North American Gridiron Glossary:
- 2-4-5 Defense: A type of nickel formation with two linemen (two DEs or one DE and one DT), four linebackers (two ILBs and two OLBs), and five defensive backs (three CBs, one FS and one SS). More common among teams with 3-4 base defenses than the 3-3-5, because all four starting linebackers remain on-field while the defensive linemen -- the slowest players on the defense -- come out. This maximizes versatility for the defense against three- and four-WR offensive sets. a safety will often cover the fourth receiver, and a linebacker will cover the tight end or halfback, leaving three to patrol the middle of the field. The 2-4-5 is most often used against the two-minute offense, when substituting players may be difficult.
3–3–5 Defense: A variation of the nickel formation with three linemen (two DE and one DT), three linebackers (two OLB and one MLB), and five defensive backs (three CB, one SS and one FS). Often called a "3-3 stack". Also called a "rule breaker" due to the fact that it often changes blocking schemes for the offensive line. - 3–4 Defense: A defensive formation with three linemen and four linebackers. A professional derivative in the 1970s of the earlier Oklahoma or 50 defense, which had five linemen and two linebackers. The 3-4 outside linebackers resemble "stand-up ends" in the older defense. It is sometimes pronounced thirty-four defense. The 3-4 also was spun off from the Miami Dolphins' "53 defense" named for the jersey number worn by linebacker Bob Matheson, who was often used by the Dolphins as a fourth linebacker in passing situations.
- 4–3 Defense: A defensive formation with four linemen and three linebackers. Several variations are employed. First used by coach Joe Kuharich[citation needed][dead link] and Tom Landry.[1][2] It is sometimes pronounced forty-three defense.
- 4–4–4 Defense: Illegal participation (name so derived from the fact that 4+4+4=12 men on the field; each team is limited to 11). Coined by coach and color commentator John Madden. (However, this formation is legal in Canadian football, as there are 12 players on the field)
- 46 Defense: Usually pronounced forty-six defense, a formation of the 4-3 defense (four linemen and three linebackers) featuring several dramatic shifts of personnel. The line is heavily shifted toward the offense's weak side; both outside linebackers tend to play on the strong side outside of the defensive linemen; and 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 during his tenure as defensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears and was popularized by the Bears during their Super Bowl XX championship season.
- 50 Defense or 5-2 Defense: A once popular college defense with five defensive linemen and two linebackers. Also known as the "Oklahoma defense", it is structurally very similar to the 3-4. In the 50-defense, the team uses a nose tackle (NT), two defensive tackles (DTs) lined up over or slightly inside the offensive tackles (OTs), and two defensive ends (DEs) lineup over or outside the tight end (TE). It maximizes size along the line of scrimmage and is mostly used only in high school against teams that run the ball a lot.
- 53-Man Roster: The most players a National Football League (NFL) team can carry on its active roster at the start of the regular season. To reach the deadline, teams can cut players, add players to their practice squad, or, if injured, move players to the physically unable to perform list.
- 7-box or 7-2-2 Defense: A defensive formation with 7 linemen, 2 linebackers, and 2 defensive backs. Akin to an offensive 2 tight end set, or a goal line defense. Invented by Amos Alonzo Stagg, used by Knute Rockne and Mike Donahue.
- A-11 offense: An offensive philosophy designed to appear as if all 11 players are eligible receivers. The offense exploits a loophole in the American football rulebook to technically make the formation a scrimmage kick, and the offensive line is spread across the field, all wearing numbers of eligible receivers, in an effort to confuse and deceive the defense. It was banned in 2009.
- 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.
- Air Yards: The yards gained by a pass through the air. It is the distance gained by a pass forward of the line of scrimmage to the spot of the reception. Alternatively, it is the total passing yards minus the yards run after catch (YAC).
- 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 punt and missed field goal returns.
- Attempt: Either 1) a pass attempt, 2) A rush attempt (a carry), or 3) a kick.
- 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 against the defensive team, a first down is awarded to the offensive team even if the result of the penalty does not advance the ball beyond the line to gain. In the NFL and NCAA, the fouls include pass interference and all personal fouls. Under NFHS (high school) rules only roughing the snapper, holder, kicker, or passer are penalized with an automatic first down.
- Back: Any position not typically aligned on the line of scrimmage (exception: defensive linemen are off the line in Canadian rules, but are not backs). Offensively: running back, tailback, quarterback, halfback, fullback and wingback. defensively: linebacker, cornerback, rover, defensive halfback and safety.
- Backfield: The group of offensive players — the running backs and quarterback — who line up behind the line of scrimmage.
