Post by Chace Crawford on Jul 6, 2007 14:22:17 GMT -5
Thanks too: entertainment.howstuffworks.com/football1.htm
Offense
A team's offense is responsible for taking the ball down the field toward its opponent's end zone. To do this, the offense throws the ball from one player to another or holds the ball and runs forward. Here are the basic offensive positions.
Joey Knightly:
Quarterback (QB) - This player throws the ball to receivers or hands it off to running backs. The quarterback is also known as the "field general," because he's the on-the-field leader.
OPEN!:
Offensive linemen - These players provide blocking for the quarterback and running backs. Individual lineman positions include:
OPEN!:
Center (C) - The center is located in the middle of the line. This player hikes the ball to the quarterback by bringing the ball up between his legs.
OPEN!:
Guards (LG/RG) - These two players flank the center.
OPEN!:
Tackles (LT/RT) - The tackles are positioned on the outside of each guard; teams have two tackles.
#1 Receiver: Joshua Ronaldo
Others OPEN!
Receivers - Receivers run down the field and catch balls thrown by the quarterback. Receivers are either wide receivers (WR) or tight ends (LTE/RTE), depending on where they are positioned on the field.
OPEN!:
Running backs - Running backs take the ball from the quarterback and run up the field. Depending on the formation (arrangement) of the offensive players, a running back might be called a tailback (TB), halfback (HB) or fullback (FB).
ALL DEFENSE IS OPEN!
Defense
When a team does not have possession of the ball, it is on defense and uses various methods to prevent the other team's offense from scoring. These players must tackle the offensive player who has the ball to stop the offense from advancing. Defense will also try to take the ball away from the offense.
Here are the basic defensive positions:
Defensive linemen - The linemen put pressure on the quarterback by trying to tackle him before he releases the ball. They also try to stop running backs. There are typically three or four defensive linemen. Individual positions include:
Ends (LE/RE) - The ends line up on the outside of the line and try to rush around the offensive tackles.
Nose tackle (NT) - The nose tackle lines up over the football.
Tackle (LDT/RDT) - The tackle lines up across from a guard and tries to knife through the offensive line.
Linebackers - When there are four linemen, there is a middle linebacker (MLB) and two outside linebackers (OLB). When there are three linemen, there are two inside linebackers (ILB) and two outside linebackers. Their job is to back up the linemen, as well as contain runners and cover receivers on some plays.
Cornerbacks (CB) - The cornerbacks prevent the wide receivers from catching the ball by breaking up passes from the quarterback.
Safeties - The safeties play deep behind the rest of the defense to prevent a long pass or run. A strong safety (SS) lines up on the side of the field where there are more offensive players. The free safety (FS) plays a deep, middle position.
Offense
A team's offense is responsible for taking the ball down the field toward its opponent's end zone. To do this, the offense throws the ball from one player to another or holds the ball and runs forward. Here are the basic offensive positions.
Joey Knightly:
Quarterback (QB) - This player throws the ball to receivers or hands it off to running backs. The quarterback is also known as the "field general," because he's the on-the-field leader.
OPEN!:
Offensive linemen - These players provide blocking for the quarterback and running backs. Individual lineman positions include:
OPEN!:
Center (C) - The center is located in the middle of the line. This player hikes the ball to the quarterback by bringing the ball up between his legs.
OPEN!:
Guards (LG/RG) - These two players flank the center.
OPEN!:
Tackles (LT/RT) - The tackles are positioned on the outside of each guard; teams have two tackles.
#1 Receiver: Joshua Ronaldo
Others OPEN!
Receivers - Receivers run down the field and catch balls thrown by the quarterback. Receivers are either wide receivers (WR) or tight ends (LTE/RTE), depending on where they are positioned on the field.
OPEN!:
Running backs - Running backs take the ball from the quarterback and run up the field. Depending on the formation (arrangement) of the offensive players, a running back might be called a tailback (TB), halfback (HB) or fullback (FB).
ALL DEFENSE IS OPEN!
Defense
When a team does not have possession of the ball, it is on defense and uses various methods to prevent the other team's offense from scoring. These players must tackle the offensive player who has the ball to stop the offense from advancing. Defense will also try to take the ball away from the offense.
Here are the basic defensive positions:
Defensive linemen - The linemen put pressure on the quarterback by trying to tackle him before he releases the ball. They also try to stop running backs. There are typically three or four defensive linemen. Individual positions include:
Ends (LE/RE) - The ends line up on the outside of the line and try to rush around the offensive tackles.
Nose tackle (NT) - The nose tackle lines up over the football.
Tackle (LDT/RDT) - The tackle lines up across from a guard and tries to knife through the offensive line.
Linebackers - When there are four linemen, there is a middle linebacker (MLB) and two outside linebackers (OLB). When there are three linemen, there are two inside linebackers (ILB) and two outside linebackers. Their job is to back up the linemen, as well as contain runners and cover receivers on some plays.
Cornerbacks (CB) - The cornerbacks prevent the wide receivers from catching the ball by breaking up passes from the quarterback.
Safeties - The safeties play deep behind the rest of the defense to prevent a long pass or run. A strong safety (SS) lines up on the side of the field where there are more offensive players. The free safety (FS) plays a deep, middle position.