Defensive end (DE) is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.

This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years. Eleven-time pro bowler and National Football League Hall of Famer Bruce Smith of the Buffalo Bills, usually considered one of the best defensive ends ever, is the all-time leader in career sacks with 200.

History[link]

Early formations, with six- and seven-man lines, used the end as a containment player, whose job was first to prevent an "end run" around his position, then secondarily to force plays inside.

When most teams adopted a five-man line, two different styles of end play developed: "crashing" ends, who rushed into the backfield to disrupt plays, and "stand-up" or "waiting" ends, who played the more traditional containment style. Some teams would use both styles of end play, depending on game situations.

Traditionally, defensive ends are in a three-point stance, with their free hand cocked back ready to "punch" the offensive lineman, or in a "two-point stance" like a linebacker so they can keep containment. Some defensive ends play the position due to their size; they close down their gap so the running back has no hole to run through. Other ends play the position due to their speed and agility; they are used to rush the quarterback. These ends can time the snap of the ball in order to get a jump on the rush.

Most of the time it is the job of the defensive end to keep outside or contain, which means that no one should get to their outside; they must keep everything to the inside. The defensive ends are fast for players of their size, often the fastest and smallest players on the defensive line. They must be able to shed blockers to get to the ball. Defensive ends are also often used to cover the outside area of the line of scrimmage, to tackle ball carriers running to the far right or left side, and to defend against screen passes. Since the creation of zone blitz defenses in the late 1990s, defensive ends have sometimes been used in pass coverages, dropping back to cover routes run close to the line of scrimmage.

In the 3-4 defense, defensive ends are used primarily as run stoppers and are much larger. Often, the position is played by a more agile or slightly undersized defensive tackle. Because of the increased popularity of the 3-4 defense, the value of a defensive tackle prospect that can possibly be used in this manner has increased.

References[link]

See also[link]

• Glossary of American football

Julius Williams (born July 19, 1986 in Decatur, Georgiais a Canadian football defensive linemen who is currently playing for the Edmonton Eskimos. He was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football at Connecticut.

Williams has also been a member of the Hartford Colonials.

Professional career[link]

Williams signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in the spring of 2009 and was one of only two undrafted free agents to make the opening day roster. As a rookie, he was active for 11 games and started one contest at defensive end. He was released by Jacksonville at the final cut down in 2010 and joined Hartford of the UFL for the final weeks of that league's inaugural season.

Williams signed with the Edmonton Eskimos on April 1, 2011. He began the season on the 1-game injured list with a dislocated elbow. He was activated for Game 4 and in 15 games (15 starts) had 20 defensive tackles, 5 quarterback sacks and a tackle for a loss. Julius also started the Western Semi-Final (1 defensive tackle and a quarterback sack) and the Western Final (1 defensive tackle).

References[link]

External links[link]

• Edmonton Eskimos bio

Patrick Ryan Kerrigan (born August 16, 1988) is an American football outside linebacker for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Purdue University, and was recognized as an All-American. He was chosen by the Redskins in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

Early years[link]

Kerrigan was born in Muncie, Indiana. He attended Muncie Central High School, and played defensive end and tight end for the Muncie Bearcats high school football team. As a senior he was an all-state selection after recording 90 tackles and 19 sacks as a defensive end. As a tight end he had 40 receptions for 789 yards and six touchdowns.

College career[link]

Kerrigan attended Purdue University, where he played for the Purdue Boilermakers football team from 2007 to 2010. As a freshman in 2007, Kerrigan appeared in 12 games recording 18 tackles and a sack. As a sophomore in 2008 he started 11 of 12 games and was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection after recording 56 tackles, seven sacks and an interception. As a junior in 2009 he was a second team All-American by Rivals.com and a first team All-Big Ten selection. He finished the season with 66 tackles and 12 sacks.

Kerrigan was a semifinalist for the Rotary Lombardi Award during his senior season.^[1]

After forcing two fumbles against Michigan on November 13, 2010, Kerrigan became the Big Ten's all time leader in forced fumbles. His total of 14 forced fumbles puts him in a 4 way tie for most in the Football Bowl Subdivision ^[2]

Professional career[link]

Measureables[link]

Washington Redskins[link]

2011 Season[link]

Kerrigan was selected by the Washington Redskins with the 16th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. On July 29, 2011, the Washington Redskins officially signed Kerrigan along with eleven other draft picks.^[4] Kerrigan was converted from defensive end to a outside linebacker. He was made the starting left outside linebacker. During his NFL debut on September 11, 2011, Kerrigan tipped up and intercepted an errant pass from New York Giants quarterback, Eli Manning, subsequently scoring on a 9-yard scamper into the endzone.^[5] His rookie season has been marked by dominant play. Some speculated Kerrigan would win Defensive Rookie of the Year.^[6] At the end of 2011 NFL season, Kerrigan had started in all 16 games and recorded 63 combined tackles, 7.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, one interception, and one touchdown. On January 16, 2012, Kerrigan along with fellow rookie, Roy Helu, were named to the Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football Writers of America all-rookie team.^[7]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Purdue Boilermakers bio