- 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 backward. Also called an "onside pass" in Canadian football. There is no limit to the number of backward passes or where they may be thrown from. Sometimes referred to as a "lateral," which specifically refers to a pass thrown with no motion toward either end zone.
- Ball Carrier: The player currently in possession of the football. If the ball is "loose", meaning neither team has possession, there is no ball carrier.
- Ball Control: A strategy that is based on low-risk plays in an effort to avoid losing possession of the ball; examples of when a ball-control strategy would be used include when a team is in the red zone and when a team is protecting a lead late in a game.
- Down: A period of action that starts when the ball is put into play and ends when the ball is ruled dead (meaning the play is completed). The offense gets four downs to advance the ball 10 yards. If it fails to do so, it must surrender the ball to the opponent, usually by punting on the fourth down.
- Drive: The series of plays when the offense has the football, until it punts or scores and the other team gets possession of the ball.
- End zone: A 10-yard-long area at each end of the field. You score a touchdown when you enter the end zone in control of the football. If you're tackled in your own end zone while in possession of the football, the other team gets a safety.
- Extra point: A kick, worth one point, that's typically attempted after every touchdown (it's also known as the point after touchdown, or PAT). The ball is placed on either the 2-yard line (in the NFL) or the 3-yard line (in college and high school) and is generally kicked from inside the 10-yard line after being snapped to the holder. It must sail between the uprights and above the crossbar of the goalpost to be considered good.
- Fair catch: When the player returning a punt waves his extended arm from side to side over his head. After signaling for a fair catch, a player can't run with the ball, and those attempting to tackle him can't touch him.
- Field goal: A kick, worth three points, that can be attempted from anywhere on the field but is usually attempted within 40 yards of the goalpost. Like an extra point, a kick must sail above the crossbar and between the uprights of the goalpost to be ruled good.
- Fumble: The act of losing possession of the ball while running with it or being tackled. Members of the offense and defense can recover a fumble. If the defense recovers the fumble, the fumble is called a turnover.
- Handoff: The act of giving the ball to another player. Handoffs usually occur between the quarterback and a running back.
- Hash marks: The lines on the center of the field that signify 1 yard on the field. Before every play, the ball is spotted between the hash marks or on the hash marks, depending on where the ball carrier was tackled on the preceding play.
- Huddle: When the 11 players on the field come together to discuss strategy between plays. On offense, the quarterback relays the plays in the huddle.
- Incompletion: A forward pass that falls to the ground because no receiver could catch it, or a pass that a receiver dropped or caught out of bounds.
- Interception: A pass that's caught by a defensive player, ending the offense's possession of the ball.
- Kickoff: A free kick (meaning the receiving team can't make an attempt to block it) that puts the ball into play. A kickoff is used at the start of the first and third quarters and after every touchdown and successful field goal.
- Line of scrimmage: An imaginary line that extends from where the football is placed at the end of a play to both sides of the field. Neither the offense nor the defense can cross the line until the football is put in play again.
- Offensive line: The human wall of five men who block for and protect the quarterback and ball carriers. Every line has a center (who snaps the ball), two guards, and two tackles.
- Punt: A kick made when a player drops the ball and kicks it while it falls toward his foot. A punt is usually made on a fourth down when the offense must surrender possession of the ball to the defense because it couldn't advance 10 yards.
- Red zone: The unofficial area from the 20-yard line to the opponent's goal line. Holding an opponent to a field goal in this area is considered a moral victory for the defense.
- Return: The act of receiving a kick or punt and running toward the opponent's goal line with the intent of scoring or gaining significant yardage.
- Rushing: To advance the ball by running, not passing. A running back is sometimes called a rusher.
- Sack: When a defensive player tackles the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage for a loss of yardage.
- Safety: A score, worth two points, that the defense earns by tackling an offensive player in possession of the ball in his own end zone.
- Secondary: The four defensive players who defend against the pass and line up behind the linebackers and wide on the corners of the field opposite the receivers.
- Snap: The action in which the ball is hiked (tossed between the legs) by the center to the quarterback, to the holder on a kick attempt, or to the punter. When the snap occurs, the ball is officially in play and action begins.
- Special teams: The 22 players who are on the field during kicks and punts. These units have special players who return punts and kicks, as well as players who are experts at covering kicks and punts.
- Touchdown: A score, worth six points, that occurs when a player in possession of the ball crosses the plane of the opponent's goal line, when a player catches the ball while in the opponent's end zone, or when a defensive player recovers a loose ball in the opponent's end zone.