Glossary of American football terms

The following terms are used in American football and Canadian football. See also: wiktionary:Category:Football (American)

See also

• Football
• Football strategy
• Glossary of 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 and Tom Landry.

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.

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.

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 )

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:

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.

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.

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.

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 defensive player: to cross the line of scrimmage and make contact with an opponent before the ball is snapped, or to line up offside and remain there when the ball is put in play.

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.

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 1 or more yards off the line of scrimmage 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.

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.

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.

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

An illegal forward pass thrown beyond the line of scrimmage without an intended receiver and no chance of completion to any offensive player, for the sole purpose of avoiding a sack. 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 or if 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

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.

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".)

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.

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 that was less than 10 yards ahead).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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".

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

File:060909-N-9693M-010.jpg

The players in the white (#7, #11) are tackling the ball carrier (#10)

tackle

• the act of forcing a ball carrier to the ground
• a player position on the line, either an offensive tackle (T) or a defensive tackle (DT) -- see linemen.

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

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).

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.

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.

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)

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.