American Football Guide

to the line of scrimmage and the quarterback calls out the play audibly in code words only his
team can understand. The ball is quickly snapped and the play starts, wasting little time. Often
the no-huddle offense is used when the game clock is wearing down, or if a team is losing to
another​ ​team​ ​by​ ​a​ ​wide​ ​margin.​ ​Sometimes​ ​it​ ​is​ ​used​ ​just​ ​to​ ​mix​ ​things​ ​up.
No​ ​time​ ​on​ ​the​ ​clock-​ ​The​ ​game​ ​clock​ ​has​ ​expired​ ​and​ ​either​ ​the​ ​half​ ​or​ ​the​ ​game​ ​is​ ​over
Nose tackle- a member of the defensive line who plays in the middle. Usually a very big player
who​ ​specializes​ ​in​ ​stopping​ ​the​ ​run
O
Off-side- A penalty that is called when a defensive player crosses the line of scrimmage before
the ball is snapped. The player is offside when any part of his body is beyond the line of
scrimmage​ ​before​ ​the​ ​ball​ ​is​ ​snapped.
Off-season-​ ​The​ ​end​ ​of​ ​the​ ​NFL​ ​season​ ​when​ ​no​ ​NFL​ ​games​ ​are​ ​played.
Offense- The unit of players whose mission it is to move the football down the field to score
points.​ ​An​ ​offense​ ​has:​ ​a​ ​quarterback,​ ​running​ ​back,​ ​fullback,​ ​wide​ ​receivers​ ​and​ ​tight​ ​ends
Offensive Coordinator- the offensive coordinator is an assistant to the head coach who
specializes​ ​in​ ​offensive​ ​strategy.
Offensive line- these are usually the biggest and heaviest men on the field ranging between 300
and 380 pounds. Their job is to protect the quarterback from the defensive rush, to block for the
running backs and to open holes for the running backs. By blocking well, they are said to be
buying time‖ for the quarterback. The more time the quarterback has in the pocket the better
chance​ ​he​ ​has​ ​of​ ​passing​ ​for​ ​a​ ​Completion.
Official​ ​–​ ​another​ ​word​ ​for​ ​referee
“Official ___ of the NFL”- it is common for a corporation to become an official sponsor of an
NFL. Banks, shoes, car companies, hospitals, the list is long. Bottom line: big bucks to become
an​ ​official​ ​NFL​ ​sponsor.
On​ ​the​ ​Bubble-​ ​A​ ​player​ ​or​ ​coach​ ​who​ ​is​ ​in​ ​danger​ ​of​ ​being​ ​released​ ​from​ ​the​ ​team
On the road- when a football team has to travel to another city or state to play a game in another
team’s​ ​home​ ​field
Onside kick- an onside kick is a risky trick play that takes place on a kickoff. The kicker will
intentionally kick the ball in such a way that it only travels about ten yards and is difficult for the
receiving team to catch. The objective is for the kicking team to create a turnover and get the ball
back. It is difficult to execute and succeed, but if it is done just right, kicking team can get the
Yanks​ ​Guide​ ​-​ ​The​ ​#1​ ​Guide​ ​to​ ​American​ ​Football
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