Backfield: The area behind the line of scrimmage.
Blackout: When a regional network TV affiliate is forbidden
from showing a local game because it is not sold out. The
New Orleans Saints have been blacked out for years.
Bomb: A long pass thrown to a receiver sprinting down
the field.
Bump-and-run: Used by pass defenders, where they hit
a receiver once within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage to
slow him down, and then follow him to prevent him from catching
a pass.
Clipping: Blocking an opponent below the waist from
behind; this is a personal foul, punishable by a 15-yard penalty.
Cornerback or Safety blitz: A blitz package in which
the corners or safetys, instead of covering the receivers,
rush the quarterback.
Cover or coverage: Preventing a player from gaining
yards; in pass coverage, a defender follows a receiver to
prevent him from catching a pass; in kick coverage, members
of the kicking team try to prevent a long kick return.
Crossing route: When a receiver delays a moment at
the line and then runs over the middle across the field.
Dime package: When the defense replaces two linebackers
with defensive backs to increase pass protection or to get
a special blitz package.
Double coverage: When 2 defensive players cover one
receiver.
Drop back: When a quarterback, after taking the snap,
takes a few steps backward into the pocket (area of maximum
pass protection) to get ready to pass.
"Dying quail:" A deflected or poorly thrown ball that
resembles a shot waterfowl in flight.
Eligible receiver: A player allowed by the rules to
catch a forward pass; all offensive players are eligible except
linemen and the quarterback, who must notify the referee if
they wish to become eligible and stand at least one yard behind
the line of scrimmage before the snap.
Encroachment: If a player (besides the center) is in
the neutral zone and contact occurs prior to the snap; a foul
punishable by a 5-yard penalty.
Fair catch: When a kick returner decides only to catch
a punt or kickoff and not advance it, protecting himself from
being hit by an opponent; he signals for a fair catch by raising
one hand in the air and waving it.
The flat: Areas in the backfield parallel to the quarterback.
On a passing play, the quarterback will pass there only when
no one down field is open.
Forward progress: The location to which a ball carrier
has advanced the ball, even if he was pushed backwards after
getting there.
Free kick: A type of kick taken to start or restart
play after a team has scored a safety, with no defenders nearer
than 10 yards away. In kicking style it is essentially a punt.
"Frozen rope:" A pass thrown crisply, perfectly straight,
and right on target.
Gunner: The member of special teams who is usually
the first downfield to tackle the ball carrier. Steve Tasker
was one of the great gunners.
"Hail Mary:" A desperation pass usually lofted towards
the end zone in the final seconds of a game, where there is
a slim hope of a touchdown in the ensuing free-for-all.
"Hands" team: During an on-side kick, the receiving
and kicking teams will put the players on the field with the
most experience in handling the ball, usually wide receivers
and cornerbacks, in order to facilitate recovery.
Hang time: The length of time a punt is in the air.
Holding: An infraction where a player impedes the movement
of an opponent by grasping or hooking any part of his body
or uniform; punishable by a penalty: 10 yards if against the
offense, 5 yards and a first down if against the defense.
"Hot" receiver: If the quarterback recognizes a blitz,
he will designate one receiver as his outlet, or hot, receiver.
The quarterback will then call an audible and throw a quick
slant to this receiver.
Intentional grounding: A foul called against a quarterback
who purposely throws an incomplete forward pass solely to
avoid a sack; cannot be called if the pass lands at or beyond
the line of scrimmage.
John 3:16: Signs held up by fans in the stands behind
the goalposts seeking divine intervention or attention for
their team. The passage cited is: "For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth
in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Lateral: Pass thrown to a teammate backwards from the
team's line of scrimmage or parallel to it; unlike a forward
pass (which can be thrown only once per play), players may
lateral the ball as often as they want, similar to rugby.
Man in motion: A single player on the offense who is
permitted to move parallel to the line of scimmage prior to
the snap in an attempt to get open or confuse the defense.
Only one man can be in motion at any time.
Necessary line: The imaginary line the offense must
cross to achieve a new first down.
Neutral zone: The region that contains the ball as
it sits on the ground before each play; the area between the
two lines of scrimmage.
Nickel defense or nickel package: When a defense brings
in a 5th defensive back to replace a linebacker on the field,
increasing its pass coverage or give a different look to the
blitz.
Option: A play when the quarterback has the choice
of passing, handing off or running with the ball.
Personal foul: A foul that might cause injury; punishable
by a 15-yard penalty.
Pick: When two receivers cross and one bumps the defender
of the other. This is supposed to be offensive pass interference,
but it is seldom called. Also another term for interception.
Pitch-out: A lateral tossed from a quarterback to a
running back.
Play-action pass: A passing play after the quarterback
has faked a hand-off.
Pocket: The area behind the offensive line, where the
quarterback is protected by his blockers.
Post pattern: A long pass play, usually when the wide
receivers take off down the sidelines.
Pull Block: When an offensive lineman moves out and
blocks a defender on the outside of the play.
Reverse: A play in which the quarterback hands off
to a teammate, who then runs parallel to the line of scrimmage
and hands off the ball to a teammate running back the other
way.
Roll out: When a quarterback runs parallel to the line,
looking for a receiver.
Safety: When a ball carrier is tackled in his own end
zone after bringing the ball there under his own power; the
defense earns 2 points and receives a free kick from the offense¹s
own 20-yard line.
Screen: As the offensive line lets the blitz come through,
the quarterback then passes to the running back as the offensive
line now precedes him downfield as run blockers.
Series: The group of 4 downs a team has to advance
10 yards.
Shotgun formation: A formation where the quarterback
lines up behind the center five yards deep. He takes the snap
like a backwards pass thru the legs of the center.
Special teams: The group of players who participate
in kicking plays.
Stiff arm (or straight arm): A push by a ball carrier
to ward off a tackler.
Tackle: A player position on both the offensive and
defensive lines; there is usually a left and right offensive
tackle, and a left and right defensive tackle.
Third-and-long: When the offense faces a third down
and is more than a short running play away from a first down;
usually third-and-5 or greater.
"Third-and-forever:" When the offense, due to a sack
or miscue, finds itself in a third and 15 or longer situation.
Touchback: When a player who gains possession of a
ball in his own end zone kneels to the ground and automatically
starts the next play at his own 20-yard line; also awarded
if the opponent kicks the ball across the end line.
Wild Card: A team that makes the NFL playoffs by having
one of the 3 best records among non-division winners in its
conference.
See Also:
Baseball Glossary
Basketball Glossary
Soccer Glossary
Football Glossary
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