Sack

A sack is the defense's biggest individual win on a passing down — tackling the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw. It's a lost-yardage play that kills drives and flips field position, which is why both protecting against it and creating it are so valuable. For an offensive lineman, giving up a sack — especially a blindside one — is the worst outcome of a rep; for a pass rusher, it's the stat that defines the job.

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

Related trench terms

PressureD-Line

When a rusher disrupts the quarterback without sacking him — a hurry or a hit.

Bull rushD-Line

A power-based pass rush move — straight-line force driven into the blocker to walk him back into the QB.

Speed rushD-Line

An edge-based pass rush — outside leverage and acceleration to run the arc around the tackle.

FinishBoth sides

To play through the whistle. The most important word in the lineman vocabulary.

Trench warfareBoth sides

The battle at the line of scrimmage — the part of the game decided in the trenches.

Go deeper

• Coach Jay’s lineman training library — the technique behind the term →
• Back to the full Trench Dictionary →
• Get the free 6-week trench training program →