Questions tagged [defense]

For questions generally relating to strategies, tactics, player positions and/or special teams intended to prevent an opposing player or team gaining standing in a game relative to one's self or team. Questions using this tag should also be tagged with the specific sport in question.

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1 answer
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How can one prepare oneself to receive a slap in a slapping contest?

I wonder what the techniques are to prepare oneself to receive a slap in a slapping contest (e.g., "Power Slap League"). I read techniques to improve the slap but didn't find any yet on the ...
Franck Dernoncourt's user avatar
-3 votes
1 answer
687 views

NBA defensive player of the year NOT an NBA all-defensive team?

I wonder how could a winner of the NBA defensive player of the year award not being included in the first team all-defensive, like it happened to Leonard in 2016.
oibaFox's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
69 views

Statistical Indicators for Defensive Forward

Other than a forward's plus-minus rating, what are some other indicators that he is an asset to his team for being a defensive forward? I imagine hits would be one. PIM seems like it would be a ...
Jason P Sallinger's user avatar
-1 votes
2 answers
359 views

Would the offensive line lying down at the snap be an effective trick play in American football?

If the offense is confident the defensive line is going to rush the quarterback on a passing play, would it be effective as a trick play for the offensive line to lie down after the snap? The idea ...
RobertF's user avatar
  • 117
3 votes
1 answer
3k views

Why are WR in the slot covered by non-CBs in American football?

It's College Bowl season and I'm seeing/hearing some things from the announcers that I need some clarification on. Please note, I have never played any organized football before so all I know is from ...
Classified's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
129 views

Would this baseball defense work?

To my recollection, if a fielder attempts to catch a batted ball before it hits the field, but then misplays it AND it falls into fair ground, then it is a fair ball. I just witnessed a high pop up ...
Jason P Sallinger's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
4k views

Baseball and DWar

Two part question really. What is the formula for calculating DWar? Also, as I understand it; it seems to rely on some stats that were historically considerably less stringently monitored than say ...
dgo's user avatar
  • 572
5 votes
2 answers
764 views

Why is a 4-2-5 defense named as such?

I was watching a Bleacher Report video. In the video breaking down the TAMU-SC opener game, the narrator said, "Thanks to the abundance of linebacking talent, [SC] are looking to move to more of a 3-...
David Morton's user avatar
11 votes
2 answers
1k views

Defense against an isolation play

I'm a geezer now, but when I played competitive ultimate, a specific type of isolation play was very popular. Near the end zone, the handler would call out "Iso bob" (or whatever they wanted to ...
Y     e     z's user avatar
14 votes
4 answers
62k views

What is "strong side" vs. "weak side" on defense in American football?

What is "strong side" vs. "weak side" on defense in American football? I'm trying to get a basic understanding of this terminology but am getting tripped up.
blaster's user avatar
  • 241
5 votes
1 answer
4k views

Zonal marking vs man marking

In our 7 vs 7 league, we employ a form of zonal and man marking that is formed out of necessity; during free-kicks or corners we have a man-to-man marking that has been both successful and ...
arin's user avatar
  • 504
20 votes
2 answers
112k views

What is the difference between a strong safety and a free safety?

There are two distinct labels for a "safety" in football: strong (SS) and free (FS). Ed Reed (FS) and Troy Polamalu (SS) were two of the premier players in the NFL "in the safety position" during ...
user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
10k views

What is the difference between a regular defensive tackle and a nose tackle?

In American Football I sometimes hear the defensive tackle getting called the "nose tackle". I know that it has something to do with the 4-3 3-4 schemes but can somebody give me an explanation along ...
Maniac's user avatar
  • 819
18 votes
15 answers
36k views

Is the sweeper role obsolete with modern formations?

There has been mention of a role in defense of football called "Sweeper". Wikipedia gives the following explanation. The sweeper or libero (Italian: free) is a more versatile type of Centre back ...
kartshan's user avatar
  • 949
10 votes
1 answer
4k views

What are the disadvantages of the wide nine defensive scheme?

Correct me if i'm wrong I've read a little about a wide-nine defensive scheme. Trying to get an understanding of this. From my understanding, a wide nine defensive philosophy depends on defensive ...
chrisjlee's user avatar
  • 3,347
13 votes
2 answers
4k views

Number of gap techniques in American Football

While reading this thread and this one I had trouble following the football terminology of the different "techniques" for defensive line men. What does it mean to have a 1 / 2 / 3 / 5 gap technique ...
chrisjlee's user avatar
  • 3,347
17 votes
3 answers
46k views

Are you allowed to play zone defense in the NBA?

I remember in the "old days" that if a referee caught a team playing zone defense that they would blow the whistle to stop the play and call "Illegal Defense". I haven't seen this foul called in a ...
Marcus Swope's user avatar
  • 4,655
10 votes
2 answers
635 views

How to attack zone defense?

What gameplays do you use to attack a zone defense, and specially 2-1-2 type? And how do you work it in practice? I usually practice it with game situation, but are there some exercises to develop ...
julesanchez's user avatar
13 votes
2 answers
661 views

Is it possible to effectively practice zone defence in basketball if you don't have 10 people?

How would you practice basketball zone defence with less than 10 people available? I understand that you can put 5 on defence and the rest available in offence but it simply would not produce as much ...
Dmitry Selitskiy's user avatar