Well. it took a while to put together, but here it is. I originally planned to make this comprehensive of all sports but considering the time it took just to put this together, I will probably do the rest at another time, in different sections. That's better anyways. This list is fairly comprehensive of anything you may hear when watching an NFL game, but if you have anything else you're wondering about, PLEASE EMAIL ME so I can add it to the list. If you're wondering what it is, there's a good chance someone else is. Don't forget about your browsers "Find" feature either, it will make locating things much easier.

Now gentleman, you can find out what that word means without sounding stupid in front of your football buddies. And ladies, you can stop bothering the men in your lives with all the questions already. Enjoy.

 

A

Audible- A change of play at the line of scrimmage. A quarterback and his teammates learn complex systems of code in order to call out plays in the face of a defense and avoid detection.

 

B

Backfield- The players on offense who set up behind the offensive line. This typically includes the quarterback, running backs, and a fullback. However, usually when one is speaking about the backfield, they are not referencing the quarterback but rather the running backs and fullbacks.

 

Blitz- This is a defensive play which involves linebackers or a safety abandoning their typical duties and pressuring the quarterback. This is particularly useful for taking the quarterback down behind the line of scrimmage for a loss or, at least, forcing the quarterback to a quick decision which may result in a botched play.

 

Bootleg- This is a term for a play in which the quarterback fakes a hand-off to his running back and moves in the opposition direction to make a play. Not to be confused with the Play Action (see below).

 

Bump and Run- This is a mode of coverage used by the cornerback in order to slow the receiver and throw them off their route. It is legal for the cornerback to make contact with the receiver only within the first five yards of the line of scrimmage. After that, it will be considered pass interference.

 

C

 

Center- An offensive lineman responsible for delivering the ball to the quarterback on a snap. He is responsible for blocking in the middle immediately after snapping the ball. Centers are ineligible pass catchers (see Eligible Receivers).

 

Clipping- A term for when a player “blocks” another player from behind. This is an illegal maneuver, presumably to avoid serious injury. The penalty is fifteen yards.

 

Cornerback- A defenseman who is typically lined up to cover a wide receiver. Occasionally, they’ll also cover tight ends who line up in the slot (between an outside receiver and the tackle).

 

Cut- A sudden change in direction while running. Typically references a wide receiver, tight end, or running back.

 

D

 

Defensive Back- An umbrella term for cornerbacks and safeties. Also can be known as the defensive secondary.

 

Defensive End- As the name suggests, a defenseman who lines up on the end of the defensive line. The DE is responsible for stopping the run and pressuring the quarterback, depending on the current play.

 

Defensive Tackle- Lines up on the defensive line. The DT shares the same responsibilities as the DE and also frees up the linebackers to make plays.

 

Dime Back/Dime Package- The sixth defensive back on the field. When four receivers line up, the defense utilizes a dime package which includes enough backs to cover all wide receivers. The fifth back is known as the nickel back.

 

Double Coverage- Equivalent to “double teaming”, refers to two defenseman covering one receiver. This occurs with some of the more elite wide receivers in the game, particularly when depth at the position is limited.

 

E

 

Eligible Receiver- A player on offense who can legally catch the ball. This typically excludes offensive lineman, who can’t make catches, with the exception of a tackle if he reports to the referee before the play. This is extremely rare.

 

Encroachment- A penalty in which the defense makes contact with the offense prior to the snap. Results in a five yard penalty.

 

F

 

Face Mask- A penalty in which a player grabs an opponent’s face mask. This penalty is fairly frequent and results in a five or fifteen yard penalty, depending on whether the referee deems the contact as incidental or intentional, respectively. This rule also appears to be in place to prevent serious injury, particularly to one’s neck.

 

False Start- Not to be confused with Encroachment, a false start is a result of an offensive player moving before the snap. Only one player is allowed to move on the offense during the snap and crossing the line of scrimmage or coming into contact with the defense is forbidden.

 

Free Safety- A defensive back who lines up deepest in the secondary and defends against the long pass. His counterpart is the strong safety (see below).

 

Fullback- A player who lines up in the backfield and is typically responsible for blocking. This includes blocking for a runner, blocking for the quarterback on pass plays, and other instances. Occasionally the fullback will run the ball when a back with bulk and power is called for.

 

G

 

Guard- An offensive lineman. There are two guards on every play and always line up on either side of the center. As mentioned earlier, they are ineligible to catch a pass.

 

H

 

Hail Mary- An infamous play in which the quarterback throws the ball far downfield to no one in particular in hopes that one of his teammates will catch it. This is a desperation play which can be seen when the clock is almost out and the team has expired all other options.

 

Halfback- Another term for running back. Also known as tailback.

 

Handoff- Typically occurring between the quarterback and the running back, it simply refers to one player handing the ball to another player.

 

Home Field Advantage- The advantage a team gets by playing in their own stadium. Home field advantage is attributed to familiarity with the field, fans cheering for the home team, and the lack of travel required. Also the namesake of this website!

 

I

 

I-Formation- A formation in which two backs line up behind the quarterback, thus forming the shape on an “I” from a bird’s eye view.

 

Illegal Formation- An offensive formation in which not enough players are directly on the line of scrimmage. An offense must have at least seven players touching the line of scrimmage at the snap. The penalty is five yards.

 

Illegal Motion- Motion from two separate offensive players when the ball is snapped. By rule only one player can move at the time of the snap. Results in a five yard penalty.

 

Intentional Grounding- Intentionally throwing the ball out of bounds or to the ground when the quarterback is sill in the pocket (between the tackles). This results in a ten yard penalty.

 

Interception- A pass that is caught by the defense, thereby giving their team possession of the ball.

