Football Term Glossary

The Inside the Pylon Football Term Glossary, brought to you by Inside The Pylon and The Scouting Academy, provides definitions, diagrams, and annotated video explanations for both basic and advanced terminology, teaching football on offense, defense, and special teams. Whether you are looking for play calls, positions, formations and alignments, techniques, or anything football-related, we wants to aid in developing a deeper understanding of the game. Our glossary entries offer clear explanations and video examples to help break down the defined terms. We hope we can help you to enrich your experiences with the game of football

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | #

A

• A Gap – The A Gap is the space between the center and guard on either side of an offensive line. Gaps can be widened by blocks.
• ACE Block – The ACE block is a combination block between the center & play-side OG to the backside LB that is typically run in a gap or power-blocking scheme.
• Adjusted Net Yards Per Attempt (ANY/A) – Adjusted Net Yards Per Attempt (often abbreviated as ANY/A) is a passing statistic that incorporates passing yardage, sacks, touchdowns, and interceptions.
• Area Scout – An area scout prepares NFL talent evaluations of draftable prospects for the front office in a given area of the country.

B

• B Gap – The B Gap is the space, or split, between the offensive guards and offensive tackles on either side of the offensive line.
• Backpedal – The backpedal is a technique used in pass coverage by a defender that allows him to keep his eyes on the ball and his man at the same time.
• Bang – On an outside zone run, a running back selects the bang option by moving through a running lane opened by his line between blockers.
• Banjo Coverage – Banjo coverage is a defensive concept used to counter the spread concepts used in conjunction with bunch formations and bubble screens.
• Basic Contract Restructure – A basic contract restructure allows a team to lower a cap hit in the year of the restructure by converting base salary or roster bonus into a signing bonus.
• Bench press – The bench press is a NFL Combine event that measures how many times an athlete can lift a 225-pound weight away from his chest.
• Bend – On an outside zone run, a bend occurs when the running back cuts back to the backside of the blocks into open space.
• Bird Dogging – When hunters track birds, they rely on dogs to freeze and stare towards the prey. Known as bird dogging, QBs do this too when they lock onto a target.
• Block Shedding – Block shedding describes a defender’s ability to escape a block once engaged, flowing toward the ball carrier and evading the offensive blocker.
• Bounce – On an outside zone run, a bounce occurs when a running back chooses to bounce around the last blocker towards the sideline.
• Boundary Corner – A boundary corner is a corner who lines up on the short side of the field. This plays a large role in the NCAA since the hashmarks are more spread out.
• Bubble Screen – A bubble screen is a type of screen pass where a receiver or tight end moves on a curved path toward one of the sidelines at the snap of the ball to receive an immediate throw from the quarterback.
• Bull Rush – In a bull rush, the defender makes hard initial contact with the OL with both arms, looking to drive him back, establish control, and then flow to the ball.
• Bunch Formation – The bunch formation is a tight grouping of 3 WRs implemented to create mismatches, as it crowds defenders if they attempt to press all 3 receivers at once

C

• C Gap – The C Gap is the space, or split, between the offensive tackles and tight ends, or area outside the tackles if no tight end is present.
• Cadence – Cadence refers to all of the verbal signals delivered by the quarterback before the start of the play. Cadence is not to be confused with snap count, which is the signal for the football to be snapped by the center.
• Catch Man – Catch man or catch technique is a defensive tactic where defenders “catch” or jam the receiver in the open field and disrupt his route.
• Chip Block – A chip block is used by a tight end or running back before releasing on a route to help the pass protection with a difficult assignment.
• Click and Close – Click and close is the ability of a defensive back or linebacker to read the flow of action while diagnosing the play and then attacking aggressively.
• Climbing the Pocket – Climbing the pocket is a QB’s ability to avoid pressure, moving with quick steps forward or laterally, keeping his eyes downfield and trusting the OL.
• Corner Route – A corner route is a pass pattern where the receiver runs upfield and then bends toward the sideline.
• Cover 0 – Cover 0 is a coverage scheme with zero deep defenders, with pass defenders playing man-to-man and featuring a heavy pass rush. Also known as a “zero blitz.”
• Cover 1 – Cover 1 or “€œman-free”€ is a man-to-man defensive scheme with one free safety in a deep zone while the cornerbacks and linebackers play man coverage.
• Cover 2 – Cover 2 is a zone defense where two deep safeties each occupy one deep half of the field’s width.
• Cover 2 Man – Cover 2 Man is coverage where the 2 safeties split the deep part of the field (as in Cover 2), but the five underneath defenders match up in man coverage.
• Cover 3 – Cover 3 is a zone defense where three defensive backs divide the deep portion of the field into thirds, with four defenders underneath.
• Cover 4 – Cover 4 or “quarters” is a coverage shell with four deep defenders. The cornerbacks cover the outside deep zones, while the safeties handle the deep zones in the middle.
• Coverage Lanes – Coverage lanes are vertical sections of the field the kickoff unit are assigned to fill. Minimal overlap and moving downfield as a unit is essential.
• Crackback Block – A crackback block is where a player split out wide, or in the slot, motions into the formation and delivers a block to the blindside of an edge defender.
• Crack Screen – A crack screen is part of a packaged play where a screen element is set up using a RB executing a swing route into the flat and a WR crackback block.
• Crack Sweep – The crack sweep is where the offensive line seeks to seal the defense in place, to the inside, while a crackback block seals the end, preventing pursuit.

