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Encyclopedia > Glossary of American football


The following terms are used in American football and Canadian football. See also: wiktionary:Category:Football (American) United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ... Diagram of a Canadian football field. ...


See also

Contents Top · 0–9 · A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
‹The template CompactTOC2 is being considered for deletion.› 

United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ... American football strategy takes many forms, and is not always about the strength and size of the two teams. ... This is a glossary of terms used in Canadian football. ...

0 – 9

3-3-5 defense
A variation of the Nickel formation with 3 linemen (2 De & 1 DT), 3 linebackers (2 OLB & 1 MLB), and 5 defensive backs (3 CB, 1 SS & 1 FS). Often called a 3-3 stack. Also called the "Rule Breaker" due to the fact that it often changes blocking schemes for the offensive line.
3-4 defense
a defensive formation with 3 linemen and 4 linebackers. A professional derivative in the 1970s of the earlier Oklahoma or "50" defense, which had 5 linemen and 2 linebackers. The 3-4 outside linebackers resemble "stand-up ends" in the older defense.
4-3 defense
a defensive formation with 4 linemen and 3 linebackers. Several variations are employed. First used by coach Joe Kuharich [citation needed] and Tom Landry.[1][2]
4-4-4 Defense 
Infamous defense, coined by coach and color commentator John Madden when referring to a team being penalized for having 12 men on the field.
46 defense 
(pronounced forty-six defense) a formation of the 4-3 defense (four linemen and three linebackers) in which three defensive backs (the two cornerbacks and the strong safety) crowd the line of scrimmage. The remaining safety, which is the free safety, stays in the backfield. It was invented by Buddy Ryan while with the Chicago Bears and popularized by the Super Bowl XX Champion 1985 Chicago Bears.
50 defense 
a once popular college defense with 5 defensive linemen and 2 linebackers. Also known as the "Oklahoma Defense," it is structurally very similar to the 3-4.

The defensive team or defense in American football or Canadian football, is the team that begins a play from scrimmage not in possession of the ball. ... A diagram of the linemen, with defensive linemen (in 4-3 formation) in red and offensive linemen in green. ... University of Oklahoma, abbreviated OU, is a coeducational public research university located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Thomas Wade Landry (September 11, 1924 – February 12, 2000) was an American football player and coach. ... John Earl Madden (born April 10, 1936) is a former National Football League player, head coach, and a Pro Football Hall-of-Famer. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Buddy Ryan (born James David Ryan on February 17, 1934) is a former American football coach. ... Date January 26, 1986 Stadium Louisiana Superdome City New Orleans, Louisiana MVP Richard Dent, Defensive end Favorite Bears by 10 National anthem Wynton Marsalis Coin toss Bart Starr representing previous Super Bowl MVPs Referee Red Cashion Halftime show Up with People presents Beat of the Future Attendance 73,818 TV...

A

Air Raid
an offensive philosophy derived from the West Coast Offense but adapted to the shotgun formation. In this offense the running game is heavily de-emphasized while the quick pass, medium pass, and screen game are highly developed.
all-purpose yardage
the sum of all yards gained by a player who is in possession of the ball during a play. This includes rushing and receiving yards gained on offense, yards gained on returns of interceptions and fumbles, and yards gained on kickoff and punt returns.
audible
a play called by the quarterback at the line of scrimmage to make a change from the play that was called in the huddle.
automatic first down
for several of the most severe fouls, including pass interference and all personal fouls (NFL and NCAA). Under NFHS (High School) rules the only fouls whose penalties result in an automatic first down are roughing the snapper, holder, kicker, or passer and forward pass interference by the defense. A first down is rewarded to the offensive team even if the yardage of that penalty is less than the yardage needed for a first down.

In American football, West Coast Offense (WCO) is one of two similar but distinct offensive-strategic-systems of play: (A) the Air Coryell system; or (B) more commonly the pass play system popularized by Bill Walsh. ...

B

back 
A position behind the offensive and defensive linemen. Offensively, mostly used for running plays: Running back, Tailback, Quarterbacks, Halfback, Fullbacks and Wingback. Defensively, generally faster players with some or all responsibility to cover receivers: Linebackers, Cornerbacks and Safeties.
backup 
A second string player who does not start the game, but comes in later in relief of a starter.
backward pass
a pass thrown to the side or backward. Also called "onside pass" in Canadian football. There is no limit to the number of backward passes or where they may be thrown from. Sometimes incorrectly referred to as a "lateral".
ball security 
The ability of a player to maintain control over the football during play and thus avoid a fumble.
blitz 
a defensive maneuver in which one or more linebackers or defensive backs, who normally remain behind the line of scrimmage, instead charge into the opponents' backfield. However, in the 3-4 defense, one linebacker typically rushes the passer with the three down linemen. This is not considered a blitz. If an additional linebacker is sent, bringing the total number of rushers to five, it is a blitz.
blocking 
when a player obstructs another player's path with his body. Examples: Cut block, Zone block, Trap block, Pull block, Screen block, Pass block, Double-team block.
blocking sled 
a heavy piece of practice equipment, usually a padded angular frame on metal skids, used for developing strength and blocking techniques
bomb 
a long pass
bootleg 
an offensive play predicated upon misdirection in which the quarterback pretends to hand the ball to another player, and then carries the ball in the opposite direction of the supposed ballcarrier with the intent of either passing or running (sometimes the quarterback has the option of doing either). A naked bootleg is a risky variation of this play when the quarterback has no blockers pulling out with him. Contrast with scramble, sneak, and draw.
the box 
an area on the defensive side of the ball, directly opposite the offensive linemen and about 5 yards deep; having 8 players in the box means bringing in a defensive back, normally the strong safety, to help stop the offensive team's running game
bust 
term often used to refer to a player, usually one drafted in the first day of the NFL Draft, who failed to meet the expectations of the drafting team. (Ex : Ryan Leaf, Akili Smith, Tim Couch )

To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Look up fumble in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... In American football, a blitz is a defensive maneuver in which one or more linebackers or defensive backs, who normally remain behind the line of scrimmage during a play, are instead sent across the line to the opponents side in order to try to tackle the quarterback. ... In American football, blocking occurs when one player obstructs another players path with his body. ... In American football, a bootleg play is a play in which the quarterback runs with the ball in the direction of either sideline behind the line of scrimmage. ... Ryan David Leaf (born May 15, 1976) is a former American football quarterback who played for the San Diego Chargers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks between 1998 and 2002. ... Kabisa Akili Maradufu Smith (born August 21, 1975 in San Diego, California) is a professional football quarterback for the CFLs Calgary Stampeders who formerly played for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League. ... Timothy Scott Couch (born July 31, 1977 in Hyden, Kentucky) is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. ...

C

center (C) 
a player position on offense. The center usually snaps the ball. The middle lineman is not always the snapper.
center-eligible 
a trick play (made famous by the film M*A*S*H) wherein at the snap, the entire offensive line is to one side of the center so that he is on the end and therefore is an eligible receiver.
centre 
Canadian "center"
chain 
the 10-yard long chain that is used by the chain crew (aka "chain gang") to measure for a new series of downs.
chuck and duck 
A degrading way to refer to the Run And Shoot offensive strategy.
clipping 
an illegal block in which the victim is blocked from the back and at or below the waist; the penalty is 15 yards. Originally, clipping was defined as any block from the back, but is now restricted to blocks at or below the waist. Other blocks from the back are now punished with 10-yard penalties.
coffin corner 
the corner of the field of play. A punter, if he is close enough, will often attempt to kick the ball out of bounds close to the receiving team's goal line and pin them back near their own end zone.
completion percentage 
the percentage of passes thrown by a player that are completed. For example, if a running back throws one pass all season and completes it his completion percentage would be 100%.
contain 
a defensive assignment. On outside runs such as the sweep, one defensive player (usually a cornerback or outside linebacker) is assigned to keep the rusher from getting to the edge of the play and turning upfield. If executed properly, the rusher will have to turn upfield before the play calls for it, giving the linebackers a better chance of stopping the play for little or no gain.
cornerback (CB)
a defensive back who lines up near the line of scrimmage across from a wide receiver. Their primary job is to disrupt passing routes and to defend against short and medium passes in the passing game, and to contain the rusher on rushing plays.
Cover
There are two general schemes for defending against the pass:
  1. Man-to-man, where each eligible receiver is covered by a defensive back or a linebacker.
  2. Zone, where certain players (usually defensive backs and/or linebackers, though occasionally linemen as well) are assigned an area on the field (Flat, Hook, Curl and Deep) that they are to cover.

Common types of coverage: Center (C) is a position in American football. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into American football positions. ... MASH is a 1970 satirical American dark comedy film directed by Robert Altman and based on the novel MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors by Richard Hooker. ... In American football, the chain crew are assistants to the referee who handle the first down measuring chain and the down indicator box. ... The Run & Shoot is a type of offense in American Football. ... The percent sign. ... For corner back, the Gaelic football and hurling position, see Gaelic football and Hurling positions . ... For corner back, the Gaelic football and hurling position, see Gaelic football and Hurling positions . ... In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players, who take positions directly behind the line of scrimmage. ...