 

Interference (Pass Interference)- Illegally preventing a receiver from catching the ball. This is typically cited by physical contact prior to a catch.

 

K

 

Kick Returner- A player who is designated to catch a kickoff and take it downfield with the intention of giving his team good field position or perhaps even a touchdown.

 

L

 

Lateral- A pass which is thrown sideways or backwards to another player. This is the only kind of pass which is legal beyond the line of scrimmage, and a forward pass is penalized and known as a “forward lateral”.

 

Linebacker- A defenseman who lines up behind the defensive line and serves to stop the run or protect from passes up the middle. Typically, defenses use three or four linebacker sets.

 

Long Snapper- A specialized version of the center, a long snapper will snap the ball on punts and field goal attempts. It happens to be the lowest paid position in the NFL due to the little playtime that one sees.

 

M

 

Man-to-Man Coverage- A defensive scheme in which every defensive back is designated a receiver to cover. This puts the defense in a vulnerable position, because if one receiver gets away there is no safety to assume coverage downfield.

 

N

 

Nickel Back- see Dime Back/Dime Package

 

Nose Tackle- Defenseman who lines up directly in front of the center. Nose Tackles are also referred to as Defensive Tackles, and assume those responsibilities (see Defensive Tackle)

 

O

 

Onside Kick- The term used for a kickoff that is deliberately kicked shortly down the field in order to give the kicking team a chance at getting possession of the ball. Remember, if a player on the receiving team touches the ball but doesn’t catch it, that ball can then be “claimed” by either team. Therefore, the onside kick is a useful maneuver when time is low (usually under 2 min.) and the kicking team needs more points.

 

P

 

Pass Interference- A call on either the offense or the defense, this penalty is called when there is discernable contact between the receiver and the defensive back when attempting to catch a pass.

 

Pass Protection- A scheme specifically designed to defend the quarterback on passing plays.

 

Pass Rush- A maneuver employed by defensive players to get to the quarterback before he can execute a pass.

 

PAT- Point After Touchdown. This is the extra point kicked after a touchdown.

 

Pick- Another term for an interception.

 

Placekick- A kick that is executed on a stationary ball, usually resting on a small stand (tee). If conditions are windy, a player may be called on to hold the ball in place.

 

Play-Action Pass- The quarterback fakes a handoff to the running back (to throw off the defense), then steps back to make a pass.

 

Pick: Another term for an interception. This is NOT the same as a fumble or fumble recovery.

 

Pocket- The area in the backfield which the O-line protects. Generally consists of space between the two tackles.

 

Punter- When Team A wants to give up possession of the ball, the punter “drop kicks” the ball downfield in order to give Team B a longer field of play to cover.

 

Q

 

Quarter- A unit of time in football. A quarter is fifteen regulation minutes (not counting time taken for timeouts, commercial breaks, and time between plays).

 

Quarterback Rating- A formula that calculates a quarterback’s passing performance within a given game or season. A perfect rating is 158.3, and quarterbacks can and somewhat regularly do post scores in the zero range. The average is around 78.9. Included in the formula is the completion percentage, average yards per throw, touchdowns, and interceptions.

 
R

Receiver- An offensive player who aims to catch the football. A receiver can be any position that is eligible to receive, such as running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, and in some cases, a tackle.

 

Red Zone- The first twenty yards on either side of the field. The Red Zone is referred to as such likely because it is “red alert” time for the defense. A team’s performance within the Red Zone is a strong indicator of how well they can compete.

 

Reverse- A play in which the quarterback hands off the ball to a running back, only to have to the running back hand the ball off to a receiver who is running in the opposite direction. This play classically sends the defense running in the wrong direction and can lead to some big gains, or in the event a defense is not fooled: a big loss.

 

Roughing the Passer/Kicker- Defenses are penalized for coming into contact with a passer or kicker after the ball has left their possession. For instance, is a quarterback is knocked down after already throwing the ball, the defense will be penalized for Roughing the Passer. This is a measure to protect ball handlers from being injured unnecessarily and results in a 15-yard penalty.

 

Route- The path a player follows in a particular offensive scheme. A receiver may run a “slant route” in which they run down the field moving inward toward the center. Another example is the “fade route”, where the receiver attempts to throw off the defensive back by slowly veering towards the out-of-bounds line.

 

S

 

Sack- When a defensive player tackles the quarterback prior to a throw or handoff being made.

 

T

 

Tailback- Another term for a running back.

 

Tight End- An offensive position that involves both blocking on the line of scrimmage and receiving, based on the play being called. Tight ends are often utilized in the center of the field within ten yards or so to make short gains when no receiver is available. They also are used in running plays as blockers to lengthen the offensive line.

 

Touchback- When a punter or place kicker kicks the ball into the end zone, the kick returner has an option of kneeling in the end zone to end the play, resulting in a touchback. This results in the offense automatically starting on the twenty yard line closest to the end zone in which they began.

 

Turnover- A general term for any time one team loses possession of the ball due to an erroneous play. An interception and a fumble are both examples of a turnover. These turnovers can often be a major factor in the outcome of a football game.

 

U

 

Uprights- A terms used for the vertical poles of a field goal post. The ball must be between both uprights for the kick to be considered good.

 

W

 

Weak Side- The side of the offense opposite of that which the tight end lines up on. A weak side linebacker will opt to line up on this side of the ball, with the strong side linebacker taking the opposite side. A middle linebacker will be between them.

 

Wide Receiver- A receiver that typically lines up on either side of the field and sometimes closer to the center, called the “slot”. Anywhere from one to four wide receivers are typically utilized in a given play.

 

Z

 

Zone Defense- A type of coverage where defensive backs and linebackers back away from the line of scrimmage and defend sanctioned areas of the field, rather than covering a particular player.