D

• D Gap – The D Gap is the area outside the inline tight end along the line of scrimmage. Also the space/split between two inline tight ends aligned on the same side.
• Dagger Concept – Dagger concept is a 3-man combo: a vertical route from the slot WR, a drag from the weak side, and a deep dig or square-in from the primary target.
• Deep Comeback Route – The deep comeback route stresses the cornerback by selling a go route, and then creates separation at the cut point.
• Deuce Block – The deuce block is a combination block between the tackle and guard to the backside linebacker that is typically run in a gap or power-blocking scheme.
• Dig Route – The dig route is one of the basic passing routes. It starts on a vertical stem with the receiver cutting at a 90 degree angle usually after 12-15 yards.
• Dino Stem – Dino stem technique is used as the receiver reaches the top of his route, bending his path a few steps, faking as if breaking outside on a corner route.
• Directional Punting – Directional punting is a strategy employed by both college and NFL teams to reduce the number of available lanes for a returner.
• Double A Gap Blitz – A two-man blitz into the A gaps by the defense designed to overpower the interior offensive line.
• Double Move – A double move is a pass-catching route where a receiver executes two cuts in one route to fool the cornerback.
• Down Block – A down block is used by OL to drive a defender laterally down toward the center. The down block takes advantage of OL leverage over DL positioned inside.
• Drive Concept – The Drive Concept is a high-low concept with a deep dig route from an inside receiver and a shallow drag route from an outside receiver.
• Drive-Catch Technique – The drive-catch phase is a term referring to the ideal initial movement of offensive tackles and guards to get out of their stance at the snap.

E

• E Gap – The E Gap is the theoretic space, or alley, further outside the tight end (if present) but often to the inside of a wide receiver aligned closed formation.
• End Around – Also called the “jet sweep”, an end around is a rushing play where a wide receiver comes from his position on the edge and takes a handoff or pitch.
• Exclusive Rights Free Agent – An exclusive rights free agent is any player with less than three seasons of NFL experience accrued. They are only allowed to sign with their team.

F

• Fair Catch – A fair catch allows a kickoff or punt returner to field a kick without being tackled, while giving up his opportunity to return the kick.
• False Start – A false start is a penalty against the offense for moving before the snap of the ball in a fashion that simulates the beginning of a play.
• Field Goal and Extra Point Protection – In field goal and extra point protection, the focus is to rebuff pressure from the middle of the defensive formation using the overlap and rocker techniques.
• Fire Call – A fire call is made by the holder on FGs or XPs in the event of a bad snap – making a successful kick impossible – triggering an opportunity to throw a pass.
• Fire Zone Blitz – The fire zone blitz is a defensive scheme that generally involves a five-man pass rush, with the other defenders dropping into zone coverage.
• Four Verticals Concept – A passing concept where four pass catchers go deep at the same time. This concept stretches a defense vertically, but also horizontally as all areas of the field are potential options for the the offense.

