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EMU ATHL 263Theory of FootballTerms & Definitions

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Defining the Field

3

02

04

05

01

04

0

3

02

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01

04

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Line of Scrimmage

Hook Curl Flat

HoleSeam

HookCurlFlat

Seam

Hole

12Yard

s

Deep as the Field

~9 yds

Deep Zones may be collapsed without vertical stretching by routes.

Under Zones may be stretched by receiver action.

~9 yds

53 1/3 Yard - 160 ft

Vertical Field Position (VFP)

SSafeZoneto 15

yd

CCautious

Area15 – 35

yd

OOpen Field35 – 30 yd

RRed Zone30 – 5 yd

EEndZon

e5 yd In

Offensive Direction• Safe Zone

– Secure Runs/Quick Passes

– One First Down – Safe Punt

• Cautious Area– Favorite Plays– Take a Shot

• Open Field– Total Offense– Down & Distance

• Red Zone– 4 Down Territory – Kick line?– Field Increasingly

Wider than it is Deep• End Zone

– No Deep Area – Precise Throws– Must Physically Win the L.O.S.– Higher % of Blitz & Man

Coverage

Horizontal Field Position (Hash/MOF)

4 0

3 0

2 0

4 0

3 0

2 0

ZXL

XL

ZR

R

Ball in the Middle of the Field = More Offense!

9 Yards to the

bottom of the

#’s

Hash Distance from the sideline:

High School ~ 16 yardsCollege ~ 19 yards

Pro ~ 22 yards

Scoring Points Do you know them all?

Touchdown – 6 pts. Field Goal – 3 pts. Point after TD Kick - 1 pt. Two Point Conversion – 2 pts.

That’s All??? Fair Catch Kick – 3 pts.

Offensive Backs Quarterback – The Guy who takes the Snap! Halfback – Split Back Formations Fullback

I Formation – Physical Blocker/Pass Catcher Veer Offense – Dive Back/Primary Ball Carrier Wing T Offense – Primary Ball Carrier

Tailback I Formation – Primary Ball Carrier/Pass Catcher

Wingback/Slot Back Veer Offense – Pitch Back/Receiver Wing T Offense – Ball

Carriers/Blockers/Receivers

Backfield Sets

T

Q

F

L Q

F

Q

RHB

Q T

I Formation

Slots

Split Backs

Gun

LHB

R

Shift vs. Motion What’s a Shift?

A shift is when a player moves from one set position to another set position and comes to a complete stop for at least one second before the snap of the ball,

What’s a Motion? A motion is when a player moves parallel to, or away from,

the line of scrimmage – staying in motion until the snap of the ball.

RULES: All players must be set for at least one second before every play…Only players in the backfield may

motion.

Offensive Line

3 ½ Feet

3 ½ Feet

3 Feet

3 Feet

LeftTackl

e

LeftGuar

d

RightGuar

d

RightTackl

e

Center

Line Splits

O/S Receiver Route Tree - Quicks

RouteName

Steps/Technique

Hitch

3 Steps – Gather Cut on Outside

FootCome back to

the ball!

Slant

3 Steps – Speed Cut on Outside

FootGet eyes and

hands around on the cut

Bend

3 Steps – Roll cut to the

outside on 3rd step

Chair3+2 – Bend

route, two steps and wheel

Fade 3 Steps – Widen as you go deep!

FadeChai

r

Bend

Slant

Hitch

O/S Route Tree – Deep RoutesRoute

Name Steps/Technique

Curl7 Step Inside Stem

Gather cut on Outside Foot

Come back to the ball!

Out6 Step – Gather cut on

Inside FootCome downhill to the

ball.

Post7 Step – Speed cut on

Outside Foot – Get eyes & Hands around on cut

Dig7+2 – Post route, Speed

cut on2nd step of post –

Stay flat across the field

Seam Read

Inside stem to hash, Decision at 12 yards

Hash presence – Broken Arrow

No hash presence – Stay Vertical

Seam Read

Dig

Post

Out

Curl

I/S Receiver – Route TreeWheel

BubbleFlat

Out

Curl

Dig/Seam Read

Seam Flag

Drag

Drive

Route

Name

Steps/TechniqueRouteName Steps/Technique

Flat 3 Steps - Roll cut to the outside on 3rd stepSeam Read

Vertical stem to hash. Hash presence – Broken Arrow

No hash presence – Stay Vertical

Wheel 3+2 steps - Bend route & run fade5 yds from sideline Post 7 Steps - Speed cut on Outside Foot

Expect ball immediately on cut

Curl 7 Step Stem - Gather cut on Outside FootCome back to the ball! Flag 6 Steps - Speed cut on Inside Foot

45 deg angle to sideline

Bubble

Drop step 45 deg with outside footSnap eyes around & run parallel to the

LOS for 4 stepsOut 6 Steps - Gather cut on Inside Foot

Come downhill to the ball.

