When people see me, often their first question is, “What sport does this dude play?” The answer is football — the beautiful game. I play defensive end and have been in love with football since I was a kid. My first taste of the game came when I was playing outside with my older cousins, and from there, I decided to give it a shot in 7th grade. Since then, my love for football has grown exponentially, and my knowledge of the game has deepened. In football terms, we call that “football IQ.” It’s about understanding the game on a deeper level, recognizing the intricacies, patterns, and strategies that separate great players from the average ones.
Football is massive in the United States. It’s not just a sport — it’s a cultural phenomenon, from Friday night lights at high school games to the NFL on Sundays. Everyone knows football, but not everyone truly understands it. On the surface, it’s seen as a hard-hitting, physical game. But in reality, football is a highly strategic and cerebral sport. While it has certainly become more complicated in recent years, the beauty of football lies in its simplicity at its core. If you understand the basic principles, like the roles of offense and defense and the different positions on the field, the game becomes clearer.
On defense, our primary objective is simple: stop the offense from scoring. Every defensive play is essentially a battle between the two types of offensive plays — run and pass. The ability to stop the run is crucial to any successful defense. This is because if an offense can run the ball effectively, it opens up their entire playbook, and they can control the tempo of the game. By stopping the run, we force the offense to become one-dimensional, relying on passing, which typically carries more risks and offers fewer “easy gains” than running. Stopping the run begins with personnel matchups. Football, especially on defense, is a game of chess where each player on the field has a specific role. As a defensive end, my job is to create pressure and disrupt the offensive backfield. In order to do that effectively, the defensive coordinator needs to ensure that we have the right body types to match the offensive personnel. For example, if the offense brings in heavier linemen and running backs, we counter by bringing in bigger defensive linemen and linebackers to match their strength. If they bring in faster, more agile receivers, we might counter by bringing in quicker defensive backs to cover them.Once the personnel is set, the next step is about the numbers. Football is all about maximizing advantages, and one way defenses do that is by ensuring we have enough players in the right areas to neutralize the offense. If an offense is running a heavy formation, meaning they’re likely to run the ball, we need to make sure we have enough defenders near the line of scrimmage to clog up the running lanes. The goal is to always have one more defender than the offense has blockers. If we do that, we can stop the run before it gets started.
Playing defensive end is a lot like playing a hybrid position. On one play, I might be tasked with rushing the passer, trying to beat the offensive tackle and get a sack. On the next play, I might need to set the edge and prevent the running back from bouncing the ball outside. It’s a constant mental and physical challenge, and every play brings something new. Football isn’t just about brute strength or speed, although those things help. It’s about anticipation, reading the play, and reacting in real-time. The best defensive ends are the ones who can do it all — rush the passer, stop the run, and force turnovers. I’ve learned that football is just as much about preparation as it is about performance. We spend countless hours studying film, learning the tendencies of our opponents, and understanding the nuances of the game. For instance, by studying film, I can pick up on small details, like the way an offensive lineman shifts his weight before a pass block or the specific formations the offense uses in different situations. These details help me react faster on the field, giving me an edge over my opponent. In football, success comes down to discipline and teamwork. Everyone has a job, and if one person doesn’t do their job, the whole defense can collapse. We have to trust one another and communicate constantly. It’s about accountability — to your teammates, to your coaches, and to yourself.
Through football, I’ve learned about the importance of hard work, mental toughness, and resilience. Football isn’t just a game to me; it’s a teacher. Every practice, every game, and every play offers a lesson. And as I continue to grow in the game, I’m constantly learning how to be better — not just as a player, but as a person.
Team Defense