Pull

Pulling is when a guard or tackle leaves his stance at the snap and runs flat down the line of scrimmage to lead-block somewhere else — around the edge on a sweep, up through the hole on Power, or back across on Counter. It starts with a bucket step (a short 45° open step) to clear your path, then you run flat and tight to the line, find your block, and turn up into it. Pulling linemen are the athletes of the offensive line — it takes footwork, vision, and the nastiness to arrive at the hole and finish a moving target.

Defined by Coach Jay Freeman — 32 years coaching the offensive and defensive line.

Related trench terms

Bucket stepO-Line

A 6-inch step at a 45° angle, used by pulling linemen to open their path.

Trap blockO-Line

When a backside lineman pulls and blocks a playside defender at an unexpected angle, "trapping" him.

PowerO-Line

A gap run scheme with a pulling guard and a lead blocker hitting downhill through the hole.

CounterO-Line

A gap run scheme with a pulling guard going opposite the initial backfield flow to misdirect the defense.

PancakeO-Line

A block that puts the defender flat on his back. The lineman’s highlight.

Go deeper

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