The Elephant Defensive End was one of football’s original hybrid positions and helped change the way defenses utilized elite pass rushers. Rather than limiting a defender to a traditional defensive end or linebacker role, the Elephant was designed to maximize the impact of the defense’s most disruptive player by allowing him to attack from multiple alignments
From a coaching perspective, the Elephant typically aligned on the weak side of the formation and served as the primary pass-rushing threat. The position allowed defenses to create favorable one-on-one matchups, generate pressure without excessive blitzing, and force offenses to adjust protections on every snap
The role demanded more than just getting after the quarterback. Players were still expected to set the edge, play with discipline against the run, and consistently create negative plays
From a scouting perspective, the Elephant requires a rare combination of traits that few defenders possess. Evaluators are looking for explosive first-step quickness, bend around the corner, speed-to-power conversion, length, closing burst, change of direction, football intelligence, and the ability to finish plays in the backfield
The best Elephant defenders combine defensive end power with linebacker athleticism, making them difficult matchups for offensive tackles, tight ends, and running backs
While the official title of “Elephant” is rarely used in today’s game, the role is more valuable than ever. Modern defenses have evolved toward positionless football, and many of the league’s top edge defenders perform responsibilities that closely resemble the original Elephant position
Players such as Micah Parsons, T.J. Watt, Von Miller, Khalil Mack, and DeMarcus Ware have all been utilized as movable chess pieces capable of rushing from multiple alignments, standing up, putting a hand in the dirt, attacking from wide alignments, or moving throughout the formation to create mismatches
🔹 Notable Examples:
• Charles Haley – Original Elephant prototype
• Brian Cushing – USC’s hybrid edge defender
• Clay Matthews III – USC’s versatile pass-rushing weapon
The Elephant position helped lay the foundation for today’s hybrid edge defender
'Solo Leveling' Season 2 Opening "LiSA "ReawakeR (feat. Felix of Stray Kids)" Receives 3 Nominatioins at MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026.
- Best Global Hit from Japan
- Best Cross-Border Collaboration Song Award
- Best Japanese Song in Europe
The 3 technique has become one of the most important positions in football because it gives defenses something every coordinator is looking for: interior disruption
Aligned on the outside shoulder of the offensive guard, the 3 technique is in a position to attack a single gap with speed, power, and leverage. That alignment creates natural pass rush advantages by giving the defender a direct path into the backfield while forcing guards to defend both their inside and outside half
From a coaching perspective, the position is about much more than sacks. Coaches want a player who can penetrate the B-gap, collapse the pocket, disrupt blocking schemes before they develop, and force quarterbacks off their spot. The best 3 techniques combine explosive get-off, violent hands, pad level, balance, and finishing ability. They create negative plays, generate pressure without requiring extra rushers, and force offenses to dedicate additional resources to slowing them down
From a scouting perspective, few positions reveal a player’s athletic ability and football instincts more than the 3 technique. Evaluators are looking for elite first-step quickness, short-area burst, functional strength, leverage, hand usage, play recognition, and the ability to consistently win one-on-one situations. The best prospects don’t just produce sacks and tackles for loss. They create disruption that doesn’t always show up on the stat sheet by forcing double teams, collapsing protection schemes, and creating opportunities for everyone around them
Players like @WarrenSapp, @johnnyrandle93 , @Geraldini93 , and @AaronDonald97 helped define what the position looks like at the highest level. Each brought a unique skill set, but all shared the same ability to impact games from the interior. Their combination of explosiveness, technique, leverage, toughness, and relentless effort changed how offenses approached interior pass protection and elevated the value of the position across every level of football
🔹 Coaching Perspective:
• Own the B-gap and force offenses to account for interior penetration