  1. Cover Zero - Strict man-to-man coverage with no help from safeties (usually a blitz play with at least five men crossing the line of scrimmage)
  2. Cover One - Man-to-man coverage with at least one safety not assigned a player to cover who can help out on deep pass routes.
  3. Cover Two - Zone coverage with the safeties playing deep and covering half the field each. Can be Cover 2 man, where every receiver is covered by a defensive player, or Cover 2 Zone (Also know as Tampa 2), where CB covers Flat zone, OLB Hook Zone and MLB Curl Zone.
  4. Cover Three - Zone coverage as above, but with extra help from Strong Safety/Cornerback, so that each player covers one-third of a deep zone.
  5. Cover Four - As above, with the corners and safeties dropping into deep coverage, with each taking one-fourth of the width of the field. Also referred to as Quarters.
counter 
a running play in which the running back will take a step in the apparent direction of the play (ie, the direction the line is moving), only to get the handoff in the other direction. Weak side linemen will sometimes pull and lead the back downfield (sometimes called a counter trap), but not necessarily. The play is designed to get the defense to flow away from the action for a few steps as they follow the linemen, allowing more room for the running back.
crackback block 
an illegal block delivered below the opponent's waist by an offensive player who had left the area of close line play and then returned to it, or was not within it at the snap. The term is also used to describe a legal block (delivered from the front, or from the side with the offensive player's helmet in front of the blocked player) by a wide receiver on a player who lined up inside of him.
cut
  1. a sharp change of direction by a running player. Also called a cutback.
  2. see "cut blocking" below
cut blocking
a blocking technique in which offensive linemen, and sometimes other blockers, block legally below the waist (i.e., from the front of the defensive player) in an attempt to bring the defenders to ground, making them unable to pursue a running back for the short time needed for the back to find a gap in the defense. The technique is somewhat controversial, as it carries a risk of serious leg injuries to the blocked defenders.
The San Francisco 49ers of the 1980s and early 90's were noted for their cut-blocking (and leg-whipping, which is illegal), a tactic that was later adopted in mid-90's by the NFL's Denver Broncos. The Broncos gained a degree of notoriety for their cut-blocking techniques (often called "dirty" play by their opponents) which produced the NFL's best rushing attack for a decade, but also resulted in several defensive players opponents of the Broncos being injured by cut blocks. In a Monday Night Football game in 2004, defensive lineman Anthony Williams of the Cincinnati Bengals was lost to the season on a block (by the Broncos tackle George Foster), and in 2005, Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman Paul Spicer was badly injured on block by Broncos tackle Matt Lepsis. Responding to the criticism, in 2004 Broncos coach Mike Shanahan showed local reporters some NFL game film (only seen and used by coaches) that demonstrated how nearly every team in the NFL uses cut-blocking.

A cutback in football generally refers to a move a running back makes when a run play is designed to go one way but the back sees opportunity for gain elsewhere. ... City San Francisco, California Other nicknames Niners, The Red And Gold, Bay Bombers Team colors Cardinal red, metallic gold and black Head Coach Mike Nolan Owner Denise DeBartolo York and John York General manager Lal Heneghan Mascot Sourdough Sam League/Conference affiliations All-America Football Conference (1946-1949) Western Division... NFL logo For other uses of the abbreviation NFL, see NFL (disambiguation). ... City Denver, Colorado Other nicknames Orange Crush (1977-1979 defense) Team colors Orange, Broncos Navy Blue, and White[1] Head Coach Mike Shanahan Owner Pat Bowlen General manager Ted Sundquist Mascot Miles League/Conference affiliations American Football League (1960-1969) Western Division (1960-1969) National Football League (1970–present) American... MNF redirects here. ... City Cincinnati, Ohio Team colors Black, Orange and White Head Coach Marvin Lewis Owner Mike Brown Mascot Who Dey League/Conference affiliations American Football League (1968-1969) Western Division (1968-1969) National Football League (1970–present) American Football Conference (1970-present) AFC Central (1970-2001) AFC North (2002-present) Team... City Jacksonville, Florida Other nicknames The Jags Team colors Teal, Black, White, and Gold Head Coach Jack Del Rio Owner Wayne Weaver General manager James Harris Mascot Jaxson de Ville League/Conference affiliations National Football League (1995–present) American Football Conference (1995-present) AFC Central (1995-2001) AFC South (2002... Paul Spicer (born August 18, 1975) is the left defensive end for the Jacksonville Jaguars. ... Matt Lepsis is a ninth year veteran who plays Left Tackle for the Denver Broncos. ... Michael Edward Shanahan (born August 24, 1952) is an American football coach of the Denver Broncos in the National Football League. ...

D

dead ball 
a ball which is no longer in play.
defensive back 
a cornerback or safety position on the defensive team; commonly defends against wide receivers on passing plays. Generally there are 4 defensive backs playing at a time; but see nickel back and dime back.
defensive end (DE)
a player position on defense who lines up on the outside of the defensive line and which principal function is to deliver pressure to the Quarterback. Also known as Rush.
defensive tackle (DT)
a player position on defense on the inside of the defensive line and which principal function is to contain the run. When a defensive tackle lines up directly across from the center, he is known as a nose tackle, often the heaviest player on the defense. When a defensive tackle lines up between offensive guard OG and Offensive tackle OT, he is known as a 3-gap technique tackle.
defensive team 
the team that begins a play from scrimmage not in possession of the ball.
delay of game
a foul which occurs when the offensive team does not put the ball in play before the play clock runs out. There are also less common occurrences which result in a delay of game foul. Penalty: 5 yards.
dime back 
the second extra, or sixth total, defensive back. Named because a dime has the same value as two nickels. See nickel back.
direct snap 
a play in which the ball is passed directly to the presumed ball carrier by the center. Contrast with an indirect snap play in which the ball is first handed to the quarterback, who will then pass or hand it to the eventual ball carrier. Also used to refer to formations that use a direct snap, such as the single wing.
dive 
a play in which the ball hand off to the running back and attacks the middle of the offensive formation (between the OG).This play is part of the Triple option strategy.
double reverse
a play in which the ball reverses direction twice behind the line of scrimmage. This is usually accomplished by means of two or three hand-offs, each hand-off going in an opposite direction as the previous one. Such a play is extremely infrequent in football.
Some people confuse the double reverse with a reverse, which is a play with two hand-offs instead of three.
double wing 
a formation with two tight ends and two wingbacks.
down 
a unit of the game that starts with a legal snap or legal free kick after the ball is ready for play and ends when the ball next becomes dead.

First down is the first of the plays; fourth is the last down in American, and third in Canadian, football. A first down occurs after a change of possession of the ball, after advancing the ball 10 yards following a previous first down or after certain penalties. Dead ball is the term used in various sports to indicate the ball has a status where it may not be played. ... In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players, who take positions directly behind the line of scrimmage. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American football. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The defensive team or defense in American football or Canadian football, is the team that begins a play from scrimmage not in possession of the ball. ... Defensive tackle (DT) is a position on the field in American and Canadian football. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The defensive team or defense in American football or Canadian football, is the team that begins a play from scrimmage not in possession of the ball. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The defensive team or defense in American football or Canadian football, is the team that begins a play from scrimmage not in possession of the ball. ... A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. ... A play clock is a timer designed to increase the pace (and subsequently, the score) in American football and Canadian football, similar to what a shot clock does in basketball. ... In American football, a dimeback is a cornerback who serves as the sixth defensive back on defense. ... A dime is a coin issued by the United States Mint with a denomination of one-tenth of a United States dollar, or ten cents. ... The United States five-cent coin, commonly called a nickel, is a unit of currency equaling one-twentieth, or five-hundredths, of a United States dollar. ... In American and Canadian football, a single-wing formation is any offensive formation having exactly one wingback. ... Dive is a word that can have several meanings: Diving is the act of plunging head first into water, or swimming under water. ... In American and Canadian football, a down refers to a period in which a play transpires. ...

down lineman
a player stationed in front of his line of scrimmage and who has either one (three-point stance) or two (four-point stance) hands on the ground.
draw play 
a play in which the quarterback drops back as if to pass, then hands off to a running back or runs with the ball himself. Contrast with scramble
drive
  • A continuous set of offensive plays gaining substantial yardage and several first downs, usually leading to a scoring opportunity.
  • A blocking technique - "drive block" - in which an offensive player through an advantaged angle or with assistance drive a defensive player out of position creating a hole for the ball carrier.
drop kick 
a kick in which the ball is dropped and kicked once it hits the ground and before it hits it again; a half-volley kick. A drop kick is one of the types of kick which can score a field goal.
dual threat quarterback 
a quarterback who is skilled at both passing and rushing the ball. These quarterbacks may be difficult to defend against since the defensive team cannot focus on one threat to the exclusion of the other.

A draw is a type of football play that tricks the defense into thinking a pass is being thrown, when in fact a running play has been called. ... A drop kick is someones dropping a ball and then kicking it when it bounces off the ground. ... Navy quarterback Aaron Polanco sets up to throw. ... This article is about a type of football play. ... In American football, rushing has two different meanings. ...

