Defense
On defense, rushing means charging across the line of scrimmage towards the quarterback or kicker. The purpose is tackling, hurrying or flushing the quarterback, or blocking or disrupting a kick. In both college and professional football, getting a strong pass rush is an important skill, as an average quarterback will often be able to be productive, even against a strong secondary, if he has lots of time to pass the ball. Teams will improve their pass rush by blitzing, which sends additional men at the quarterback. The rules on tackling a quarterback are fairly protective, and very protective in regards of the kicker. This has resulted in most teams sending few men at the kicker, as the risk of drawing a penalty is too great to justify the low chance of blocking a kick.
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Gridiron football concepts
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| Codes |
- American
- Canadian (US–Canadian comparison)
- Arena
- Indoor
- 9-man
- 8-man
- 6-man
- Flag
- Touch
- Street/Backyard
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| Levels of play |
- High school
- College
- Sprint
- Women's
- Professional
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| Field |
- End zone
- Goal line
- Red zone
- Line of scrimmage
- Neutral zone
- Field goal range
- Out of bounds
- Sidelines
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| Equipment |
- Football (ball)
- Helmet
- Shoulder pads
- Uniform number
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| Positions |
| Offense |
- Quarterback
- Running backs (Halfback, Fullback, H-back)
- Receivers (Wide receiver, Tight end, Slotback)
- Linemen (Center, Guard, Tackle)
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| Defense |
- Linemen (Defensive tackle, Defensive end, Nose tackle)
- Linebacker
- Defensive back (Cornerback, Safety, Nickelback, Dimeback, Halfback)
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| Special teams |
- Placekicker
- Punter
- Kickoff specialist
- Long snapper
- Holder
- Punt returner
- Kickoff returner
- Return specialist
- Gunner
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| Other |
- Utility player
- Triple-threat man
- Skill position
- Game manager
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| Play types |
| Offense |
- Rush
- Pass
- Incomplete pass
- Lateral
- Bootleg play
- Draw play
- End-around
- Flea flicker
- Flexbone formation
- Fourth down conversion
- Hail Mary pass
- Halfback option play
- Hook and lateral
- Kneel
- Motion
- Hurry-up offense
- Option run
- Option offense
- Play-action pass
- Quarterback keeper
- Quarterback sneak
- Quick kick
- Reverse
- Scramble
- Screen pass
- Spike
- Statue of Liberty
- Sweep
- Tackle-eligible
- Trick play
- Wildcat formation
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| Defense |
- Tackle
- Blitz
- Rush
- Sack
- Shooting the gap
- Stunt
- Zone blitz
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| Special teams |
- Kickoff
- Kickoff return
- Punt
- Punt return
- Drop kick
- Fair catch
- Fair catch kick
- Icing the kicker
- Onside kick
- Squib kick
- Conversion
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| Scoring |
- Touchdown
- Point after touchdown
- Two-point conversion
- Field goal
- Safety
- Single (rouge)
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| Penalties |
- Blocking below the waist
- Block in the back
- Chop block
- Clipping
- Delay of game
- Encroachment
- Equipment violations
- Face mask
- False start
- Helmet-to-helmet collision
- Horse-collar tackle
- Illegal contact
- Illegal formation
- Illegal forward kick
- Illegal forward pass
- Illegal hands to the face
- Illegal motion
- Illegal participation
- Illegal shift
- Illegal substitution
- Illegal touching
- Illegal touching of a free kick
- Illegal use of hands
- Ineligible receiver downfield
- Intentional grounding
- Holding
- Leaping
- Neutral zone infraction
- Offside
- Palpably unfair act
- Pass interference
- Personal foul
- Roughing the kicker
- Roughing the passer
- Roughing the snapper
- Sideline infraction
- Spearing
- Time count
- Tripping
- Unsportsmanlike conduct
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| Turnovers |
- Fumble
- Interception
- Muffed punt
- Turnover on downs
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| Downs |
- First down
- Three-and-out
- Fourth down conversion
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| Play clock |
- Timeout
- One-minute warning
- Two-minute warning
- Three-minute warning
- Running out the clock
- Untimed play
- Garbage time
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| Statistics |
- Carry
- Rushing yards
- Passing yards
- Passer rating
- Reception
- Receiving yards
- Return yards
- Total offense
- Yards from scrimmage
- All-purpose yardage
- Touchdown pass
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| Celebrations |
- Touchdown celebration
- Gatorade shower
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| Officiating |
- Officials
- Penalty flag
- Chain crew
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| Miscellaneous |
- Snap
- Dead ball
- Touchback
- Instant replay
- Coffin corner
- Resting the starters
- Glossary of American football
- Glossary of Canadian football
- Rules
- Rules in American football
- California playoff
- Concussions in American football
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