Football Glossary

Toughness. Athleticism. Intelligence. These are three things that every linebacker MUST have in order to play the position well. Linebackers find themselves in the crosshairs of the opposing offense on every play, with schemes designed to confuse them or pound them into submission, so they must be up to the task. Linebackers are a key piece in a defense’s ability to wreak havoc on opposing offenses and understanding the position will shed light as to why that is.   What does a Linebacker do? Linebackers are usually responsible for getting most of the players on defense lined up correctly, as well...

If you watch a football game for more than a few minutes at most, you're almost certainly going to hear the word "blitz" thrown around.  But what exactly does that term mean? And how does it fit in with the deeper strategy of the game? We're going to answer these questions and a lot more in this article, so keep reading. What is the blitz? A blitz is a play where the defense sends five or more defenders directly into the offensive backfield to attack the ball carrier and disrupt the offense.  Typically, a football team will send an average...

The Wing-T offense is one of the most unique offenses in football, but what exactly is it, and how does it work?  This article will give you a full overview of the Wing-T: Where it came from, what it’s designed to do, and some of the most common formations and plays you’ll see out of it. What is the Wing-T Offense? The Wing-T offense is an offense that uses misdirection, unusual formations, and a diverse run game to take advantage of overly aggressive and undisciplined defenders. This offense is based around the idea of making different plays look as similar...

In this article we're going to talk about the most common pass routes used at every level of football, from high school to the pros. So let's get started. The Football Route Tree If you've ever opened a playbook before, you've probably seen something that looks like the picture below. The football route tree is one of the oldest ways for coaches to organize pass game routes in their offense, and create an easy way to teach players all the basic routes they'll need to know to be able to run pass plays. We will go over each of these...

In pressure packed moments as the kicker steps up to hit a game-winning field goal, right there beside him is his holder, primed and ready to set up the kicker to seal the game. Their job is also one with high stakes, as the ball is snapped, their job is to catch the snap, and quickly transition to get the ball down for the kicker exactly to his liking. Any bobble, hesitancy or errant placement is sure to result in disaster. With the defense selling out to block the kick, the holder must operate with stillness and urgency, and ultimately...