E

eligible receivers 
players who may legally touch a forward pass. On the passer's team, these are: the ends (see below), the backs, and (except in the NFL), one player in position to take a hand-to-hand snap, i.e. a T quarterback; provided the player's shirt displays a number in the ranges allowed for eligible receivers. All players of the opposing team are eligible receivers, and once the ball is touched by a player of the opposing team (anywhere in American, or beyond the lines of scrimmage in Canadian football), all players become eligible.
encroachment
an illegal action by a player: to cross the line of scrimmage and make contact with an opponent before the ball is snapped.
end around 
a play, often confused with a reverse, where the quarterback hands the ball off to a wide receiver . The receiver motions/moves into the backfield as the ball is snapped to take the handoff and runs around the opposite end from where he lined up.
end zone 
the area between the end line (or deadline in Canadian amateur football) and the goal line, bounded by the sidelines.
extra point 
a single point scored in a conversion attempt by making what would be a field goal or a safety during general play. See "try" below.

In American football and Canadian football, not all players on offense are entitled to receive a forward pass. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... The end-around is a play in American Football in which a wide receiver receives a handoff directly from the quarterback. ... A reverse (sometimes referred to as an end reverse) is an unorthodox play (often called a trick play) in American football. ... The wide receiver (WR) position in American and Canadian football is the pass-catching specialist. ... Latrell loves him some MIRACLE WHIP!! sho nuff and mashmell The end zone is a term in both Canadian football and American football. ... In American football, the extra point, point after touchdown, or PAT is the act of lining up to kick, as in a field goal, immediately following a touchdown. ...

F

face mask 
A foul in which a player grabs the face mask of another player's helmet in the process of making a tackle. The yardage assessed for the penalty varies with the severity of the infraction - 5 yards if the grab is quickly released ("grasping the facemask"), 15 yards if the grab noticeably moves the player's head.
fair catch 
An unhindered catch of an opponent's kick. The player wanting to make one must signal for a fair catch by waving an arm overhead while the ball is in the air. After that signal, if he gains possession of the ball it is dead immediately and opponents will receive a fifteen yard penalty for hitting him.
fantasy football (American) 
A game in which the participants (called "owners") each draft on their own or with the aid of software [1] a team of real-life NFL players and then score points based on those players' statistical performance on the field.
field judge
the official traditionally in charge of timekeeping
field of play
the area between both the goal lines and the sidelines, and in some contexts the space vertically above it.
field goal 
score of 3 points made by place- or drop-kicking the ball through the opponent's goal other than via a kickoff or free kick following a safety; formerly, "goal from the field". A missed field goal can be returned as a punt, if recovered in-bounds by the defending team.
first down 
The first of a set of four downs. Usually, a team which has a first down needs to advance the ball 10 yards to receive another first down, but penalties or field position (i.e. less than 10 yards from the opposing end zone) can affect this.
flanker 
a player position on offense. A wide receiver who lines up in the backfield outside of another receiver. The term is used infrequently in American Football, having been long since replaced by the "Z" wide receiver.
flat 
an area on the field between the line of scrimmage and 10 yards into the defensive backfield, and within 15 yards of the sideline. Running backs often run pass routes to the flat when they are the safety valve receiver.
Flea flicker 
a trick play in which a running back throws a backward pass back to the quarterback, who then throws a pass to a wide receiver or tight end.
flexbone 
a formation involving three running backs where a fullback is lined up behind the quarterback and two slotbacks are lined up behind the line of scrimmage at both ends of the offensive line.
formation 
An arrangement of the offensive skill players. A formation usually is described in terms of how the running backs line up (e.g. I formation, which refers to the half back is lined up about 7 yard deep, and the fullback is lined up about 5 yards deep, both directly behind the quarterback) or how the wide receivers line up (e.g. Trips left, in which three wide receivers line up to the left of the linemen). Frequently, the formation will allude to both, such as with Strong I Slot Right, in which the halfback is lined up 7 yards deep behind the quarterback, the fullback is 5 yards deep behind the guard or tackle on the strong side, and both wide receivers are lined up on the right side of the offensive line. There are rules limiting what is legal in a formation. All five offensive linemen must be on the line of scrimmage (a small amount of leeway is given to tackles when lined up for pass protection). Also, there must be one receiver (usually one tight end and one wide receiver) lined up on the line on either side of the offensive linemen (it doesn't matter how close they are to the tackles, as long as they are on the line), with a total of no fewer than seven players on the line, 5 of which must be numbered between 50-79. A numbering exception exists if the offense is in a scrimmage kick formation which allows a player whose number is 1-49 or 80-99 to take the place of a lineman numbered 50-79. A receiver who is on the line may not go in motion.
forward pass 
a pass that touches a person, object, or the ground closer to the opponent's end line than where it was released from, or is accidentally lost during a forward throwing motion.
fourth down
The final of a set of four downs. Unless a first down is achieved or a penalty forces a replay of the down, the team will lose control of the ball after this play. If a team does not think they can get a first down, they often punt on fourth down or kick a field goal if they are close enough to do so.
fourth down conversion
The act of using a fourth down play to make a first down. These are comparatively uncommon. If a team is close enough, they will generally attempt a field goal on fourth down. Otherwise, they will usually punt. However, the coach may elect to try to get a new first down. This is more likely if the amount of yardage needed for the conversion is small, or if the team is trailing by a significant amount (likelihood of such a try increasing as it gets later in the game).
four-point stance
a down lineman's stance with four points on the ground, in other words, his two feet and his two hands often a technique used in short yardage or goal line situations.
free kick
a kick made to put the ball in play as a kickoff or following a safety (the score; "safety touch" in Canadian football) or fair catch.
free safety (FS)
a player position on defense. Free safeties typically play deep, or "center field", and often have the pass defense responsibility of assisting other defensive backs in deep coverage (compared to strong safeties, who usually have an assigned receiver and run support responsibilities).
fullback (FB)
a player position on offense. Originally, lined up deep behind the quarterback in the T formation. In modern formations this position may be varied, and this player has more blocking responsibilities in comparison to the halfback or tailback.
fumble 
a ball that a player accidentally lost possession of; in Canadian football the term includes muffs.

A fair catch is a play in American football and several other forms of football. ... Fantasy Football is a fantasy sports game in which participants (called owners) are arranged into a league. ... A field goal (formerly goal from the field) in Canadian football and American football (collectively called gridiron football) is a goal that may be scored during general play (from the field). Execution of a field goal A field goal may be scored by a placekick or the very rare drop... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... A play diagram depicting a version of a flea flicker type play from an I-formation, fullback offset weakside. ... P.J. Daniels was a star running back for Georgia Tech from 2002-2005. ... Navy quarterback Aaron Polanco sets up to throw. ... The wide receiver (WR) position in American and Canadian football is the pass-catching specialist. ... The tight end (TE) is a position in American football on the offensive team. ... // The Formation The base flexbone formation with two slotbacks (SB), two wide receivers (WR), a quarterback (QB), a fullback (FB), and five down linemen (OL). ... A Formation in American football refers to the position players line up in before the start of a play from scrimmage. ... Standard I formation The I formation is one of the most common offensive formations in American football. ... This article is about a type of football play. ... A safety or safety touch, is a type of score in American football and Canadian football where a defensive team gains two points when the offensive team is tackled or loses possession in their own end zone. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The defensive team or defense in American football or Canadian football, is the team that begins a play from scrimmage not in possession of the ball. ... In American football, a fullback (FB) is a position in the offensive backfield. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into American football positions. ... Look up fumble in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

G

goal 
a surface in space marked by a structure of two upright posts 18 feet 6 inches apart extending above a horizontal crossbar whose top edge is 10 feet off the ground. The goal is the surface above the bar and between the lines of the inner edges of the posts, extending infinitely upward, centered above each end line in American, and each goal line in Canadian football.
goal area 
the end zone in Canadian professional football.
goal line 
the front of the end zone.
gridiron 
a football field, so called for its markings.
guard 
OG one of two player positions on offense -- see linemen.
gunslinger 
Term for a quarterback who acts in an aggressive and decisive manner by usually throwing risky passes for a higher reward.
gunner
The widest player on the line in a punting formation.

The goal line is the chalked or painted line dividing the end zone from the field of play in Canadian football and American football. ... The Kansas City Chiefs (red) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (black) line up for a play on the goal line. ... Latrell loves him some MIRACLE WHIP!! sho nuff and mashmell The end zone is a term in both Canadian football and American football. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into American football positions. ... Navy quarterback Aaron Polanco sets up to throw. ...

