1. This document defines football terms and concepts related to offensive and defensive schemes, player positions, and the field of play. 2. Key terms defined include zones on the field, personnel groupings, routes run by receivers, techniques used by the offensive and defensive lines, and responsibilities of linebackers and defensive backs. 3. Diagrams are provided to illustrate player alignments, routes, and gap responsibilities to accompany the definitions.

1. 1
C C
2 M S
3
C C
W $
C C C
E N T
Y H R L C
T G C G T
C C C C
F C
C
L C
R
Q
C
F
EMU ATHL 263
Theory of Football
Terms & Definitions

2. Defining the Field
40 50 40
20 30 40 50 40
Deep Zones may be collapsed without vertical stretching by routes.
Deep as Hole Seam Seam Hole
the Field
Under Zones may be stretched by receiver action.
12 Flat Curl Hook Hook Curl Flat
30 20 10
Yards
~9 yds ~9 yds
Line of Scrimmage
10
53 1/3 Yard - 160 ft

3. Vertical Field Position (VFP)
S C O R E
Safe Cautious Open Field Red Zone End
Zone Area 35 – 30 yd 30 – 5 yd Zone
to 15 yd 15 – 35 yd 5 yd
In
Offensive Direction
• Safe Zone
– Secure Runs/Quick Passes
• Red Zone
– One First Down – Safe Punt
– 4 Down Territory – Kick line?
• Cautious Area – Field Increasingly
– Favorite Plays Wider than it is Deep
– Take a Shot • End Zone
• Open Field – No Deep Area – Precise Throws
– Total Offense – Must Physically Win the L.O.S.
– Down & Distance – Higher % of Blitz & Man Coverage

4. Horizontal Field Position (Hash/MOF)
Ball in the Middle of the Field =
40 More Offense!
40
X Z
L R
Hash Distance from the sideline:
High School ~ 16 3 0
30
X yards
L College ~ 19 yards
Pro ~ 22 yards
9 Yards to
20
20
the bottom Z
of the #’s R

5. 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.

6. 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

7. Backfield Sets
I Formation Split Backs
Q Q
F LHB RHB
T
Slots Gun
L Q R
F Q T

8. 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.

9. Offensive Line
Left Left Center Right Right
Tackle Guard Guard Tackle
3½ 3 Feet 3 Feet 3½
Feet Feet
Line Splits

10. O/S Receiver Route Tree - Quicks
Route
Steps/Technique
Name Fade
3 Steps – Gather Cut Chair
Hitch on Outside Foot Slant
Come back to the ball!
3 Steps – Speed Cut
on Outside Foot
Slant Get eyes and hands Hitch
around on the cut Bend
3 Steps – Roll cut to
Bend the outside on 3rd step
3+2 – Bend route,
Chair two steps and wheel
3 Steps – Widen as
Fade you go deep!

11. O/S Route Tree – Deep Routes
Route
Steps/Technique
Name Post
7 Step Inside Stem Out
Curl Gather cut on Outside Foot
Come back to the ball! Dig
6 Step – Gather cut on Inside
Out Foot
Come downhill to the ball. Curl
7 Step – Speed cut on Outside Seam Read
Post Foot – Get eyes & Hands around
on cut
7+2 – Post route, Speed cut on
Dig 2nd step of post –
Stay flat across the field
Inside stem to hash, Decision at
Seam 12 yards
Hash presence – Broken Arrow
Read No hash presence – Stay Vertical

12. I/S Receiver – Route Tree
Post Seam Flag
Wheel
Dig/
Seam Read
Out
Drag Curl
Bubble
Drive Flat
Route Route
Steps/Technique Steps/Technique
Name Name
Vertical stem to hash. Hash presence – Broken Arrow
Flat 3 Steps - Roll cut to the outside on 3rd step Seam Read No hash presence – Stay Vertical
3+2 steps - Bend route & run fade 7 Steps - Speed cut on Outside Foot
Wheel 5 yds from sideline
Post Expect ball immediately on cut
7 Step Stem - Gather cut on Outside Foot 6 Steps - Speed cut on Inside Foot
Curl Come back to the ball!
Flag 45 deg angle to sideline
Drop step 45 deg with outside foot 6 Steps - Gather cut on Inside Foot
Bubble Snap eyes around & run parallel to the LOS for 4 steps
Out 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

13. 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

14. Personnel Groups - Examples
Name Backs Tight 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!

15. Two Back Personnel Groups
23 Personnel 21 Personnel
H Y X Y
R Z
Which WR goes in
F the game first? F
1 st WR ZR
T 2nd WR XR T
3 rd WR JR
4th WR KR
22 Personnel 5 th WR ER 20 Personnel
H Y X Z
Z J
Ask Me About
F 2x2 Sets! F
T T
All Personnel Groups are shown in Right Formation

16. One Back Personnel Groups
13 Personnel 11 Personnel
H Y X Y
R Z J Z
Which WR goes in
the game first?
T 1 st WR
2nd WR
ZR
XR
T
3 rd WR JR
4th WR KR
12 Personnel 5 th WR ER
10 Personnel
H Y X Z
X Z J K
Ask Me About
3x1 Sets!
T T
All Personnel Groups are shown in Right Formation

17. Three Back Personnel Groups
31 Personnel
Get the right people on
Z Y
the field, then get them
to line up correctly.
Which WR goes in B F Must be in
the game first? Rip/Liz in
1 st WR ZR T 31 Personnel
2nd WR XR
3 rd WR JR
32 Personnel 4th WR
th WR
KR 30 Personnel
5 ER
H Y X Z
B F B F
T T
All Personnel Groups are shown in Right Formation

18. No Back Personnel Groups
03 Personnel 01 Personnel
H Y X Y
X R Z J K Z
Which WR goes in
the game first?
1 st WR ZR
2nd WR XR
3 rd WR JR
02 Personnel 4th WR KR 00 Personnel
5 th WR ER
H Y X Z
X J Z J E K
All Personnel Groups are shown in Right Formation

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

20. Defining Gaps & Techniques
Gaps D C B A A B C D
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 S 0 S 123 4 5 6 7 8 9 Techniques
Over the Over the Over the Over the
Center Guard Tackle Tight End
Zero On One I/S Eye Four I/S Eye Seven I/S Eye
Tech Center Tech of OG Tech of OT Tech of TE
Shoulder Two Five Eight
Zero On OG On OT On TE
Tech Tech Tech
Shade of
Center Three O/S Eye O/S Eye
Six Nine O/S Eye
Tech of OG Tech of OT Tech of TE

21. 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

22. 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

23. Pre-Snap
Run Run Run
Movement
Pass
Pass Angle
Secondary Secondary
Primary
E N T $ Primary
Curl/
C W Cutback M S Flat
H
Force Scrape Cutback
Alley “2 Eye”
1/3 Job Saver Job Saver 1/3
Curl/ Hook/ Alley Hook/
Flat Curl Curl R
F
1/3
Strong Angle Roll
P/S “Rip”