American Football Guide

Backfield- The group of offensive players who line up behind the line of scrimmage...The area
behind the offensive linemen...Example: The quarterback and running backs line up in the
backfield.
Ball control offense- a conservative offensive approach where running the football and passing
for short yardage are utilized. If successful it will take a lot of time off the clock (is time
consuming)​ ​and​ ​fatigues​ ​an​ ​opposing​ ​defense.
Ball Hawk- describes a defensive player who is aggressive in getting to the ball carrier and
making​ ​a​ ​tackle​ ​or​ ​breaking​ ​up​ ​a​ ​pass​ ​play​ ​to​ ​an​ ​intended​ ​receiver.
Berth-​ ​when​ ​a​ ​team​ ​gets​ ​into​ ​the​ ​playoffs​ ​they​ ​are​ ​said​ ​to​ ​have​ ​earned​ ​a​ ​playoff​ ​berth
Black out- When a football game is not sold-out, the NFL automatically stops the TV broadcast
from being shown in the local viewing area. If the game is a sell-out the black-out is said to be
lifted​ ​and​ ​the​ ​game​ ​will​ ​be​ ​shown​ ​on​ ​TV​ ​locally.
Blitz – An aggressive defensive formation where the emphasis is placed on rushing to the
quarterback​ ​to​ ​sack​ ​him​ ​or​ ​to​ ​disrupt​ ​his​ ​passing​ ​attempt​ ​by​ ​making​ ​him​ ​hurry​ ​his​ ​throw.
Block- A block is bulldoze like maneuver where a player will collide with another player head
on. There are rules as to what constitutes a legal block on the field, but generally all the action
happens in the front parts of the upper-body. A block can take place in many situations, and there
are many players on the field at all times who are busy blocking. The more common blocks are
used to: 1.) protect the quarterback from getting sacked, 2.) to lead block for a running back or a
receiver​ ​3.)​ ​Block​ ​on​ ​a​ ​special​ ​teams​ ​play.
Block in the back- A penalty that is assessed for hitting another player from behind. A block
must​ ​be​ ​done​ ​to​ ​the​ ​side​ ​of​ ​the​ ​player’s​ ​body​ ​(like​ ​a​ ​shoulder)​ ​or​ ​to​ ​the​ ​front.
Blocked kick- A player breaks through or jumps above a line of blockers and disrupts a field
goal​ ​by​ ​blocking​ ​it​ ​with​ ​his​ ​body.
Blocked​ ​punt-​ ​A​ ​player​ ​breaks​ ​through​ ​a​ ​line​ ​of​ ​blockers​ ​and​ ​disrupts​ ​a​ ​punt​ ​by​ ​blocking​ ​it​ ​with
his​ ​body.
Bowl games- Traditional college football sporting events. Bowl games take place after the
college football season ends, usually matching up the best college teams from each conference to
play each other. Teams that participate in Bowl games are selected through the BCS, earning a
Bowl​ ​bid.​ ​Bowl​ ​games​ ​create​ ​tremendous​ ​revenue​ ​and​ ​publicity​ ​for​ ​the​ ​participating​ ​schools.
Bracket-​ ​the​ ​way​ ​teams​ ​are​ ​matched​ ​up​ ​in​ ​the​ ​playoffs
Bye- when a team is either scheduled off during one week of the regular season, or when a team
has​ ​a​ ​week​ ​off​ ​for​ ​the​ ​first​ ​round​ ​of​ ​the​ ​playoffs
Yanks​ ​Guide​ ​-​ ​The​ ​#1​ ​Guide​ ​to​ ​American​ ​Football
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