H

Hail Mary 
a long pass play, thrown towards a group of receivers near the end zone in hope of a touchdown. Used by a team as a last resort as time is running out in either of two halfs (usually by a team trailing in the second half). Refers to the Catholic prayer.
halfback (HB)
a player position on offense. Also known as a tailback.
halfback option play 
a trick play in which the halfback has the option to throw a pass or run
halo violation 
From 1983 until the end of the 2002 season, in the NCAA (college football) the halo rule was a foul for interference with the opportunity to catch a kick. The so called halo rule stated that no player of the kicking team may be within two yards of a receiving team player positioned to catch a punt or kickoff (before that person has touched the ball). The rule was abolished beginning in the 2003 season.
In a hand-off, the quarterback (wearing #12 in this photo) can hand the ball to the running back (#25)
hand-off 
(also known as backward pass) a player's handing of a live ball to another player. The hand-off goes either backwards or laterally, as opposed to a forward pass. Sometimes called a "switch" in touch football. (Note different usage of term from its rugby meaning.)
hash marks 
lines between which the ball begins each play. The lines are parallel to and a distance in from the side lines and marked as broken lines. If a play is blown dead while the ball is between the hash marks, the ball is spotted where it is blown dead for the following play. If the play ends outside the hash marks, the ball is spotted at the nearer hash mark.
H-back 
a player listed in a roster or depth chart as a fullback but with better athletic / pass-catching abilities and playing as a hybrid of a fullback and a tight end
Hero 
a term used by the Penn State football team to refer to the strong safety.
hike 
synonym of "snap" - the handoff or pass from the center that begins a play from scrimmage.
holder 
a player who holds the ball upright for a place kick. Often backup quarterbacks are used for their superior ball-handling ability or punters for their ability to catch long snaps.
holding 
there are two kinds of holding: offensive holding, illegally blocking a player from the opposing team by grabbing and holding his uniform or body; and defensive holding, called against defensive players who hold offensive players, but who are not actively making an attempt to catch the ball (if the defensive player were to impede an offensive player in the act of catching the ball, that would be the more severe foul of pass interference)
Home and away 
a method of scheduling opponents, such that the two teams play one game at each team's home stadium. In college football, conferences such as the Big12, where a team does not play all the other teams each year, use a "home and away" schedule to play an opponent two years in a row and then rotate to another opponent. Teams also use this method to schedule non-conference opponents of roughly equal skill so that ticket revenue is split evenly. When scheduling teams of a lower calibre, the higher-rated team usually plays at home and provides a cash payout to the other team.
hook and lateral (hook and ladder) 
a trick play in which a receiver (usually a wide receiver) runs a hook pattern (i.e., moving toward the line of scrimmage to make a catch), and then laterals the ball to a second player (generally another receiver or a running back) going in a different direction. One of the most famous uses of this play was by Boise State in its epic 2007 Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma.
huddle 
an on-field gathering of members of a team in order to secretly communicate instructions for the upcoming play.
Hurry-Up Offense 
An offensive strategy designed to gain as much yardage as possible while running as little time off the clock as possible. Often involves making plays without a huddle. This technique can also be used to keep the defensive team off-balance.

A Hail Mary pass or Hail Mary play in American football is a forward pass made in desperation, with only a very small chance of success. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into American football positions. ... The Halfback option play is an unorthodox play (often called a trick play) in American football. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 519 pixelsFull resolution (2245 × 1457 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 519 pixelsFull resolution (2245 × 1457 pixel, file size: 1. ... An H-Back is an offensive position in American football that is a hybrid between a fullback and a tight end. ... Category: ... A example of a depth chart In sports, a depth chart is used to show the placements of the starting players and the secondary players. ... In American football, a fullback (FB) is a position in the offensive backfield. ... The tight end (TE) is a position in American football on the offensive team. ... Head Coach Joe Paterno 42nd Year, 363-121-3 Home Stadium Beaver Stadium Capacity 107,282 - Grass Conference Big Ten First Year 1887 Athletic Director Tim Curley Website GoPSUSports. ... A snap (colloquially called a hike, snapback, or pass from center) starts each American football and Canadian football play from scrimmage. ... In American football the holder is the player who receives the snap during field goal and extra point attempts. ... The hook and ladder or hook and lateral is a trick play in American football. ... The 2006 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 2006 college football season. ... 2007 Fiesta Bowl Bowl Game Boise State Broncos at Oklahoma Sooners Oklahoma Sooners (11-3) 42 January 1, 2007 - University of Phoenix Stadium The 2007 Fiesta Bowl Game was a college football bowl game sponsored by Tostitos. ... The 2006 Oklahoma Sooners football team will represent the University of Oklahoma in the college football season of 2006-2007. ...

I

I formation 
A formation that includes a fullback and tailback lined up with the fullback directly in front of the tailback. If a third back is in line, this is referred to as a “full house I” or “Maryland I.” If the third back is lined up along side the fullback, it is referred to as a “Power I.”
incomplete pass 
a forward pass of the ball which no player legally caught.
inbounds lines 
the hash marks.
indirect snap 
a play in which the ball is handed to the quarterback rather than thrown directly to the ballcarrier by the center as in a direct snap play. So named because the quarterback acts as an intermediary in relaying the ball to the ballcarrier. Also used to refer to formations that use such a snap, as most modern formations do. Indirect snap formations exploded in popularity after World War II.
ineligible receiver 
Certain players on the offense are not allowed to catch passes. For example, in most situations offensive linemen cannot be receivers and they may cause their team to be penalized if they catch the ball. An exception is if the ball has already been tipped by a different player.
inside 
  1. of a player's path: relatively close (in reference to the sides of the field) to where the ball was snapped from. Thus, a ballcarrier's path in crossing the neutral zone may be said to be "inside" of an opponent, or an "inside run" in general, and a rushing defensive player may be said to put on an "inside move" or "inside rush".
  2. of the movement of the ball between players: directed toward a player who cuts between a player in the backfield who throws or hands the ball and the place from which it was snapped. Thus, an "inside pass" or "inside handoff". An "inside reverse" (sometimes called a scissors play) is a reverse play via an inside handoff.
intentional grounding 
A type of illegal forward pass; thrown without an intended receiver and no chance of completion to any offensive player, for the sole purpose conserve time or loss of yardage. This foul costs the offense a loss of down and 10 yards. If it occurs 10 yards behind the line of scrimmage, then the 10 yards is taken from the spot of the foul. If the foul is committed in the end zone the penalty is a safety. Intentional grounding is not called in the case of a spike after a hand to hand snap or if under NFL or NCAA rules, the quarterback was outside the tackle box, (the imaginary area between each tackle) at the time of the pass, provided that the ball travels at least to the line of scrimmage. The Tackle Box is also known as the Pocket. nfl rules
interception 
the legal catching of a forward pass thrown by an opposing player.

IWFL : Independent Women's Football League Standard I formation The I formation is one of the most common offensive formations in American football. ... An incomplete pass, is a term in American football which means that a legal forward pass hits the ground before a player on either team gains possession. ... In Canadian or American football, an interception occurs when a quarterbacks pass is caught by a player on the opposing team. ...


J

Jack
Interior Linebacker (ILB) of the 3-4 formation, that plays in the weak side of the formation. Also know as Mo.
Jumbo 
an offensive package which includes two tight ends, a full back and a half back. Similar to heavy jumbo, in which either the half back or the fullback is replaced by another tight end. Often one or more of the "tight ends" is actually a linebacker (The New England Patriots use Mike Vrabel this way - he has 6 career regular season TDs) or offensive lineman. In the NFL, such a player must report in as an eligible receiver because a lineman or linebacker would not generally wear an eligible number.

Standard I formation The I formation is one of the most common offensive formations in American football. ...

K

kick 
as a verb, to strike the ball deliberately with the foot; as a noun, such an action producing a punt, place kick, or drop kick
kicker (K)
player who specializes in placekicking (i.e. field goals and kick offs).
kickoff 
a free kick which starts each half, or restarts the game following a touchdown or field goal. The kickoff may be a place kick in American or Canadian football, or a drop kick in American football.
kick returner 
a player on the receiving team who specializes in fielding kicks and running them back.
kneel-down 
a low risk play in which the quarterback kneels down after receiving the snap, ending the play. Used to run out the clock. (Also called "take a knee".)

The Punt kick is one of, if not the most common style of kicking in football games. ... The place kick is a kicking style commonly used in rugby football when kicking for goal. ... A drop kick is someones dropping a ball and then kicking it when it bounces off the ground. ... The 2007 Penn State Nittany Lions football team kicks the ball off after scoring a touchdown in their season opening game A kickoff is a method of starting or restarting play in American football. ... In American football, a quarterback kneel is when the quarterback immediately kneels to the ground after receiving the snap. ...

L

lateral 
see backward pass
letterman/letterwinner 
a player who has been awarded a "letter" for excellence in an activity, especially a varsity sport. The specific requirements vary by school and by sport.[3][4]
line of scrimmage/scrimmage line 
one of two vertical planes parallel to the goal line when the ball is to be put in play by scrimmage. For each team in American football, the line of scrimmage is through the point of the ball closest to their end line. The two lines of scrimmage are called offensive line of scrimmage and defensive line of scrimmage. Often shortened to "line".
In Canadian football, the line of scrimmage of the defensive team is one yard their side of the ball.
line to gain 
a line parallel to the goal lines, such that having the ball dead beyond it entitles the offense to a new series of downs, i.e. a new "first down". The line is 10 yards in advance of where the ball was to be snapped for the previous first down (or is the goal line, if it is no farther than 10 yards away).
Linebacker (LB)
a player position on defense. The linebackers typically play 1 to 6 yards behind the defensive linemen and are the most versatile players on the field because they can defend both run and pass defense or called to blitz. There are two types of LB: Middle Linebacker (MLB) and Outside Linebackers (OLB). In 3-4 formation Outside Linebacker (OLB) may be designated as a "rush linebacker", rushing the passer on almost every play.
lineman 
a defensive or offensive position on the line of scrimmage.
  • On offense, the player snapping the ball is the center. The players on either side of him are the guards, and the players to the outside of him are the tackles. The players on the end of the line are the ends. This may be varied in an unbalanced line.
  • On defense, the outside linemen are ends, and those inside are tackles. If there are 5 or 6 linemen, the inner most linemen are known as guards. This is rare in professional football except for goal-line defense, but is sometimes seen in high school or college.
live ball 
any ball that is in play, whether it is a player's possession or not. The ball is live during plays from scrimmage and free kicks, including kickoffs.
long snapper 
a center who specializes in the long, accurate snaps required for punts and field goal attempts. Most teams employ a specialist long snapper instead of requiring the normal center to perform this duty.
loose ball 
any ball that is in play and not in a player's possession. This includes a ball in flight during a lateral or forward pass.