G

• Gauntlet – The gauntlet is a combine drill that tests the ability of wide receivers to catch passes while moving at full speed.
• Go Route – A go route is vertical pass pattern run straight down the field where the WR runs at full speed toward the end zone.
• Green Dog Blitz – A green dog blitz is a defensive technique where a defender rushes the quarterback after his man coverage assignment stays in to pass block.
• Guaranteed Salary – A guaranteed salary protects the player’s salary from one or more of the football reasons a team can terminate a player. Those three reasons for release are referred to as skill, injury, and salary cap termination.

H

• Hip Fluidity – Hip Fluidity is a key trait for CBs, allowing change of direction while maintaining balance, rotating his lower body quickly and mirroring quick cuts.
• Hit and Throw – Hit and throw is when the quarterback finishes his drop back and begins throwing as his back foot hits the ground in the last step of a drop back.
• Hitch Step – The hitch step is used by quarterbacks on deeper drops to help set his feet and sync his timing with the route structure on the play.
• Hold-Up Technique – Rather than attempt to rush the punter, hold up technique involves legally grabbing an opposing lineman’s jersey and maintaining leverage to delay progress.
• Honey Hole – Honey hole refers to one of the soft areas presented by Cover 2 defenses, deep along the sidelines, behind the CB and away from the two-deep safeties.

I

• i-Formation – The i-Formation typically employs 21 personnel, with fullback and running back positioned in the backfield in a straight line behind the quarterback.
• Inverted Veer – The inverted veer, also known as the power read, is a relatively recent changeup made to the classic option play, the veer.

J

• Jab Step (Kicking) – A jab step is a small step by a kicker used to begin his approach as the ball is snapped on a field goal or extra point.
• Jam – A jam is a collision forced by the defender with a receiver coming off the line of scrimmage, intended to disrupt the path and timing of his assigned route.
• Jumbo Sail – The jumbo sail features multiple tight ends running a combination of a deep go route, an intermediate out or crossing route, and a short flat route.

K

• Kicker – The kicker is a member of a football team tasked with handling kickoff, field goal, and extra point duties.
• Kickoff – A kickoff occurs at the start of the 1st or 2nd half, and after any scoring play. Kickoffs are hit from the 35-yard line, and must travel at least 10 yards.
• Kickoff Safeties – Kickoff safeties are employed by a kickoff coverage unit to create a small second line of defense in the event the primary coverage unit is beaten.
• Kill Call – A kill call is a call made at the line of scrimmage by a quarterback to switch to a more favorable play against the defense that is on the field.

L

• Landry Shift – The Landry shift features all offensive linemen but the center going from a 3 point stance, standing in a 2 point stance, and back to a 3 point stance.
• Line of Scrimmage – The line of scrimmage is a perpendicular line where the front nose of the football is placed by officials when spotting it prior to the next offensive play.
• Long Snapper – The long snapper is tasked with hiking the ball, delivering a precise, quick snap to the specialist and on punts is also required to participate in coverage

M

• Mesh Concept – The basic design of the mesh concept involves two receivers crossing underneath at a mesh point over the middle.
• Mesh Point – The moment where the RB and QB come together on a handoff or play action fake is known as the “mesh point.”
• Mills Concept – Mills concept combines a post route from an outside X or Z receiver with a dig route from a slot receiver on the same side of the formation.
• Mirrored Passing Design – A mirrored passing design is a simplified play design that creates an easy pre-snap read for the quarterback while still giving the offense some versatility.

N

• NASCAR Front – A NASCAR front is a 4-man defensive line comprised of defensive ends and linebackers where speed and explosiveness apply rapid pressure on the quarterback.
• NCAA Concept – NCAA concept is a three-receiver design that gives the QB two high-low reads. The three routes are a post, a dig and an underneath drive or shallow route.
• NFL Waiver System – The NFL waiver system is the process by which players may change teams or be signed to a practice squad once being waived by an NFL team.

O

• Off Man Technique – In off man technique the CB lines up away from the line of scrimmage, leaving a “cushion” between and reacts to cuts or movements by the receiver.
• Offensive Holding – An offensive holding is a penalty mostly called against OL, and is given for holding onto a defender to prevent him from getting past offensive player.
• Onside Kick – An onside kick is deployed by a team trying to gain an extra possession by kicking the ball into the ground and hoping to recover it 10 yards downfield.
• Open-Field Punt – An open-field punt occurs when the line of scrimmage on a punt is between a team’s own goal line and its 40-yard line.
• Option Route – An option route is a pass pattern, commonly run from the slot, where the WR adjusts the direction he will cut at the top of his stem based on the coverage.
• Oskie Call – “Oskie” is the traditional defensive call that a player uses to inform teammates that he will intercept the ball. An oskie call alerts the other defenders.

