Word: lineman
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...sounds like utter gobbledygook until Jordan explains what he means by "playing keys." In simplest terms it means to study an opponent, searching for clues to his intentions, then outmaneuvering him to break up the play. It can be as simple as noting the direction of an enemy lineman's charge-and divining that the play will go the opposite way. It can also be pretty cute. "When an offensive guard comes up to the line," says Tackle Ray Jacobs of the American Football League's Miami Dolphins, "I watch the way he sets himself. Some guys lean...
Once he reads his key and analyzes the play, the defensive lineman reacts -and reacts fast, trying to beat his opponent to the block, catch him off-balance, squirt past him before he can plant himself. To confuse blockers, defenders will "stunt," or loop around each other; they may charge high to hurdle a block, or duck low to "submarine" under. They clutch at shoulder pads and jerseys, trying to spin blockers aside and clear a path to the ballcarrier. They have, in fact, become so adept at slipping blocks that not even the punter, standing 15 yds. back...
...defensive lineman can't beat a blocker with finesse, there is always brutality. A favorite trick is the "vacuum pop"-clapping his hands over the earholes of an offensive player's helmet. Another is the karate chop, delivered with a beefy forearm encased in layers of tape. "You try not to let it get too personal," says Defensive End Sam Williams of the Atlanta Falcons. "But what the up-front struggle really amounts to is an angry, private little war between two people...
...Defensive Tackle Alan Page of Minnesota, 22, 6 ft. 5 in., 270 lbs., was named lineman of the week for his devastating performance against Detroit. Page racked up Lion backs with so much enthusiasm that he caused four fumbles and recovered another himself. The Vikings have also been getting such outstanding performances from Backs Clinton Jones and Bob Grim, Flanker Gene Washington and Tight End John Beasley that the team boasts the brightest crop of rookies in the league...
...requires even more mobility when the quarterback (or halfbacks) plans to pass on the wide play. In this case, no lineman can go after the linebackers because it would mean being illegally down field; instead, the blocker must attempt to pull quickly, remain in front of the passer, and provide what interference he can. Don't be surprised if Harvard uses the halfback pass more often in the next two games when the yardage is tough to gain...