• Win with first-step explosiveness and violent hands
• Collapse the pocket and affect quarterback depth
• Defeat reach blocks, down blocks, and double teams
• Create disruption that forces offensive adjustments
• Generate pressure without sacrificing coverage numbers
🔹 Scouting Perspective:
• Elite first-step quickness and short-area burst
• Functional strength and ability to anchor versus power
• Hand usage, counters, and pass-rush plan
• Consistent leverage and pad level
• Ability to win one-on-one matchups against guards
• Production, disruption rate, and impact beyond statistics
🔹 Why Elite 3 Techniques Matter:
• Force offenses to slide protections
• Command double teams
• Create favorable matchups for teammates
• Disrupt run and pass concepts before they develop
• Change offensive game plans on a weekly basis
• Impact games from the inside out
Jevon Kearse was one of the most physically gifted pass rushers the game has ever seen and helped raise the standard for what NFL teams look for in an edge defender. Before the league became focused on finding long, explosive athletes who could disrupt the quarterback, Kearse was already proving how valuable that skill set could be
His rare blend of size, speed, length, and athleticism earned him the nickname “The Freak,” and it was a nickname that fit perfectly
📊 Pre-Draft Measurements & Testing
• Height: 6’5”
• Weight: 262 lbs
• Wingspan: 86”
• 40-Yard Dash (NFL Combine): 4.58
• 40-Yard Dash (Florida Pro Day): 4.43 🤯🤯🤯
• 10-Yard Split: 1.61 😦
• Vertical Jump: 37”
• Broad Jump: 10’2”
• Short Shuttle: 4.24
From a scouting perspective, Kearse possessed the traits teams dream about finding. He had an explosive first step, outstanding range, elite closing speed, and the length to create problems for offensive tackles. His ability to get off the ball quickly and cover ground in a hurry made him a constant threat to disrupt plays in the backfield. Whether it was rushing the passer or chasing down ball carriers, his athletic ability consistently showed up on tape
🔹 Why He Was Different:
• Rare combination of size and athleticism
• Explosive get-off and acceleration
• Exceptional length and reach
• Outstanding closing speed
• Versatility to impact the game in multiple ways
• Disruptive versus both the run and pass
• Ability to create game-changing plays
Kearse made an immediate impact when he entered the NFL. He recorded 14.5 sacks as a rookie, which still stands as the NFL rookie record, earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, and was named First Team All-Pro. During his best years, offenses always had to know where he was lined up because he had the ability to change the outcome of a game with a single play
When scouts talk about rare athletic profiles at the edge position, Jevon Kearse is still one of the first names that comes to mind. The nickname “The Freak” wasn’t just because of his testing numbers. It was because he paired those rare physical traits with elite production on the field
Arnold Schwarzenegger crashes the Crypt Keeper’s lair in a rare 90s TV appearance on Tales from the Crypt
Arnie directed an episode of the classic horror anthology, and even dropped in himself, rocking bermuda shorts and a tight T-shirt like he’d just stepped off the set of Twins
Texas CB Bryant Westbrook would lay the hammer on opposing ballcarriers
🐂5th overall pick in 1997 (Lions)
🐂2nd Team All-American; All-Big 12
🔹6 INT in 13 games in 2000; 13 career
🔹^ Achilles injury gave 17 more games
Mike Evans at Texas A&M (2011-2013)
- 151 receptions
- 2,499 yards
- 17 receiving TDs
- School record for receiving yards in a season (1394) and single game receiving yards (287)
- Only player in school history to have multiple 200-yard receiving games
88 Days Away from Alabama Crimson Tide Football
One of the biggest plays of the Gene Stallings era came in the 1997 Outback Bowl.
With Alabama trailing in the fourth quarter, linebacker Dwayne Rudd intercepted a pass and returned it 88 yards for a touchdown, helping the Crimson Tide defeat Michigan 17-14.
Alabama sent Coach Gene Stallings out a winner in his final game.
LA Tech OT Willie Roaf made 11 Pro Bowls in 13 seasons
⚜️4× 1st Team All-Pro; 5× 2nd Team
⚜️NFL 1990s All-Decade Team
⚜️NFL 2000s All-Decade Team
⚜️All-American; CFB HOF; NFL HOF
Don’t forget Eric Bieniemy the Colorado RB before his now coaching days
🦬National Champion
🦬Unanimous All-American
🦬Colorado's all-time leader in rushing (3,940 yards), rushing TD (42), & all-purpose (4,351); 2x All-Big Eight
🦬9 seasons; ‘91 38th pick (Chargers)