Gridiron Glossary: Scrape Exchange

Scrape Exchange is a defensive technique where a linebacker and defensive end exchange their responsibilities.

Usually a defensive end lined up wider than a linebacker will have contain responsibility, meaning it is his job to make sure the ball carrier doesn’t run to the outside.  The inside linebacker has fill responsibility, meaning it is his job to fill the area between the contain man and the rest of the players.  Here is standard:

Standard responsibility

In a scrape exchange, the two players exchange roles.  The defensive end fills the gap, and the linebacker scrapes to the outside to contain.  The scrape is the technique of moving down the line of scrimmage and closing the gap with the running back.  Here is the scrape exchange:

exchange


Gridiron Glossary is a resource for football terms that are often used by commentators, coaches and players but rarely defined.  If there is a term you have questions about or a definition you don’t agree with, let me know at billy@thirddowndraw.com.

About Billy Koehler

Billy Koehler is the founder of ThirdDownDraw.com and a contributing writer at DixielandSports.com. He has been covering college football since 2006. You can follow him on twitter @billykoehler.
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