Meaning & use
down lineman
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountableAmericansport
In American football, a defensive lineman who lines up close to the line of scrimmage rather than standing up or dropping back.
Grammar: Countable; plural is 'down linemen'. Usually used in football commentary and coaching talk.
Patterns
- a down lineman
- play as a down lineman
- line up as a down lineman
The coach rotated three down linemen to keep pressure on the quarterback.
As a down lineman, he had to fight off blocks on every running play.
Their down linemen were smaller but quicker than the opposing offense expected.
Word forms
| plural | down linemen |
|---|
Common combinations
- defensive down lineman
- The defensive down lineman burst through the gap and sacked the quarterback.
- starting down lineman
- He became a starting down lineman in his second year on the team.
- rotate down linemen
- Coaches often rotate down linemen to keep them fresh.
- down lineman technique
- Good down lineman technique starts with a low stance and quick hands.
Synonyms and how they differ
- defensive lineman
- A broader term that can include players who stand up or move around; 'down lineman' specifically means one in a three- or four-point stance near the line.
- lineman
- More general and can refer to offensive or defensive players; 'down lineman' is only defensive and describes alignment.
Word family
- lineman noun
- A player positioned on the line of scrimmage, on offense or defense.
- line of scrimmage noun
- The imaginary line where the ball is placed before each play.
Commonly confused: down lineman or offensive lineman? down lineman or linebacker?
down lineman vs offensive lineman
An offensive lineman blocks for the ball carrier; a down lineman plays defense and tries to stop the offense.
down lineman vs linebacker
A linebacker usually stands a few yards behind the line, while a down lineman lines up right at the line in a low stance.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'down lineman' correctly?
Choose one answer.
A down lineman is a defensive player who lines up near the line of scrimmage, so 'lined up low and charged into the backfield' fits. Catching a touchdown pass describes a receiver, kicking an extra point describes a kicker, and serving over the net is from volleyball, not football.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “down lineman”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.