In American football a lateral pass or lateral, officially referred to as a backward pass, and an onside pass in Canadian football; is a sideways or rearward throwing of the football to a teammate. ... A letterman, in U.S. sports, is a high school or college athlete who has met a specified level of participation on a varsity athletic team. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Diagram of a Canadian football field. ... The defensive team or defense in American football or Canadian football, is the team that begins a play from scrimmage not in possession of the ball. ... This article relates to sports. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The defensive team or defense in American football or Canadian football, is the team that begins a play from scrimmage not in possession of the ball. ... A diagram of the linemen, with defensive linemen (in 4-3 formation) in red and offensive linemen in green. ... The defensive team or defense in American football or Canadian football, is the team that begins a play from scrimmage not in possession of the ball. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into American football positions. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... In American football, the term long snapper refers to a player who is a specialized center during punts, field goals, and extra point attempts. ... A snap (colloquially called a hike, snapback, or pass from center) starts each American football and Canadian football play from scrimmage. ...

M

man coverage 
same as man-to-man coverage
man-in-motion 
a player on offense who is moving backwards or parallel to the line of scrimmage just before the snap. In American football, only one offensive player can be in motion at a time, cannot be moving toward the line of scrimmage at the snap, and may not be a player who is on the line of scrimmage. In Canadian football, more than one back can be in motion, and may move in any direction as long as they are behind the line of scrimmage at the snap.
man-to-man coverage 
a defense in which all players in pass coverage, typically linebackers and defensive backs, cover a specific player. Pure man coverage is very rare; defenses typically mix man and zone coverage.
margin of victory 
the total difference in points in a game, expressed as possessed by the winning team.
Marty Ball 
a conservative gameplan which involves an offense based around the use of halfbacks with use of the passing game only to advance the running game, and a great emphasis on defense. Popularized term for Marty Schottenheimer's approach to coaching.

Maryland-I : An I formation with two fullbacks and a tailback. Marty Ball is a philosophy of football associated with and named after coach Marty Schottenheimer. ... Martin Edward Schottenheimer (born September 23, 1943 in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania) is an American football coach. ...

max protect 
a modification used on pass plays (usually combined with a shotgun formation) which keeps the tight end and both backs in behind the line of scrimmage to pass protect rather than run a pass route. This is used in obvious blitzing situations to give the quarterback "maximum protection" in the pocket. Although good for holding off a blitz, it leaves the quarterback with only two receivers to throw to (and therefore only two players for the secondary to defend). Some of the logic behind this play might stem from a player's supposed lack of defensibility: when a receiver (such as Randy Moss) or quarterback-receiver duo (such as the historic Joe Montana-and-Jerry Rice) is of the caliber that a completion is likely even when the receiver is closely guarded by defenders. Redskins Head Coach Joe Gibbs is known for having used a two tight end formation to protect his QB from the nearly unstoppable blitzer Lawrence Taylor.[5][6]
Mike (MLB)
the middle linebacker in 4-3 formation. In the 3-4 formation Mike is the Interior Linebacker(ILB) that play in the strong side of the formation. Mike has the responsibility to defend the interior gaps and the Curl Zone. Mike is the leader of the defense and has to be as bright as Quarterback because often he calls the audibles on defense.
mo 
Also known as Jack. The Interior Linebacker (ILB), 3-4 formation, that plays in the weak side of the formation.
muff 
loose ball that is dropped or mishandled while the player is attempting to gain possession.
muffed punt 
occurs when there is an "uncontrolled touch" of the football after it is punted. May be recovered but not advanced by the kicking team.

Randy Moss (born February 13, 1977 in Rand, West Virginia) is an American football wide receiver for the New England Patriots. ... Joseph Clifford Joe Montana, Jr. ... Jerry Lee Rice (born October 13, 1962 in Crawford, Mississippi) is a former football wide receiver in the NFL. Rice is widely regarded as among the greatest wide receivers in NFL history, consistently showing exceptional performance and strong work ethic on and off of the field. ... Joe Jackson Gibbs (born November 25, 1940) is a Hall of Fame American football coach and NASCAR Championship team owner. ... Lawrence Julius Taylor (born February 4, 1959, in Williamsburg, Virginia), commonly referred to as LT, is a retired Hall of Fame American football player. ... In American Football, a Muffed Punt is, Touching of the ball prior to possessing the ball. ...

N

National Football League (NFL)
the largest professional American football league, with 32 teams.
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
principal governing body of college sports, including college football
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)
another governing body of college sports, including college football, whose member schools tend to be smaller than those of the NCAA
neutral zone
the region between the lines of scrimmage or between the free kick restraining lines
NFL
the National Football League
NFL Europa
the NFL's former 6-team European spring league, which folded after its 2007 season.
nickel back
an extra, or fifth, defensive back. Named after the coin, worth five cents. Popularized by the Miami Dolphins in the 1970s, now common.
no-huddle offense
a tactic wherein the offense quickly forms near the line of scrimmage without huddling before the next play.
nose tackle
a tackle in a 3-man defensive line who lines up "opposite the center's nose".

NFL redirects here. ... The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA, often pronounced N-C-Double-A or N-C-Two-A ) is a voluntary association of about 1,200 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States. ... College athletics refers to a set of physical activities comprising sports and games put into place by colleges. ... A college football game between Colorado State and Air Force. ... The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (better known as the NAIA) traces its roots to the National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball. ... The neutral zone can be described as the length of the football from one tip to the other when it is spotted on the field prior to the start of the next play. ... NFL redirects here. ... NFL Europa is an American football league which operates in Europe. ... In American football, a nickelback is a cornerback who serves as the fifth defensive back on defense. ... City Miami Gardens, Florida Other nicknames The Fins Team colors Aqua, Coral, White and Navy Head Coach liljimjim Owner Wayne Huizenga General manager Randy Mueller Mascot T.D. League/Conference affiliations American Football League (1966-1969) Eastern Division (1966-1969) National Football League (1970–present) American Football Conference (1970-present... The no-huddle offense is a tactic in American football designed to minimize clock usage and/or to keep defenses off-guard. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

O

offensive team 
the team with possession of the ball
offside 
  • an infraction of the rule that requires both teams to be on their own side of their restraining line as or before the ball is put play. Offside is normally called on the defensive team during a scrimmage down and on the kicking team during free kick downs.
  • in Canadian football, at the time a ball is kicked by a teammate, being ahead of the ball, or being the person who held the ball for the place kick
one back formation 
a formation where the offensive team has one running back in the backfield with the quarterback. Other eligible receivers are near the line of scrimmage.
onside kick 
a play in which the kicking team tries to recover the kicked ball.
option 
  • Usually, a type of play in which the quarterback has the option of handing off, keeping, or laterally passing to one or more backs. Often described by a type of formation or play action, such as triple option, veer option, or counter option. Teams running option plays often specialize in them.
  • Less often, a play in which a back may either pass or run
outside 
opposite of inside

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into American football positions. ... Onside kick (sometimes onsides kick) is a term used in American and Canadian football for a type of kickoff in which the ball is kicked a shorter distance than usual in order for the kicking team to regain possession of the ball. ... The option offense is a system of running plays in American football. ...

P

PAT 
Point After Touchdown. See try.
package 
the group of players on the field for a given play. For example, the Nickel Package substitutes a cornerback for either a linebacker or a defensive lineman (the latter is referred to as a 3-3-5 Nickel), or the Jumbo package substitutes a wide receiver with a tight end.
pancake 
a particularly hard block that leaves the blocked player lying flat on the field.
pass interference 
when a player illegally hinders an eligible receiver's opportunity to catch forward pass.
passer rating 
(also quarterback rating) a numeric value used to measure of the performance of quarterbacks. It was formulated in 1973 and it uses the player's completion percentage, passing yards, touchdowns and interceptions.
passing play
a play in which a forward pass is made.
pass protection 
the use of blocking by the offensive line and backs to allow the quarterback time and space to throw the ball.
pick
use of one player to block a second player.
pistol formation
a hybrid version of the shotgun in which the quarterback lines up about 3 yards behind the center and the running back lines up directly behind the quarterback.
place kick 
kicking the ball from where it has been placed stationary on the ground or, where legal, on a tee.
play
see down.
the plan of action the offensive team has for each snap, for example a running play or pass play
play action
a tactic in which the quarterback fakes either a handoff or a throw in order to draw the defense away from the intended offensive method
play clock
a timer used to increase the pace of the game between plays. The offensive team must snap the ball before the time expires, or receive a 5 yard delay of game foul. Currently, the NFL uses 40 seconds (60 seconds after a time out).
playing field
see field of play
pocket 
an area on the offensive side of the line of scrimmage, where the offensive linemen attempt to prevent the defensive players from reaching the quarterback during passing plays
pooch kick 
a punt or kickoff that is deliberately kicked with less than full force. It is often used in an attempt to limit the ability of the return team to return the ball.[7][8]
position 
a place where a player plays relative to teammates, and/or a role filled by that player
possession 
(a) having the ball on offense for a number of downs, ultimately resulting in either a score, a turn-over, or the end of the half. (b) physical control of the ball after a pass or fumble.
preseason
In the NFL, games (in or around August) that do not count toward the final team standings. These games are used to pick final team rosters. Star players often have limited playing time during preseason.
prevent defense 
a defensive strategy that utilizes deep zone coverage in order to prevent a big pass play from happening down field, usually at the expense of giving up yards at shorter distances. Often used against Hail Mary plays, or at the end of the game when the defending team is protecting a lead. Disparaged by many fans. John Madden, legendary player, coach, and commentator, has been quoted as saying, "The only thing a prevent defense prevents is a win."
pro set 
offensive formation using two backs, lined up side-by-side 2-3 yards behind the quarterback, with one on either side of the quarterback
pulling 
a term used to describe an offensive lineman who, instead of blocking the player in front of him, steps back and moves down the line("pulls") to block another player, usually in a "trap" or "sweep."
pump fake 
when the quarterback fakes a pass and keeps the ball in his hand in an attempt to fool the defensive team.
punt 
a kick in which the ball is dropped and kicked before it reaches the ground. Used to give up the ball to the opposition after offensive downs have been used, as far down the field as possible.
punt return 
when a punt is fielded by the receiving team and advanced for better field position. The punt returner generally attempts to move the ball as far up the field as possible. Alternatively, they can signal for a fair catch or allow the ball to go into the end zone for a touchback.
punter (P) 
a kicker who specializes in punting as opposed to place kicking.

