Aside from speed blocking, an offensive guard may also "
pull", which is when the guard backs out of their initial position and runs behind the other offensive linemen to sprint out in front of a
running back to engage a defensive player beyond the initial width of the offensive line. This technique is used in most playbooks for outside runs, where the play-side guard pulls as a lead blocker, and on counter plays, where the far side guard pulls to block a play side lineman.
Vanderbilt's
Dan McGugin is credited with first pulling guards. While
tackles can also pull, this strategy is generally less common as they are too far away to pull to the opposite side of the formation for counter plays and have the responsibility of blocking the outside defender (generally the
defensive end) for outside runs. Since the guard is free of responsibility for play side outside runs and far side counter plays, pulling is generally a unique responsibility for guards. The
Packers sweep was a signature play of the
Green Bay Packers in the
1960s, and they won five
NFL titles and the first two
Super Bowls under head coach
Vince Lombardi utilizing the play. The pulling guards for the Green Bay Packers were
Fuzzy Thurston at left guard and
Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee
Jerry Kramer at right guard. ==References==