0-technique (nose tackle)

The 0-technique lines up nose-to-nose with the center, and it's the least selfish job in football: eat the center, take the double team, hold two gaps, and let the linebackers run free. Noses are often the strongest men on the field because the position is a wrestling match every snap — anchor, leverage, and the pride to never get moved. There's no box-score glory at the nose. There's just the fact that no 3-4 defense works without one.

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

Related trench terms

3-techniqueD-Line

A defensive tackle aligned on the guard's outside shoulder — the B-gap penetrator spot.

2-gapD-Line

A defensive technique where the lineman is responsible for both gaps on either side of the blocker he lines up over.

AnchorO-Line

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

Stack and shedD-Line

The full run-defense sequence: take on the blocker (stack), control him, then disengage (shed) to make the tackle.

5-techniqueD-Line

A defensive end aligned on the tackle's outside shoulder — the classic 3-4 end spot.

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 →