Twist
A “twist” is a certain way to defend in American football. Two defensive players, usually a mix of defensive tackles and linebackers, cross paths with each other after the snap to throw off the offensive line. How it works:
- Set up before the snap: Along the line of scrimmage, two defense players line up next to each other. They could be two defenders, two linemen, or a mix.
- During the snap, players don’t run straight at the quarterback or ball carrier; instead, they twist.
- Twist: One player, usually the first, will run into a certain gap or toward a certain offensive lineman. The goal of the first rush is to knock out one or more guards and make room for the second player.
- The Cross: While the first player fights the blockers, the second player will loop around behind them and take advantage of any gaps or confusion the first player creates.
- The goal of the twist is to make it hard for the offensive line to figure out who is stopping whom. It should catch an offensive lineman off guard or out of position so that a defensive player can break through the line, pressure the quarterback, or tackle the person carrying the ball.
- Variations: Twists come in different forms, such as the “ET” (end-tackle twist) or “TE” (tackle-end twist,” which shows which players are participating and where they start).
This strategy is part of a bigger set of defensive line moves meant to make it harder for the offense to run its play. For it to work, the players need to be able to time and work together well.