In American Football pass interference is when a player interferes with an eligible receivers ability to make a fair attempt to catch a forward pass. ... Passer rating is a measure of the performance of quarterbacks or any other passers in American football and Canadian football. ... An amateur place kicker attempts to kick a field goal Placekicker, or simply Kicker, is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points, and, in many cases, kickoffs. ... A football play is the activity of the games of Canadian football and American football during which one team tries to advance the ball or to score, and the other team tries to stop them or take the ball away. ... A play action pass is a type of American football play. ... A play clock is a timer designed to increase the pace (and subsequently, the score) in American football and Canadian football, similar to what a shot clock does in basketball. ... A snap (colloquially called a hike, snapback, or pass from center) starts each American football and Canadian football play from scrimmage. ... NFL redirects here. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The base pro set formation with a split end (SE), a flanker (FL), a quarterback (QB), a fullback (FB), a halfback (HB), a tight end (TE), and five down linemen (OL). ... Josh Miller of the New England Patriots punts the ball. ... [[Image:|frame|right|Todd Sauerbrun punts the ball for the Carolina Panthers. ...

Q

quarter 
one of four periods of play in the standard game. It lasts for fifteen game clock minutes but generally takes much longer since the clock is not continually running. A tie at the end of four quarters may result in overtime.
quarterback (QB)
an offensive player who lines up behind the center, from whom he takes the snap.
quarterback controversy 
a public outcry from fans or the media when a starting quarterback is performing under par and the back-up quarterback is performing better or beyond expectation. Examples in history include San Francisco's Steve Young and Joe Montana, Washington's Doug Williams and Jay Schroeder, and New England's Tom Brady and Drew Bledsoe.
quarterback rating 
see passer rating.
quarterback sneak 
a play most commonly used in very short yardage or goal line situations. The Quarterback quickly snaps the ball and runs right behind or beside the center.
quarter defense 
defensive formation with seven defensive backs, three down linemen and one linebacker.
quick kick 
an unexpected punt.

A typical chess clock. ... Overtime is the amount of time someone works beyond normal working hours; these may be determined in several ways, by custom (what is considered healthy or reasonable by society), by practices of a given trade or profession, by legislation, or by agreement between employers and workers or their representatives. ... Navy quarterback Aaron Polanco sets up to throw. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into American football positions. ... The offensive team or offense in American football or Canadian football, is the team that begins a play from scrimmage in possession of the ball. ... A snap (colloquially called a hike, snapback, or pass from center) starts each American football and Canadian football play from scrimmage. ... City San Francisco, California Other nicknames Niners, The Red And Gold, Bay Bombers Team colors Cardinal red, metallic gold and black Head Coach Mike Nolan Owner Denise DeBartolo York and John York General manager Lal Heneghan Mascot Sourdough Sam League/Conference affiliations All-America Football Conference (1946-1949) Western Division... Jon Steven Young (born October 11, 1961 in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA), is a former quarterback for the National Football Leagues San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Los Angeles Express of the short-lived United States Football League. ... Joseph Clifford Joe Montana, Jr. ... For other uses, see Redskins (disambiguation). ... Douglas Lee Williams (born July 28, 1955 in Zachary, Louisiana) is a well-known American football quarterback. ... Jay Schroeder (b. ... City Foxborough, Massachusetts Other nicknames The Pats Team colors Nautical Blue, New Century Silver, Red, and White Head Coach Bill Belichick Owner Robert Kraft General manager Bill Belichick (de facto) Mascot Pat Patriot League/Conference affiliations American Football League (1960–69) Eastern Division (1960–69) National Football League (1970–present... Thomas Edward Brady, Jr. ... Drew McQueen Bledsoe (born February 14, 1972) is a former American football quarterback in the NFL known best for his almost eight years of starting for the New England Patriots. ... The following terms are used in American football and Canadian football. ... A quarterback sneak is a play in American football in which the quarterback, upon taking the center snap, dives ahead behind the offensive line. ... In American football and Canadian football, a quick kick is any punt made under conditions such that the opposing team should not expect a punt. ...

R

reception 
when a player catches (receives) the ball.
red zone 
the area between the 20 yard line and the goal of the defensive team.
referee (R)
the official who directs the other officials on the field, He is one of seven officials.
regular season 
In college football, it is the portion of the season that is scheduled ahead-of-time by the schools. It excludes any bowl game, conference championship, or play-off games. In NFL football, the regular season is defined as weeks 1-17.
restraining line 
a team's respective line of scrimmage
at a free kick, the line the ball is to be kicked from (for the kicking team), or a line 10 yards in advance of that (for the receiving team)
reverse 
an offensive play in which a running back carries the ball toward one side of the field but hands or tosses the ball to a teammate (almost exclusively a Wide Receiver) who is running in the opposite direction. Contrast to an End Around, in which the ball is handed off directly to a Wide Receiver (usually the man in motion), so the direction of the play never reverses.
Road game 
a game played in the opponent's home stadium. Games at neutral sides are generally not considered road games although they are "away from home".
run and shoot 
an offensive philosophy designed to force the defense to show its hand prior to the snap of the ball by splitting up receivers and sending them in motion. Receivers run patterns based on the play of the defenders, rather than a predetermined plan. Also known as 'Run & Gun'.
running back (RB)
a player position on offense. Although the term usually refers to the halfback or tailback, fullbacks are also considered runningbacks.
running play
a play where the offense attempts to advance the ball without a forward pass.
rush
1. an attempt to tackle or hurry a player before he can throw a pass or make a kick.
2. a running play.
rushing average 
(also yards per carry average) the quotient of a player's total rushing yards divided by the number of rushing attempts.

In American football, a reception is a type of play in which the ball is received (caught) by a player. ... A bowl game is a post-season college football game, typically at the Division I-A level. ... A reverse (sometimes referred to as an end reverse) is an unorthodox play (often called a trick play) in American football. ... The Run & Shoot is a type of offense in American Football. ... The approach to offense in American and Canadian football has splintered and evolved in the 100 years in which the modern form of the sport has existed. ... P.J. Daniels was a star running back for Georgia Tech from 2002-2005. ... In American football, rushing has two different meanings. ...

