Your alignment is based on where you play. For DL and LB these are called techniques. If your alignment is head up then your nose will be directly over the lineman's nose. If you are in a shade you will have your instep inline with the lineman's instep.
Linebackers technique is similar to the Lineman but 4 yards off the ball. So a 30 for example is outside shade of the guard 4 yards off the ball.
DL Techniques
| Technique | Alignment |
|---|---|
| 0 | Head up the Center |
| 1 | Shaded to the Center |
| 2i | Inside shade of the Guard |
| 2 | Head up the Guard |
| 3 | Outside shade of the Guard |
| 4i | Inside shade of the Tackle |
| 4 | Head up the Tackle |
| 5 | Outside shade of the Tackle |
| 6i | Inside shade of the TE |
| 6 | Head up the TE |
| 7 | Outside shade of the TE |