---
slug: pull
title: Pull
depth_tier: entry
side: OFFENSE
category: Run Game
source_id: "OFF-0077"
created: 2026-04-13
updated: 2026-04-19
canonical: https://learningfootball.xyz/terms/pull
---
# Pull

## Short Definition

A lineman releasing from his original position at the snap and running laterally to block at a different point of attack—the foundation of gap-scheme runs.

## Definition

A pull is when an offensive lineman—most often a guard—releases from his initial alignment at the snap and runs laterally down the line of scrimmage to block at a different location. Instead of blocking the defender directly in front of him, the pulling lineman travels to the point of attack to lead the run or kick out an edge defender.

Pulling is the foundation of gap-scheme run plays. Power pulls the backside guard to kick out the edge defender. Counter pulls both a guard and a tackle to lead through the cutback lane. Trap pulls a guard to block a penetrating interior defender from the side. Each play uses pulling to create the specific block the design requires at a point of attack the defense isn't expecting.

The timing of the pull determines the play's success. A guard who pulls too slowly lets the defense flow to the ball before he reaches the point of attack. A guard who pulls cleanly and arrives at full speed before the runner gets there creates a lead block that the runner can follow. The best pulling guards are fast in space—linemen who can move laterally, turn the corner, and arrive at the kickout block without breaking stride.

## Example

"Watch the backside guard—he doesn't block the 3-technique in front of him. He pulls around the back of the center and leads to the right edge. The runner follows. Guard kicks out the linebacker. That's a pull: one lineman releases his original assignment and leads the run somewhere else."

## Common Confusion

Pull and trap both involve pulling linemen, but they describe different mechanisms. A trap pulls a guard to block a specific interior defender who was left unblocked. A pull is the technique itself—any time a lineman releases from his original assignment and moves laterally down the line to block at a different point of attack. Pulling is a technique; trap is a specific play design that uses pulling.

## Related

- power
- counter
- trap
- sweep
- a-gap
- b-gap

---
Source: https://learningfootball.xyz/terms/pull