S

sack 
tackling a ball carrier who intends to throw a forward pass. A sack is also awarded if a player forces a fumble of the ball, or the ball carrier to go out of bounds, behind the line of scrimmage on an apparent intended forward pass play. The term gained currency ca. 1970.
safety
  1. a player position on defense -- see free safety and strong safety.
  2. a method of scoring (worth two points) by downing an opposing ballcarrier in his own end zone, forcing the opposing ballcarrier out of his own end zone AND out of bounds, or forcing the offensive team to fumble the ball so that it exits the end zone. A safety is also awarded if the offensive team commits a foul within its own end zone. After a safety, the team that was scored upon must kick the ball to the scoring team from its own 20-yard line.
    A safety scored during a try scores 2 points (1 point in the NFL) and is followed by a kickoff as for any other try.
safety valve 
a receiver whose job it is to get open for a short pass in case all other receivers are covered.
sam 
the strong side outside linebacker
scatback 
A Running Back that is generally very fast, and good at juking and making defenders miss as opposed to running them over on purpose like a 'power' back.
scramble 
on a called passing play, when the quarterback runs from the pocket in an attempt to avoid being sacked, giving the receivers more time to get open or attempting to gain positive yards by running himself.
screen pass 
a short forward pass to a receiver who has blockers in front of him. The receiver in this play is usually a running back, although wide receiver and tight end screens are also used. Although they are both called screen passes, the wide receiver screen and the running back screen are used for very different reasons. In the case of a running back screen, the play is designed to allow the pass rushers by the offensive linemen, leaving the defender out of position to make a play. The play is usually employed to defuse the pass rush in the case of a running back screen. The Wide Receiver screen is a much faster developing play, designed to catch the defense off guard.
scrimmage 
see: play from scrimmage
secondary 
refers to the defensive "backfield", specifically the safeties and cornerbacks. Primarily responsible for pass coverage/defense.
shield punt 
when 7 men line up on the line of scrimmage and immediately start to cover the punt while 3 offensive players stay to guard the punter.
shift 
when two or more offensive players move at the same time before the snap. All players who move in a shift must come to a complete stop prior to the snap.
shooting 
the action of a linebacker or defensive back to blitz
shotgun formation 
formation in which offensive team may line up at the start of a play. In this formation, the quarterback receives the snap 5-8 yards behind the center.
sideline 
  1. one of the lines marking each side of the field
  2. as adjective: on the field near a sideline
side zone 
the area between a hash mark and a sideline
single wing 
a term used to describe a diverse set of formations, now out of fashion but highly popular between 1906 and World War II, that typically used an unbalanced line, direct snap, and one wingback.
slobber-knocker 
a particularly gruesome tackle or hit.
slot 
The area between a split end and the offensive line. A pass receiver lined up in the slot at the snap of the ball may be called a slotback or slot receiver.
snap 
the handoff or pass from the center that begins a play from scrimmage.
snap count 
the "hut" sound the quarterback will use to signal for the snap to be made.
sneak 
an offensive play in which the quarterback, immediately on receiving the snap dives forward with the ball. The play is used when a team needs a very short gain to reach either the goal line or the line to gain.
special teams 
the units that handle kickoffs, punts, free kicks and field goal attempts. Often manned by second and third team players.
spike 
a play in which the quarterback throws the ball at the ground immediately after the snap. Technically an incomplete pass, it stops the clock. Note that a spike is not considered intentional grounding if it is done with the quarterback under center and immediately after the snap; the only "penalty" is that one down is sacrificed. Running a spike play presumes there will be at least one play by the same team immediately afterward; occasionally there is so little time left in the half or game that a quarterback whose first choice was to spike the ball may have to run a regular play instead, because the spike would run the clock out. There is at least one case of a quarterback in the NFL doing just that, although that quarterback's regular play failed. (In the Jan. 1998 Rose Bowl, Ryan Leaf spiked the ball and inadvertently ran the clock out on that play.)
splits 
the distance between the feet of adjacent offensive linemen. Said to be wide, if there is a large gap between players, or narrow, if the gap is small.
split end 
a player position on offense. A receiver who lines up on the line of scrimmage, several yards outside the offensive linemen. The term is now rarely used in American Football, having been long since replaced by the wide receiver or wideout, with no distinction between whether the receiver is on the line or not.
squib kick 
a type of kickoff in which the ball is intentionally kicked low to the ground, typically bouncing on the ground a few times before being picked up. This is done in the hopes of preventing a long return, as the ball is often picked up by one of the upmen as opposed to the designated kickoff returner.
starter 
a player who is the first to play his position within a given game or season. Depending on the position and the game situation, this player may be replaced or share time with one or more players later in the game. As an example, a quarterback may start the game but be replaced by a backup quarterback if the game becomes one-sided. A running-back may start the game but share time with another running back in specific situations or to provide the opportunity for rest during the game.
sticks 
the pole attached to the end of the 10-yard chain that is used by the chain crew to measure for a new series of downs -- i.e. the line to gain a new "first down".
stiff-arm or straight-arm 
a ballcarrier warding off a would-be tackler by pushing them away with a straight arm.
strong i 
a formation wherein the tailback is lined up deep directly behind the quarterback, and the fullback is lined up offset to the strong side of the formation.
strong safety (SS)
a kind of safety on defense, as opposed to a free safety. This is a central defensive back; originally, the term indicated that he lined up on the strong side of the field and covered the tight end. However, the modern usage of the term now indicates a central defensive back with responsibility for run and pass support, slightly favoring run support.
strong side 
simplistically speaking, the side of the field (left or right) that has the most players, but it depends on the formations of the teams. When a team uses one tight end, the strong side is the side of the field where the tight end lines up. If the offensive package uses no tight end, or more than one tight end, the strong side is the side of the field with the most offensive players on or just behind the line of scrimmage.
stuff
A tackle of a ball carrier on a running play, behind the line of scrimmage. Compare to sack.
stunt
a tactic used by defensive linemen in which they switch roles in an attempt to get past the blockers. Both defenders will start with power rushes, with the stunting defender getting more of a push. The other lineman will then go around him, ideally using him as a pick to get free from his blocker.
sweep 
a running play in which several blockers lead a running back on a designed play to the outside. Depending on the number of blockers and the design of the play this is sometimes referred to as a "power sweep" or "student-body-right" (or left).

Vanderbilt Quarterback Jay Cutler is sacked by U.S. Naval Academy Midshipman 2nd Class Jeremy Chase. ... The defensive team or defense in American football or Canadian football, is the team that begins a play from scrimmage not in possession of the ball. ... P.J. Daniels was a star running back for Georgia Tech from 2002-2005. ... A screen pass is a type of trick play in American football, much like a draw. ... A football play is the activity of the games of Canadian football and American football during which one team tries to advance the ball or to score, and the other team tries to stop them or take the ball away. ... Shooting the gap is a term used in American football. ... In American football, a blitz is a defensive maneuver in which one or more linebackers or defensive backs, who normally remain behind the line of scrimmage during a play, are instead sent across the line to the opponents side in order to try to tackle the quarterback. ... A typical Shotgun formation -- many variables can be implemented, but this is the basic setup many teams use The shotgun formation is a formation used by the offensive team in American and Canadian football. ... In American and Canadian football, a single-wing formation is any offensive formation having exactly one wingback. ... A snap (colloquially called a hike, snapback, or pass from center) starts each American football and Canadian football play from scrimmage. ... A quarterback sneak is a play in American football in which the quarterback, upon taking the center snap, dives ahead behind the offensive line. ... Special teams are units in American football and Canadian football that are on the field during kickoffs, free kicks, punts, and field goal and extra point attempts. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... In American football, the chain crew are assistants to the referee who handle the first down measuring chain and the down indicator box. ... The defensive team or defense in American football or Canadian football, is the team that begins a play from scrimmage not in possession of the ball. ... A stunt in American football and Canadian football is a planned maneuver by a pair of players of the defensive team by which they exchange roles, the better to slip past blockers of the offensive team at the beginning of a play from scrimmage. ... A Sweep is a running play in American Football where the running back starts running parallel to the line of scrimmage, allowing for the offensive linemen and fullback to get in front of him to block defenders before he turns upfield. ...

T

T formation 
a classic offensive formation with the quarterback directly behind the center and three running backs behind the quarterback, forming a 'T'. Numerous variations have been developed including the split-T, wing-T, and wishbone-T.
The players in the white (#7, #11) are tackling the ball carrier (#10)
tackle
take a knee 
when the ball carrier ends the play by deliberately touching a knee to the ground. This is done in the case of a touchback so that the receiving team gets the ball at their own 20. It is also done by the quarterback in certain situations, such as when they are leading by a safe margin and desire only to run out the 4th quarter clock. It can also be done towards the end of the first half if the offense doesn't feel they are in a good position to score and would prefer to simply run down the clock and head to the locker room for half-time. (Also called "kneel down".)
tackle box
the area between where the two offensive tackles line up prior to the snap.
tailback (TB)
player position on offense farthest ("deepest") back, except in kicking formations. Also often referred to as the running back, particularly in a one-back offense.
three-and-out
when an offensive team fails to gain a first down on the first three plays of a drive, and thus is forced to punt on fourth down.
three-point stance
a down lineman's stance with three points on the ground, in other words, his two feet and one of his hands
tight end (TE)
a player position on offense, often known as Y receiver, lines up on the line of scrimmage, next to the offensive tackle. Tight ends are used as blockers during running plays, and either run a route or stay in to block during passing plays.
time of possession
the amount of time one team has the ball in its possession relative to the other team. Since there are 60 minutes in a non-overtime game, and one team or another always has possession of the ball, the two teams divide up the time with which they have the ball out of the 60 minutes. If one team has it 40 minutes the other will have it 20 and so forth. A time of possession advantage is seen as a positive thing and is highly correlative with a win or loss. Teams that dominate time of possession usually have good defenses (that can keep the opposing team's offense from mounting many long drives) and solid offenses (usually with good running games as running plays keep the clock running more often than passing plays).
touchback 
the act of downing the ball behind one's own goal line on a kickoff or punt after the ball had been propelled over the goal by the opposing team. This can be accomplished by one of several ways: the receiving team player catching the ball in the endzone and dropping down to one knee; by the ball touching any part of the endzone; the ball carrying out of the endzone in any way without being possessed by either team. After a touchback, the team that downed it gets the ball at their own 20-yard line.
touchdown 
a play worth six points, accomplished by gaining legal possession of the ball in the opponent's end zone. It also allows the team a chance for one extra point by kicking the ball or a two point conversion; see "try" below.
trap 
a basic blocking pattern in which a defensive lineman is allowed past the line of scrimmage, only to be blocked at an angle by a "pulling" lineman. Designed to gain a preferred blocking angle and larger hole in the line.
true freshman 
a player who is one year our of high school. This contrasts with a redshirt freshman who has practiced with the team for one year but who has not played yet in any games.
trick play
Any of a variety of plays that use deception to catch the other team offguard. Famous trick plays include the fake punt (kick), "Statue of Liberty", flea-flicker, center-eligible, surprise on-side kick and halfback pass plays. These plays are often dangerous, as most upper level teams have too much skill and experience to be fooled for long.
trips 
a formation in which 3 wide receivers are lined up on the same side of the field.
try 
A try is a scrimmage down which is neither timed nor numbered, awarded to a team who has just scored a 6 point touchdown, from close to their opponent's goal line (2-yard line in the NFL, 3 yard line NCAA & NFHS). The try allows the offense (and in some codes, the defense) to score an additional 1 or 2 points. Also called "try-for-point", "conversion", "convert" (Canadian), "extra point(s)", "point(s) after (touchdown)" or PAT.
turn the ball over on downs 
When a team uses all four of their downs without either scoring or making a first down, they must relinquish the ball to the other team
turnover
The loss of the ball by one team to the other team. This is usually the result of a fumble or an interception.
Tweener
a player that plays 2 or more positions because he is a very gifted athlete who could not possess enough size for one position or enough quickness for another. The best example of tweener is Adalius Thomas who played in 6 diffeent positions (DE, OLB, MLB, SS, CB and DT) in the Baltimore Ravens defense.
two-level defense
a defense with only two, as opposed to the usual three, levels of defensive organization. Generally a much more aggressive defense than normal.
two-point conversion
a play worth two points accomplished by gaining legal possession of the ball in the opponent's end zone, either via a run or pass, after a touchdown has been made; see "try" above