P

• Packaged Play – A packaged play is one that gives the quarterback options along the interior and on the edges, stretching the defensive both horizontally and vertically.
• Pass Interference – Pass interference is a judgement call (not reviewable) made when a defender makes physical contact with a pass receiver attempting to secure the ball.
• Personal Protector – The personal protector is responsible for counting teammates, calling the protection scheme and snap count, blocking for the punter, and covering the kick.
• Pin Deep Punt – A pin deep punt is defined as any punt kicked when the line of scrimmage is from a team’s 41-yard line forward.
• Pin-Pull Sweep – The pin-pull sweep is a run blocking scheme using a combination of down and reach blocks to pin defenders inside in tandem with multiple pull blocks.
• Pivot Route – A pivot route is a short route utilizing a quick cut that is meant to defeat man coverage.
• Play Action – Play action is used on passing plays to simulate a run in order to put defenders in a poor position to defend against the pass.
• Press Man Technique – Press Man Technique, or “bump and run,” is when the CB is close to the line of scrimmage, facing the receiver, looking to hit or “jam” the WR within 5 yards.
• Pre-Snap RPO Reads – In a RPO concept the QB makes two different types of pre-snap RPO reads: a box count read and a ratio read, to determine which play to use.
• Pro Personnel Director – Pro Personnel Director is the person who is responsible for the evaluation of players who no longer have college eligibility
• Prorated Bonus – A prorated bonus is the mechanism used to account for a player’s signing bonus against the salary cap for the duration of the contract.
• Pooch Kick – Pooch kicks are similar to squib kicks in that the main aim of the kicking team is to prevent a dynamic returner from cleanly receiving the ball.
• Post-Snap RPO Reads – Post-Snap RPO Reads are decisions made by the quarterbacks on whether to run or pass based on a single, conflict, defender’s actions.
• Punt – A punt is utilized by a team on fourth down in a situation where it is unlikely the offense will pick up the yardage required to produce a new set of downs.
• Punt Gunner – A punt gunner is an essential part of any punt coverage unit. Their job is to beat their blocker and get downfield to disrupt the return.
• Punter – The punter is tasked with drop kicking the ball downfield to gain an advantage on field position on fourth down after an ineffective drive.
• Put On Skates – Put on skates is a descriptive term used by commentators and writers when offensive linemen are driven backward by a defender, making the overmatched OL look as if his feet were rolling backward uncontrollably.

Q

• Quarter-Quarter-Half – Quarter Quarter Half is a secondary coverage also known as Cover 6, that mixes elements of Cover 2 and Cover 4.
• Quick Hitch – A quick hitch route is where a receiver sprints downfield several steps, before abruptly halting and turning back to the QB for the pass.
• Quick Kick – A quick kick is a play where an offensive player punts the football in an attempt to catch the defense by surprise and change field position.

R

• Radar Defense – The radar defense has all 11 defenders standing before the snap to disguise their plan of attack.
• Reach Block – A reach block is used by an offensive lineman in the play-side gap that attempts to gain outside leverage on a defender.
• Reserve/Future Contract – A reserve / future contract is signed at the close of the regular season, before the start of the new league year, and the player is added to 90-man roster.
• Restricted Free Agent – A restricted free agent is a player who has completed his rookie contract but has not vested (reached the 4 years of service time needed to become an UFA).
• Robber Technique – Robber technique is usually a safety moving from pre-snap position toward the line of scrimmage, attempting to disrupt crossing, slant, in and dig routes.
• Roll Coverage – To roll coverage is to show one coverage look before the snap and then shifting to a different coverage after the ball is snapped.
• Rookie Contract – In 2012 the NFL standardized rookie player contracts, determining the value and length based on the round the player is selected.
• Running the Arc – Running the arc occurs when an edge defender attacks with an outside pass rush, bursting upfield and around the opposing tackle’s frame and into the pocket.

