Gophers are expected to hire Stanford defensive coordinator Bobby April as its new rush ends coach.

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GopherGrit said:
For the record:

Not a single post on this thread of mine says its ridiculous to have a DE coach. It isn't ridiculous and many teams at high levels do it. I support it.

I don't even know if I would say it is ridiculous to re-label a DE or OLB coach as "Rush ends coach". But it is definitely a Fleck-ism, very much on brand.
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Gotta disagree with you — there have been rush end coaches whether they are labeled that or not going back 40 years.
 


Gopherchase said:
Gotta disagree with you — there have been rush end coaches whether they are labeled that or not going back 40 years.
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"Whether they are labeled that or not" is the entire, sole point. It's a tiny, weird, pedantic point. That's the kind of guy I am.


As always, take this with whatever grains of salt you want.


Prompt:
To what extent is the term rush end used in football and is it a less formal term compared to defensive end?

Answer:
“Rush end” is a real term, but it’s situational and informal compared to “defensive end.” It describes a role, not a roster position.

Here’s the fuller breakdown.

“Defensive end” (DE): the formal position​

  • Standard roster position at every level of football.
  • Appears on depth charts, contracts, stat sheets, and rulebooks.
  • Traditionally part of a 4–3 defense, aligned on the line of scrimmage.
  • Expected to:
    • Set the edge vs. the run
    • Rush the passer
    • Sometimes drop very shallow (rare)
When someone says defensive end with no qualifier, they mean a base-down position, not a situational specialist.

“Rush end”: a functional role, not a position​

“Rush end” is used to describe how a player is being used, not what they are officially listed as.

Typical characteristics:
  • Primary job is pass rushing
  • Usually deployed in obvious passing situations
  • Often:
    • Wider alignment (9-tech or even ghost-9)
    • Freed from run-fit responsibilities
  • May come from multiple listed positions:
    • Defensive end
    • Outside linebacker
    • Hybrid EDGE player
So a “rush end” is basically:

“This player is acting as an edge pass rusher right now.”
Click to expand...

Where the term is commonly used​

You’ll hear “rush end” most often in:
  • Coaching and scouting language
  • Film rooms
  • Broadcast analysis
  • Hybrid defenses (3–4, 2–4–5, 4–2–5, NASCAR packages)
Examples:
  • “We kicked him inside and brought in a rush end.”
  • “He’s their best rush end on third down.”
  • “That package uses two rush ends and a nose.”
You will not usually see:
  • “Rush End” on an official depth chart
  • Contracts listing a player as a rush end
  • Box scores using the term

Relationship to “EDGE”​

In modern football, especially the NFL:
  • EDGE is becoming the semi-formal umbrella term
  • “Rush end” fits underEDGE, emphasizing:
    • Pass-rush-first
    • Reduced run responsibility
So roughly:
  • Defensive End → formal position
  • EDGE → hybrid position classification
  • Rush End → situational usage description
 





GopherGrit said:
Yes it is called something different -- outside linebacker or defensive end.

If I'm wrong I'm wrong, but guessing we're the only P4 team in the country with a coaching title called a "Rush Ends coach". On the other hand, would not be surprised if a lot of teams have fulltime coaches who are the OLB or DE coach.

It's Fleck. He probably spends an hour a day writing down ideas for new terms or slogans in a little notepad.
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You're embarrassing yourself. Again and again and again.
 

According to google the Ravens, Texans and Broncos employ a "Rush Ends" coach. It also said Bobby April III was recently hired by the Vikings so not sure how reliable that was
 






GopherGrit said:
"Whether they are labeled that or not" is the entire, sole point. It's a tiny, weird, pedantic point. That's the kind of guy I am.


As always, take this with whatever grains of salt you want.


Prompt:
To what extent is the term rush end used in football and is it a less formal term compared to defensive end?

Answer:
“Rush end” is a real term, but it’s situational and informal compared to “defensive end.” It describes a role, not a roster position.

Here’s the fuller breakdown.

“Defensive end” (DE): the formal position​

  • Standard roster position at every level of football.
  • Appears on depth charts, contracts, stat sheets, and rulebooks.
  • Traditionally part of a 4–3 defense, aligned on the line of scrimmage.
  • Expected to:
    • Set the edge vs. the run
    • Rush the passer
    • Sometimes drop very shallow (rare)
When someone says defensive end with no qualifier, they mean a base-down position, not a situational specialist.

“Rush end”: a functional role, not a position​

“Rush end” is used to describe how a player is being used, not what they are officially listed as.

Typical characteristics:
  • Primary job is pass rushing
  • Usually deployed in obvious passing situations
  • Often:
    • Wider alignment (9-tech or even ghost-9)
    • Freed from run-fit responsibilities
  • May come from multiple listed positions:
    • Defensive end
    • Outside linebacker
    • Hybrid EDGE player
So a “rush end” is basically:


Where the term is commonly used​

You’ll hear “rush end” most often in:
  • Coaching and scouting language
  • Film rooms
  • Broadcast analysis
  • Hybrid defenses (3–4, 2–4–5, 4–2–5, NASCAR packages)
Examples:
  • “We kicked him inside and brought in a rush end.”
  • “He’s their best rush end on third down.”
  • “That package uses two rush ends and a nose.”
You will not usually see:
  • “Rush End” on an official depth chart
  • Contracts listing a player as a rush end
  • Box scores using the term

Relationship to “EDGE”​

In modern football, especially the NFL:
  • EDGE is becoming the semi-formal umbrella term
  • “Rush end” fits underEDGE, emphasizing:
    • Pass-rush-first
    • Reduced run responsibility
So roughly:
  • Defensive End → formal position
  • EDGE → hybrid position classification
  • Rush End → situational usage description
Click to expand...
Good grief, really?
 





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