic edge players who can make an impact on the field. Ultimately, the ability to win the edge and control the line of scrimmage can greatly influence the outcome of a game.