This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 648 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1884 × 1743 pixel, file size: 929 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The name of this image (or all images in this article or category) is misspelled, incomplete, misleading, cryptic, or does not conform to an established... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 648 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1884 × 1743 pixel, file size: 929 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The name of this image (or all images in this article or category) is misspelled, incomplete, misleading, cryptic, or does not conform to an established... For other uses, see Tackle. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Defensive tackle (DT) is a position on the field in American and Canadian football. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Tailback is an offensive backfield position in the sport of American football. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into American football positions. ... Three and out is an American Football term used to describe a game situation where the team with the ball is unable to get a first down on their possesion and is forced to punt after they run 3 plays. ... The tight end (TE) is a position in American football on the offensive team. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into American football positions. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see High school (disambiguation). ... Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics. ... A try is a scrimmage down which is neither timed nor numbered, awarded to a team who has just scored a 6 point touchdown, from close to their opponents goal line (2-yard line in the NFL, 3 yard line NCAA & NFHS). ... Tweener can have more than one meaning: Tweener (child development) Tweener (computing) Tweener (basketball) Tweener (professional wrestling) This is a disambiguation page, a list of pages that otherwise might share the same title. ... In American football, a two-level defense is an organization with only two layers of defense instead of the customary three layers. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

U

unbalanced line 
usually refers to an offensive formation which does not have an equal number of linemen on each side of the ball. Done to gain a blocking advantage on one side of the formation; typically one tackle or guard lines up on the other side of the ball. For example a common alignment would be E-G-C-G-T-T-E.
under center 
refers to the quarterback lining up directly behind the center to take the snap. Contrast with shotgun formation.
upman 
during a kickoff, every player on the return team is called an "upman" with the exception of the one or two designated kickoff returners, who stand furthest away from the starting point of the kicking team.

V

Veer 
a type of option offense using 2 backs in the backfield, one behind each guard or tackle (referred to as split backs), allowing a triple option play (give to either back or quarterback keep).

The Outside Veer (or high dive) shown vs. ...

W

walk-on 
in college, a non-scholarship player. I.e., a player who is not receiving a scholarship to play football.
weak i 
a formation wherein the tailback is lined up deep directly behind the quarterback, and the fullback is lined up offset to the weak side of the formation.
weak side 
when one tight end is used, the side of the field opposite the tight end. In other offensive packages, the side of the field with the fewest offensive players on or just behind the line of scrimmage.
West Coast offense 
an offensive philosophy that uses short, high-percentage passes as the core of a ball-control offense. Widely used but originally made popular by San Francisco 49ers coach Bill Walsh. A main component of the west coast offense is use of all the eligible receivers in the short passing game.
wheel route
a pass route in which the receiver, often a running back, travels parallel along the line of scrimmage and then takes off up the field.
wide receiver (WR) 
a player position on offense. He is split wide (usually about 10 yards) from the formation and plays on the line of scrimmage as a split end (X) or one yard off as a flanker (Z).
will 
the weak side linebacker
win-loss 
The ratio of wins to loses, usually expressed as a pair of numbers. For example, 6-1 means 6 wins and 1 loss.
wing back (WB) 
a player position in some offensive formations (Flexbone). Lines up just outside the tight end and one yard off the line of scrimmage. A versatile position that can be used as a receiver, blocker, and/or runner of reverses.
wishbone
a formation involving three running backs lined up behind the quarterback in the shape of a Y, similar to the shape of a wishbone.

This article is about scholarship (noun) and scholarship as a form of financial aid. ... In American football, West Coast Offense (WCO) is one of two similar but distinct offensive-strategic-systems of play: (A) the Air Coryell system; or (B) more commonly the pass play system popularized by Bill Walsh. ... The approach to offense in American and Canadian football has splintered and evolved in the 100 years in which the modern form of the sport has existed. ... City San Francisco, California Other nicknames Niners, The Red And Gold, Bay Bombers Team colors Cardinal red, metallic gold and black Head Coach Mike Nolan Owner Denise DeBartolo York and John York General manager Lal Heneghan Mascot Sourdough Sam League/Conference affiliations All-America Football Conference (1946-1949) Western Division... William Ernest Walsh (November 30, 1931 – July 30, 2007) was an American head football coach of the San Francisco 49ers and Stanford University, and the inventor of the West Coast Offense. ... The wide receiver (WR) position in American and Canadian football is the pass-catching specialist. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into American football positions. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into American football positions. ... A variant of the wishbone formation with two running backs (RB), two wide receivers (WR), a quarterback (QB), a fullback (FB), and five down linemen (OL). ... Look up wishbone in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

X

X-receiver 
Term used in play calling that usually refers to the split end, or the wide receiver that lines up on the line of scrimmage. For example, "Split Right Jet 529 X Post" tells the X-receiver to run a post route.

The wide receiver (WR) position in American and Canadian football is the pass-catching specialist. ...

Y

Y-receiver 
Term usually used in offensive play calling to refer to the tight end. For example, "Buffalo Right 534 Boot Y Corner" tells the Y-receiver to run a corner route.
Yard 
one yard of linear distance in the direction of one of the two goals. A field is 100 yards. Typically, a team is required to advance at least 10 yards in order to get a new set of downs.
Yardage 
The amount of yards gained or lost during a play, game, season, or career.
Yards gained 
(see yardage)

A yard (abbreviation: yd) is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ...

Z

Z-receiver 
a term used in offensive play calling that usually refers to the flanker, or the wide receiver that lines up off the line of scrimmage. For example, "Panther Gun 85 Slant Z Go" tells the Z-receiver to run a go (also called a fly or streak) route.
"Zebra" 
a colloquial term for an official, referring to their black-and-white striped uniform.
zone defense 
a defense in which players who are in pass coverage cover zones of the field, instead of individual players. Pure zone packages are seldom used; most defenses employ some combination of zone and man coverage.
zone blitz 
A defensive package combining a blitz with zone pass coverage. Allows the defense to choose the blitzer after the offense shows formation and pass coverage requirements, and features unpredictable blitzes from different linebackers and defensive backs. Invented by coach Dick LeBeau.

The wide receiver (WR) position in American and Canadian football is the pass-catching specialist. ... For other uses, see Uniform (disambiguation). ... The Zone Blitz is a common method of defensive pressure applied in American football, usually at the collegiate and professional levels. ... Richard Dick LeBeau is a former football player and is presently the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator. ...

References

  1. ^ Building America's Team. Dallas Morning News. Retrieved on 2007-01-29.
  2. ^ Describing 'The Innovator'. The Sporting News. Retrieved on 2007-01-29.
  3. ^ Letterwinner. Encarta. Retrieved on 2007-01-05.
  4. ^ Ahtletics Policies Manual. University of Delaware. Retrieved on 2007-01-05.
  5. ^ The Polian Corner, colts.com, September 20, 2006, accessed March 25, 2007.
  6. ^ Charles, Nick. Taylor made: 'L.T.' has a date with Canton, destiny, sportsillustrated.cnn.com, August 12, 1999, accessed May 25, 2007.
  7. ^ Template error: argument title is required. 
  8. ^ Mallory, Bill and Don Nehlen. Complete Guide to Special Teams. American Football Coaches Association. ISBN 0-7360-5291-7. 
Contents

0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
‹The template CompactTOC4 is being considered for deletion.›  Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 29th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 29th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 5th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 5th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 263rd day of the year (264th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 84th day of the year (85th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Nick Charles (born Nicholas Nickeas on June 30, 1946) is an award-winning American sports sportscaster and journalist. ... is the 224th day of the year (225th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... is the 145th day of the year (146th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...


  Results from FactBites:
 
American football - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (5690 words)
American football is indeed quite physical in comparison to other major American team sports, such as basketball and baseball.
Tackle football is often banned in American schoolyards in favor of touch football, which uses two-hand touching instead of tackling; or flag football in which a player is "tackled" when an opponent pulls a flag off a belt attached to the player's waist.
Both American football and soccer have their origins in varieties of football played in the United Kingdom in the mid-19th century, and American football is directly descended from rugby football.
  More results at FactBites »


 

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