Drive 4 yard Shallow Cross - Aim for toes of ILB’s Drag 8-10 yard Shallow Cross - Work to get

behind LB’s

Post

Option Route

Inside Receiver

Outside Receiver

Should be run between the Hook defender and the Curl defender in all 3 Shell coverages.

Run against the Curl defender in all 2 Shell coverages

Receiver must identify curl dropper on the fly.

Great option routes are run with feel, not with speed

Personnel Groups - Examples

Name BacksTight Ends Receivers QB/OL

10 Personnel

1 0 4 6

11 Personnel

1 1 3 6

12 Personnel

1 2 2 6

21 Personnel

2 1 2 6

22 Personnel

2 2 1 6

32 Personnel

3 2 0 6

Some teams name personnel groups…Ask me why!

Two Back Personnel Groups23

Personnel21

Personnel

22 Personnel

20 Personnel

All Personnel Groups are shown in Right Formation

Which WR goes in the game

first?1st WR ZR2nd WR XR3rd WR JR4th WR KR5th WR ER

YH

F

T

R

YH

F

T

Z

YX

F

T

Z

XJ

Z

F

T

Ask Me About

2x2 Sets!

One Back Personnel Groups13

Personnel11

Personnel

12 Personnel

10 Personnel

All Personnel Groups are shown in Right Formation

YHZ

T

RYX

J

T

Z

YHX

T

ZX

JZ

K

T

Which WR goes in the game

first?1st WR ZR2nd WR XR3rd WR JR4th WR KR5th WR ER

Ask Me About

3x1 Sets!

Three Back Personnel Groups

30 Personnel

31 Personnel

32 Personnel

All Personnel Groups are shown in Right Formation

Must be in Rip/Liz in

31 Personnel

Get the right people on the field, then get

them to line up correctly.

YZ

F

T

B

YH

T

X Z

T

FBFB

Which WR goes in the game

first?1st WR ZR2nd WR XR3rd WR JR4th WR KR5th WR ER

No Back Personnel Groups03

Personnel01

Personnel

02 Personnel

00 Personnel

All Personnel Groups are shown in Right Formation

YHZX R

YXJ K Z

YHX J Z

XJ

ZKE

Which WR goes in the game

first?1st WR ZR2nd WR XR3rd WR JR4th WR KR5th WR ER

Defensive Line Play with their hand on the ground Stop the run Rush the Passer Will drop into coverage in some advanced

defenses

Defining Gaps & Techniques

Gaps

Techniques

Over the Center

Zero Tech

On Center

Zero Shad

e

Shoulder of

Center

Over the Guard

One Tech

I/S Eye of OG

Two Tech On OG

Three Tech

O/S Eye of OG

Over the Tackle

Four Tech

I/S Eye of OT

Five Tech On OT

Six Tech

O/S Eye

of OT

Over the Tight EndSeve

n Tech

I/S Eye of TE

Eight Tech On TE

Nine Tech

O/S Eye of TE

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Linebackers Inside Linebackers

Physical to take on Offensive Linemen Run Stoppers Defend TE’s & Crossing Routes

Outside Linebackers Versatile Play over a TE Defend Slot Receivers

Defensive Backs Corners

Defend Receivers on the Perimeter Support Versus the Run

Safeties Defend the Middle of the Field Support Versus the Run

Nickle/Dime Backs 5th or 6th Defensive Back

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TNE

P/S “Rip”

Strong Angle Roll

RunPass

Pre-Snap

Movement

Angle

1/3

1/3

1/3Curl/ Flat

Hook/ Curl

Hook/ Curl

Curl/ Flat

Force

Scrape

Primary

SecondaryPrimar

y

Secondary

Job Saver

Job SaverAlley

Run Run

Pass

Cutback

Cutback

Force

Scrape

Alley “2 Eye”