Dwight Freeney

At a game in Denver, September 2010
No. 93     Indianapolis Colts
Outside Linebacker
Personal information
Date of birth: (1980-02-19) February 19, 1980 (age 32)
Place of birth: Hartford, Connecticut
Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Weight: 268 lb (122 kg)
Career information
High school: Bloomfield High School Bloomfield, Connecticut
College: Syracuse
NFL Draft: 2002 / Round: 1 / Pick: 11
Debuted in 2002 for the Indianapolis Colts
Career history
Indianapolis Colts (2002-present)
Career highlights and awards
7× Pro Bowl (2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011) 3× First-team All-Pro (2004, 2005, 2009) Second-team All-Pro (2003) Super Bowl champion (XLI) 2× AFC Champion (2006, 2009) AFC Defensive Player of the Year (2005) NFL season sacks leader (16 in 2004) Indianapolis Colts all-time sacks leader (102.5) 100 Sacks Club NFL 2000s All-Decade Team
Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2011
Games played 149 Games started 129 Tackles 293 Quarterback sacks 102.5 Forced fumbles 43 Stats at NFL.com
Stats at pro-football-reference.com

Dwight Jason Freeney (born February 19, 1980) is an American football linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Syracuse University, and earned All-American honors. He was drafted in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft, has played his entire pro career for the Colts, and is a seven-time Pro Bowl selection.

Early years[link]

Freeney attended Bloomfield High School in Bloomfield, Connecticut. Freeney was a four-sport letterman, earning four letters in baseball in which he was coached by Alphonso Ford; four in basketball; three in football, in which he played both ways; and one in soccer, in which he played goalie in his freshman year before switching over to football. Freeney currently holds the record for sacks at his high school and most sacks in a high school career in the Connecticut record book. Bloomfield High retired his No. 44 football jersey.^[1] During his youth, Freeney idolized New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor, whom he met at a charity golf tournament after turning pro.^[2]

College career[link]

Freeney attended Syracuse University, where he played for the Syracuse Orange football team from 1998 to 2001. A two-year starter for the Orangemen, he set a school record with 17.5 sacks in his senior season and his 34 career sacks rank first in school history.^[3] Freeney was the school's premier pass rusher, and once had a string of 17 consecutive games with at least one sack. Against Virginia Tech and Michael Vick, Freeney sacked the elusive Vick 4.5 times in one game.^[4]

He finished his college career with 104 tackles (68 unassisted), 34 quarterback sacks, 51 tackles for a loss, and 43 quarterback pressures.^[5] Following his senior season in 2001, he was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American.

While attending Syracuse at a then 255-pounds, Freeney was clocked at 4.40 second 40-yard dash and recorded 40-inch vertical jump. This is one of the fastest times ever recorded by a defensive lineman.

Professional career[link]

Freeney was selected by the Indianapolis Colts with the 11th selection in the 2002 NFL Draft. He set an NFL rookie record in 2002 with 9 forced fumbles, three of which occurred in a single game against former Syracuse football player, Donovan McNabb. Freeney was the runner up for the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

When drafted by Indianapolis at 270 lbs Freeney was clocked at 4.48 second 40 yard dash and the same 40 inch vertical jump.

In 2004, Freeney's third season, he led the NFL with 16 sacks. At the end of his third season, Freeney's season marked him as the 3rd fastest player to achieve 40 sacks.

In 2007, Freeney would help the Colts defeat the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI to become NFL Champions.

On February 19, 2007, the Colts placed the franchise tag on Freeney following the expiration of his rookie contract. This move allowed Bill Polian and the Colts front office time to work on a long term contract.^[6] On July 13, 2007 Freeney signed a six-year, $72 million contract with $30 million in guarantees making Freeney one of the highest paid defensive players in the NFL.^[7]

Freeney was fined $20,000 by the NFL for his expletive-laced interview following the end of the Colts 2008-09 playoff campaign which ended with a 23-17 overtime playoff loss to the San Diego Chargers. The NFL cited Freeney for making "inappropriate comments on officiating," according to the Indianapolis Star. Freeney, frustrated by the three defensive penalties incurred as the Chargers made their game-winning drive, told Yahoo! Sports after the game: "Those were the worst [expletive] calls I've seen in a long time ... To have a game of that magnitude taken out of your hands, it's just disgusting. It's not like they made one [expletive] bad call -- it's three calls, in overtime ... They need to start investigating some other [expletive]."^[8]

Dwight Freeney has 43 career forced fumbles, four behind all-time leader Jason Taylor.

On May 5, 2012 Freeney will convert from Defensive end to Outside Linebacker under new Head Coach Chuck Pagano.^[9][10]

Personal life[link]

His brother Hugh was a high school quarterback and currently is a math teacher at Rockville High School in Rockville, MD. Freeney also won the annual Madden Bowl in 2003 and 2004.

On 28 March, 2012, his financial adviser was arrested and charged with embezzling $2.2 million from Freeney.^[11]

References[link]

http://archive.profootballweekly.com/content/archives2001/draft_2001/prospects_freeney_112801.asp http://www.usatoday.com/sports/nfl/2002draft/des/dwightfreeney.htm http://www.nfl.com

External links[link]

• Dwight Freeney at ESPN.com
• Dwight Freeney at Pro-Football-Reference.com
• Colts profile

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