Arena
When it comes to defense, if we’re being transparent and we're in the trust tree together — it’s very hard being a defender in Arena Football. Many of the rules of the game are specifically designed to create high scoring games with lots of back and forth touchdowns and scoring plays.
As a defender, that goes against the M.O. for how many players have played the game their entire lives in the outdoor game. There is a bit of an adjustment period to playing defense in Arena Football, and being a good defender in the outdoor game doesn't always translate to indoors.
Defensive Alignment
When looking at the typical alignment on defense in Arena Football, there are some requirements that are built into the rules:
Three defensive players must be down linemen (in a three of four-point stance).
Five players (3 Defensive Linemen & 2 Linebackers) must be in the Box at the start of the play
The remaining 3 players are playing in the Defensive Back roles.
One linebacker may blitz on either side of the center.
No stunting or twisting on the Defensive Line.
Come for the 3 DL, 2 LB alignment example -- stay for the ZIP on that pass from current Minnesota Myth HC Rickey Foggie
Mac & Jack LBs
The primary Arena Football rules that can be most confusing to understand involve the two linebacker positions: Mac LB & Jack LB. The Mac LB is often the RB/LB ironman player and the Jack LB is often the WR/LB ironman player. In Arena Football, the Mac LB is a bigger bodied player who looks like they can easily play on the defensive line as well, while the Jack LB is typically more of a big bodied WR or athletic TE from the outdoor game.
The Mac LB is allowed to blitz the quarterback, but can only do so in between the lineman — blitzing outside or around the line will result in a penalty.
The Jack LB can not blitz and must stay in a roughly five yard by five yard ‘box’ until with the Quarterback hands the ball off, moves out of the pocket, or throws the ball. If the Jack LB moves out of the box before any of those things occur, there will be a penalty called on the defense.
In the example below, number 42 is the Mac LB (which can blitz), while number 22 is the Jack LB (which has to stay within the tackle box until the ball is released).
I know I used this in a different post already, but it is a good visual, okay!
This rule was intentionally created to avoid situations where teams were playing ‘prevent’ defense and really open things up in the passing game. The Jack LB position is named such because Jack has to stay in the box — Jack in the Box. Get it?!
Penalties
Outside of the LB penalties mentioned above, penalty calls are pretty consistent with that of the outdoor game — holding, pass interference, roughing the passer, etc
Indoor
Similar to Arena, Indoor Football is curated to be high scoring and entertaining for the fans. If you are traditionalist who loves Iowa-Northwestern football, then divert your gaze elsewhere.
Defensive Alignment
When looking at the typical alignment on defense in Indoor Football, there are some requirements that are built into the rules:
Three defensive players must be down linemen (in a three of four-point stance).
One linebacker may blitz on either side of the center.
No stunting or twisting on the Defensive Line.
The Alley
While Indoor Football does not have the Mac & Jack LB rules, they do have something known as the “Alley”. The Alley is defined as the area bordered by the outside shoulders of the two offensive guards on the left and right of the center. The Alley is established at the snap and does not move during the down. In order for a blitz to be legal in Indoor Football, the blitzer has to originate from the Alley.
The blitzer must also identify themselves to the offense and the officials as a potential blitzer by virtue of his alignment and verbally telling the official or raising his hand (if there are two LBs present in the box). The blitzer must be located in the Alley, behind the defensive box at the snap. As a result of the Alley rule, you never see Corner or Safety blitzes in the Indoor game like you do in the outdoor game and makes it a little more difficult for defenses to blitz.
In the example below, look at the LB with his arm raised at the 9 yard line. He is designating himself as the potential blitzer, and the ref raises his arm in the direction of the blitzer as an official acknowledgment.
COL-OR RUSH! CO-LOR RUSH! Need more Color Rush in football.
The nature of the Alley rule makes it easier for the Offense to identify blitzers, while the lack of Mac/Jack LB rules allows the Defense to defend against the Pass but makes it easier for the Offense to effectively run the ball. You see A LOT more Running plays in Indoor Football than you do in the Arena Football as a result. The offensive attacks are much more balanced in Indoor Football and can result in a much more unpredictable game.
For Arena Football, you will typically see more than 80% of the plays being passes in any given game, based on how the rules are set up for the defenses. Similarly, for Indoor Football, you will typically see closer to a 50/50 split between Passing & Running, again based on how the rules are set up.
Both are entertaining products in their own right, but where we can REALLY start to see some chaos (especially with Arena Football) is when the Special Teams unit trots on to the field.
Continue on to Arena & Indoor Football 103 - Special Teams here!
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