Hand in the dirt - WTF

sinceredawg

Member
I never played team football. But it's often mentioned, when talking about DL schemes, that a lineman on the edge is either standing up or hand-down. This distinction is mentioned so often that you'd think it's really fucking relevant.

How is it relevant? Is there some rule about it? Is it just a matter or leverage vs. speed from a starting stance? Why is this mentioned like it's got big implications?
 
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I never played team football. But it's often mentioned, when talking about DL schemes, that a lineman on the edge is either standing up or hand-down. This distinction is mentioned so often that you'd think it's really fucking relevant.

How is it relevant? Is there some rule about it? Is it just a matter or leverage vs. speed from a starting stance? Why is this mentioned like it's got big implications?

Despite it being Malarkey Day (hai @PurpleBaze !!), the difference is a function of situation, scheme, and personnel. In simplest terms, standup DL is going to be more of a OLB guym rushing passer and flat contain. @HandInDirtDWAG typically a traditional DE guym with run contain first, pass rush second.

Those distinctions have blurred enough the last quarter-decade to be far less relevant. Coach K often bumped out a big guym to standup in certain situations to play the scheme with same personnel. And vice versa. But that's the prototype.
 
I never played team football. But it's often mentioned, when talking about DL schemes, that a lineman on the edge is either standing up or hand-down. This distinction is mentioned so often that you'd think it's really fucking relevant.

How is it relevant? Is there some rule about it? Is it just a matter or leverage vs. speed from a starting stance? Why is this mentioned like it's got big implications?

Despite it being Malarkey Day (hai @PurpleBaze !!), the difference is a function of situation, scheme, and personnel. In simplest terms, standup DL is going to be more of a OLB guym rushing passer and flat contain. @HandInDirtDWAG typically a traditional DE guym with run contain first, pass rush second.

Those distinctions have blurred enough the last quarter-decade to be far less relevant. Coach K often bumped out a big guym to standup in certain situations to play the scheme with same personnel. And vice versa. But that's the prototype.

Hand in dirt superiority guym...
 
I never played team football. But it's often mentioned, when talking about DL schemes, that a lineman on the edge is either standing up or hand-down. This distinction is mentioned so often that you'd think it's really fucking relevant.

How is it relevant? Is there some rule about it? Is it just a matter or leverage vs. speed from a starting stance? Why is this mentioned like it's got big implications?

Despite it being Malarkey Day (hai @PurpleBaze !!), the difference is a function of situation, scheme, and personnel. In simplest terms, standup DL is going to be more of a OLB guym rushing passer and flat contain. @HandInDirtDWAG typically a traditional DE guym with run contain first, pass rush second.

Those distinctions have blurred enough the last quarter-decade to be far less relevant. Coach K often bumped out a big guym to standup in certain situations to play the scheme with same personnel. And vice versa. But that's the prototype.

Quick example, 5-2, outside guys hand in dirt. 3-4, outside are stand-up. Generally.
 
I never played team football. But it's often mentioned, when talking about DL schemes, that a lineman on the edge is either standing up or hand-down. This distinction is mentioned so often that you'd think it's really fucking relevant.

How is it relevant? Is there some rule about it? Is it just a matter or leverage vs. speed from a starting stance? Why is this mentioned like it's got big implications?

Despite it being Malarkey Day (hai @PurpleBaze !!), the difference is a function of situation, scheme, and personnel. In simplest terms, standup DL is going to be more of a OLB guym rushing passer and flat contain. @HandInDirtDWAG typically a traditional DE guym with run contain first, pass rush second.

Those distinctions have blurred enough the last quarter-decade to be far less relevant. Coach K often bumped out a big guym to standup in certain situations to play the scheme with same personnel. And vice versa. But that's the prototype.

Quick example, 5-2, outside guys hand in dirt. 3-4, outside are stand-up. Generally.

May also depend on the gap assignment, scheme/stunts, and personnel they're matching up again.
 
If your hand is in the dirt, there's nowhere (at least efficiently) to go but forward. A stand-up end/OLB can drop, get wide, etc. more efficiently.
 
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