If you're a fan of American football, you most likely have heard the term "in the trenches", but might not understand the meaning of this term and how much of an impact is has on the overall game. This term refers to what goes on between the offensive and defensive linemen of each team on every single play. For the more casual fan, understanding it can give you a greater respect for the intricacies of the game and for those players that are rarely in the spotlight.
Offensive Lineman
On offense, there are five lineman starting with the Center who stands in front of the Quarterback and is responsible for handing him the ball. There will be a Guard to the left and right of the Center, and then an Offensive Tackle beside each Guard.
The job of the offensive line is to collectively protect the Quarterback from the players on the opposing team's defense. As soon as the Center hands the ball off, the defense is going to try to tackle the Quarterback before he can make a play. Without any protection, the offense is not going to have much success scoring any points.
Defensive Lineman
On defense, there are generally four lineman, although that can change depending on the defensive scheme that the team is using. In the middle, there will be two Defensive Tackles (one if the team only uses three lineman) who are usually responsible for getting around the Guards and the Center. On the outside of the line, there will be a Defensive End on each side who attempts to get around the Offensive Tackles.
Since there are usually fewer players on the defensive line than on the offensive line, a player at a different defensive position will oftentimes get involved in the trenches as well. Without a defensive line to put pressure on the Quarterback, it would be much easier for him to make a play and score more points.
The Winner
The outcome of the game is usually decided based on which team is winning the battle at the line, or "in the trenches". In recent years, the salaries of linemen have increased for this very reason. Most teams will build from the inside-out, which means that they will make sure they have a solid offensive and defensive line before adding skilled players at other positions. If you are unable to beat the other team's linemen, it is highly unlikely that you will be able to beat the rest of the team and will end up losing game.
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