line of scrimmage
noun phrase
: an imaginary line in football that is parallel to the goal lines and tangent to the nose of the ball laid on the ground and marks the position of the ball at the start of each down
Examples of line of scrimmage in a Sentence
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Even though most of these tackles aren’t made close to the line of scrimmage because of the defensive front’s issues, getting a stop 5 or 6 yards downfield is better than getting one 12 to 16 yards downfield.
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Omar Kelly
october 2, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025
One approach would be to play bump-and-run press coverage to disrupt the timing at the line of scrimmage and then send pressure.
—Mike Defabo, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
With eight games to play, injuries at quarterback, wide receiver, running back, and on both sides of the line of scrimmage, Albin needs the team’s depth to shine.
—Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 2025
On a first-down snap, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson dropped 14 yards behind the line of scrimmage, and linebacker Drue Tranquill darted up the middle on a blitz.
—Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2025
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Omar Kelly
october 2, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025
One approach would be to play bump-and-run press coverage to disrupt the timing at the line of scrimmage and then send pressure.
—Mike Defabo, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
With eight games to play, injuries at quarterback, wide receiver, running back, and on both sides of the line of scrimmage, Albin needs the team’s depth to shine.
—Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 2025
On a first-down snap, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson dropped 14 yards behind the line of scrimmage, and linebacker Drue Tranquill darted up the middle on a blitz.
—Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for line of scrimmage
Cite this Entry
“Line of scrimmage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/line%20of%20scrimmage. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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