Tackle (gridiron football position)
A tackle, also called an offensive tackle and subcategorized as a left tackle or right tackle, is an American football position that flanks the two guards on the offensive line. Like other offensive linemen, their objective is to block during each offensive play, physically preventing defenders from tackling or disrupting the offensive ball carrier with the intention of advancing the football downfield. A tackle is considered the most important position on the offensive line, primarily in charge of perimeter protection against defensive ends and edge rushers.
Left tackles have historically been more desired, but the distinction between right and left have become less relevant over time. In the NFL, offensive tackles often measure over and weigh over. According to Sports Illustrated football journalist Paul Zimmerman, offensive tackles consistently achieve the highest cognitive ability scores relative to the other positional groups. The Wonderlic is taken before the draft to assess each player's aptitude for learning and problem solving.
History
Historically, in the one-platoon system of football, "tackle" referred to a two-way player that played both offense and defense. In the two-platoon system, players began playing only offense or defense, hence offensive tackle and defensive tackle.Left tackle
The left tackle is usually the team's best pass blocker. Of the two tackles, the left tackles will often have better footwork and agility than the right tackle in order to counteract the pass rush of defensive ends. When a quarterback throws a forward pass, the quarterback's shoulders are aligned roughly perpendicular to the line of scrimmage, with the non-dominant shoulder closer to downfield. The vast majority of quarterbacks are right-handed, so they turn their backs to defenders coming from the left side, creating a vulnerable "blind side" that the left tackle must protect.A 2006 book by Michael Lewis, The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game, made into a 2009 motion picture, shed light on the workings of the left tackle position. The book and the film's introduction discuss how the annual salary of left tackles in the NFL skyrocketed in the mid-1990s. Premier left tackles are now highly sought after and are often the second highest paid players on a roster after the quarterback; in the 2013 NFL draft three of the first four picks were left tackles, and usually at least one left tackle is picked in the first five positions. Recent examples include Will Campbell, Joe Alt, Andrew Thomas, Brandon Scherff, Eric Fisher, Luke Joeckel, Lane Johnson, Matt Kalil, Trent Williams, and Jake Long.