Pulling (American football)
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Pulling is when a blocking player in American football leaves his usual spot in order to pick up another assignment on the opposite side of the field,[1] running behind the other offensive linemen, to sprint out in front of a running back and engage a defensive player beyond the initial width of the offensive line.
Guards
This technique is most commonly used by
Since the guard is free of responsibility for play-side outside runs and far-side counter plays, pulling is generally a unique responsibility for guards.
Tackles
While tackles can also pull, this strategy is generally less common as they are too far away to pull to the opposite side of the formation (for counter plays) and have the responsibility of blocking the outside defender (generally the defensive end) for outside runs.
History
John Heisman is credited with first pulling guards.[2] Vanderbilt's Dan McGugin soon followed.
Trap block
Packer sweep
In the 1960s, National Football League (NFL) coach Vince Lombardi of the Green Bay Packers utilized the Packers sweep play in which guards Jerry Kramer and Fuzzy Thurston rapidly pulled out from their normal positions and led blocking for the running back (typically Paul Hornung or Jim Taylor) going around the end. It was an integral part of an offense that won five NFL titles in seven years.[4]
References
- ^ "Football Lingo: What Does Pulling Mean?".
- ^ "Hall Names John Heisman". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. May 11, 1978.
- ^ "The Types of Blocks in American Football".
- ^ Gruver, Ed (1997). "The Lombardi Sweep" (PDF). The Coffin Corner. 19 (5). Retrieved October 28, 2016.