Have no fear, I hope to put to rest all of your football terminology concerns right before season starts and get you ready for all the action. Ready? Set. Hike!
Football Positions:
Let's start with the Offensive Positions (designated in RED above):
- Quarterback (QB): These are the true leaders on the field. They are responsible for calling the plays during offensive series
- Fullback (FB)/Running Back (RB): These players line up behind the Quarterback (this area where they line up is referred to as the Backfield) and they have 2 general responsibilities:
- Run the Ball also known as power running
- Block for the Quarterback during a Pass play or Block for the Halfback (defined below)
- Halfback (HB)/Running Back (RB): These players line up in the backfield and their sole responsibility is running the ball on running plays.
- Wide Receivers (WR): WR's can be the truly exciting players to watch on offense. They tend to be the speedy, big play-makers and their main job is to run passing routes and catch the ball.
- Tight End: Tight Ends, so accurately named to describe how good their butts look in spandex pants (jk!), generally line up next to the Tackles (see below). They perform 2 main functions on the field:
- Block for the RBs on running plays
- Catch the ball on pass plays
- Offensive Tackles (OT)*: There are usually 2 tackles on the field during each play. Offensive Tackles are the big blockers during running and passing plays. Their sole purpose is to help the WRs and RBs move down the field by keeping the opposing team from tackling them.
- Offensive Guards (OG)*: Just like tackles there are usually 2 tackles on the field during each play. Similar to the tackles their primary purpose on the field is to hit the other team and block them from getting to their RBs and WRs. Guards and Tackles are very similar and strive to block the other team.
- Center*: Perform the same duties as the Guards and Tackles in blocking the other team. They also put the ball in play by snapping the ball to the Quarterback.
* OGs, OTs, and the Center are all known as Linemen because of where they set up on the field, right on the line where the ball is placed (also known as the line of scrimmage).
Now on to the Defensive Positions (designated in BLUE above):
- Defensive End (DE): These 2 players line up next to the Defensive Tackles and their main function is to attack the passer (if it's a pass play) or stop offensive runs. To be a good DE you have to be really quick on your feet!
- Defensive Tackle (DT): Also referred to as a Defensive Guard's main function is to rush the passer (if they can get past the offensive linemen blocking them) and stop running plays directed at the middle of the line of scrimmage. These guys just want to tackle someone (just like their name implies!) See, it's not that hard to learn all these crazy positions!
- Middle Linebacker (MLB): This is the true leader on the defensive side of things. They are responsible for figuring out what play the offense is going to call. Tricky right?! They are suppose to figure out what in the world the other QB is calling in their huddle..almost impossible right?! This is why teams read and watch film before a game because then they get used to what plays the offense runs, so this is what the MLB has to go on when deciding what formation he needs to put his defense in to be the most successful. Because of this task, the MLB is usually referred to as the "Quarterback of the Defense."
- Outside Linebacker (OLB): These guys are usually the busiest on the field. They have multiple responsibilities depending on the play the offense is running and so their tasks can be any of the following:
- Rushing the Passer
- Covering Receivers
- Defending Against the Run
- Cornerback (CB): There are usually 2 CBs and they focus on covering the wide receivers. These are the guys you see jumping in the air and swatting away the ball from a reciever or catching the pass themselves (known as an interception).
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| Cornerback Intercepting a Pass |
- AFL: Acronym that can mean either American Football League or Arena Football League. Most commonly used for American Football League.
- Astroturf: Artificial surface used instead of grass on some football fields.
- Audible: This one is rather complicated but it is initiated by the Quarterback- it's changing the play at the line of scrimmage using a set of verbal and/or visual signals. An audible can also be referred to as a check off. Quarterbacks call an audible in the huddle because they see a defensive change.
- Blind Side: No, not the Oscar-winning Sandra Bullock film, but the blind side refers to the side of the field opposite the way a player is facing. This term is often used when describing offensive tackles. The left tackle is often said to be protecting the quarterback's blind side, since most quarterbacks are right handed.
- Bootleg: An offensive play where the quarterback fakes a hand off to the running back and then goes the opposite way either passing to an open WR or TE or running the ball himself.
- Chop Block: This is a very illegal and dangerous play, it can actually end people's careers. It occurs when an offensive player drops down and hits the opposing player below the knees.
- Encroachment: A defensive penalty which is called when the defender crosses the neutral zone (see definition below) and makes contact with an offensive player before the ball is snapped.
- Flea Flicker: One of the greatest trick plays in football history. The QB snaps the ball and then hands the ball off to another player B, who turns around and laterals (see definition below) to another player C, who then throws the ball down field to player D.
- Hail Mary: A long pass play, thrown towards a group of receivers near the end zone in hopes of a touchdown. This is usually the last play you see ran before halftime in desperation in hopes of scoring a touchdown.
- Lateral: A usually underhand pass that is thrown sideways or somewhat backward with respect to down field.
- Line of Scrimmage: An imaginary line stretching the width of the field that separates the two teams prior to the snap of the ball.
- Neutral Zone: The space between the offensive and defensive lines of scrimmage. This is called the neutral zone because no player (offensive or defensive) may stand in this space before the ball is snapped, thus a neutral field in which neither team posses.
- NFL: Acronym for National Football League
- Pigskin: Slang term referring to the football
- Sack: Occurs when the Quarterback gets tackled before he has the chance to throw the ball or hand the ball off. This is the sole mission of all defensive linemen!
Ok ladies, this list is in no way a complete list and lucky for you by the end of the season we will go through almost all of the terminology including penalties, play calls, slang terms, and everything in between. However, I think this is enough to get you started for college football. Check back soon because we will have an article dedicated to learning all about those silly penalties they are always calling. What the heck do they mean by personal foul, block in the back, or illegal shift? Stick with me and find out!
Thanks again to my amazing friend Nikki for suggesting this awesome topic, and we will definitely be expanding on this one each day!
