Double team

The double team is the offense's hammer: two linemen hip-to-hip on one defender, four hands inside, driving him off the line before one of them climbs to a linebacker. Done right it's the most demoralizing block in football — the defender gives ground no matter how good he is. For the defense, beating it is its own craft: get skinny, split the seam, or drop the anchor and refuse to move so the linebackers stay clean. Most great run games are built on great doubles, and most great noses are judged on how they survive them.

Defined by Coach Jay Freeman — 34 years coaching the offensive and defensive line.

Related trench terms

Combo blockO-Line

Two linemen briefly working together on a single defender before one releases to the next level.

DuoO-Line

A downhill run built on double teams with no puller — 'power without the pull.'

AnchorO-Line

To stop a bull rush by sinking the hips and widening the base.

0-technique (nose tackle)D-Line

A defensive lineman aligned head-up on the center — the nose tackle, the middle of the wall.

Chip blockO-Line

A quick shot on a rusher from a back or tight end before releasing into a route.

Go deeper

• Coach Jay’s lineman training library — the technique behind the term →
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