Football Glossary

One of the most confusing things about football is the terminology involved with it. It’s easy to get lost in semantics if you are not on the same page with the people you’re talking with. That confusion can be amplified when discussing Offensive Line play and the different blocks that they are responsible for executing on any given play. This article is written in an effort not only to inform the masses about different types of blocks but to grow the appreciation for the responsibilities of the guys in the trenches. Trap Block A Trap block involves leaving a defensive...

Some things in life are self-explanatory. Grass is green. The sky is blue. Counter will get yards.  While it was originally a counter to the Power play–as the name suggests–Counter has taken on a life of its own. Some offenses use it as their only gap run. Its effectiveness and violence at the point of attack have made it one of the hottest schemes in football today. What is the Counter Play? Counter is a play that gives the illusion of Power in one direction, but then creates a series of blocks to allow the runner to go in the...

When you hear the word "trap", you either think of a contraption that surprises and holds something captive or you think of being surrounded by a group of people that mean to do you harm. It’s uncomfortable, it’s painful, it’s something that nobody ever wants to be in. These are all the same feelings a Defensive Tackle feels when he thinks he’s made it through the line of scrimmage untouched, then a pulling Guard catches him under the chin. This is the Trap play. What is the Trap Play? Trap is a quick-hitting, downhill run scheme that kicks out an interior Defensive...

If you ask enough offensive line coaches what their favorite run play is, there's a good chance that most of them will say the power play. There aren’t many plays that match the brute force that Power offers. If you have an Offensive Line coach, expect him to call for Power every drive. If you’re that Offensive Line coach, continue to fight the good fight.  What is the Power Play? Power is a gap run play that consists of a backside guard pulling, getting his hat on a linebacker while there is a kick out block and multiple “back” blocks...

Walter Payton. Barry Sanders. Marcus Allen.  All three men have at least two things in common: They are some of the greatest runners that football has ever seen AND they made a living off of Toss and ran it all the way to the Hall of Fame.  What is the Toss Play? The toss play is exactly what it sounds like. The quarterback will take the ball and toss it to the running back who is trying to get to the edge of the defense. Toss (or toss sweep as it is sometimes called) is arguably the most widespread outside...