S

• Sail Concept – The sail concept is a three-level passing scheme that overloads one side of the defense while stretching the coverage vertically.
• Scissors Concept – The scissors concept is an air-raid passing concept that is effective against two-high coverages that features a post and corner route.
• Scramble Drill – A scramble drill is a practice drill used to train receivers how to respond when pass protection breaks down and the QB is flushed out of the pocket.
• Seam Route – A seam route is a pass-catching route run vertically in the middle area of the field in which the receiver runs along the hashmarks, or the seam.
• Shadow Roster – Shadow roster is a term used by fans and media to classify the players no longer on the active or practice squad rosters, and available to be re-signed.
• Shield Punt Formation – Shield punt formation is only allowed in college football, with bigger splits between linemen who quickly block while moving forward, getting downfield.
• Silent Count – A silent count is when snapping the ball is based on a movement from one of the interior lineman, such as a head bob or a tap on the center’s knee from a guard, usually due to crowd noise.
• Skip Step (Kicking) – A skip step is a motion employed by kickers on their follow-through for field goals and extra points.
• Smash Concept – The smash concept consists of two routes, run on the same side of the field, that seeks to stress zone coverage with paired high-low routes.
• Smoke Route – A smoke route is a quick, one-step hitch route used as a sight adjustment, taking advantage of an uncovered receiver or off-man coverage.
• Speed Turn – The speed turn is a technique for defensive backs to flip their hips without losing speed while covering a wide receiver.
• Spin Move (Defense) – A spin move is pass rush maneuver in which a defender rotates, or spins, his body 360-degrees, inside or outside, to escape, or avoid, a block near the line.
• Split Zone – The split zone is a variation of the zone run blocking scheme where the offensive player blocks across the flow of the play to handle the backside defender.
• Spot Concept – Spot concept is a half field “triangle” read, featuring a flat route, a deep corner route, and the spot/snag underneath about 5 yards deep.
• Spread Punt Formation – Spread punt features seven linemen, two punt gunners 8-10 yards outside, a “personal protector” five yards behind the line, and a punter 15 yards deep.
• Squib Kick – A squib kick is used by kickoff coverage units to avoid a dangerous returner or a big play, usually at the end of a half or game, but concedes some yardage.
• Standing Broad Jump – The standing broad jump is a NFL Scouting Combine event that helps measure the explosiveness of prospects.
• Street Free Agent – A street free agent is a veteran football player that has been on a NFL roster but is currently un-signed and available to be signed by any team.
• Sugar The A Gap – To sugar the A gap is to line up one or two linebackers in the A gaps – between guard & center – feinting an A gap blitz before dropping into coverage.
• Swim Move – A swim move is a pass-rushing technique used by primarily by defensive lineman and linebackers that is similar to a freestyle swimming stroke.
• Swing Route – A swing route is a pass pattern typically executed by a running back in the backfield. The RB will release toward the sideline, and then bend upfield.

T

• Tampa 2 – Tampa 2 is a variant of Cover 2 that asks the middle linebacker to cover the deep middle area of the field, vulnerable in a more traditional 2-deep scheme.
• Tare Concept – The tare concept is a passing scheme typically run out of a 3X1 formation, utilizing a vertical route to open up quick outs on the same side of the field.
• Target Distance Punted – Target distance punted (TDP) measures how effectively a punter delivers the distance expected in various field positions ‒ which is not always as far as possible.
• Three Cone Drill – The Three Cone Drill is a NFL Scouting Combine Drill that measures speed, agility, quickness, and the ability to change direction.
• Tosser Concept – Tosser concept is a route combination run out of trips formations to either side and consists of dual slant routes to different depths and a flat route.
• Trap Block – The trap block is a run blocking assignment that pulls a blocker to the play side of the formation to block an intentionally uncovered defender.
• Travel Motion – Travel motion motion is the horizontal motioning of a tailback outside to create an empty backfield prior to the snap, most often used in air raid systems.
• Trips – Trips refers to formations that line three receivers up on one side of the ball, at least two of the receivers playing off the line to preserve eligibility.
• Tunnel Screen – A tunnel screen is a pass in which a receiver lines up wide pre-snap and breaks back towards the quarterback after the snap to catch an immediate throw.

U

• Under Front – A 4-3 under front consists of four defensive linemen and three linebackers that shifts the strength of the defensive line ‒ and, in particular, the 3 technique defensive tackle ‒ to the weak/open side of the offensive formation.
• Undrafted Free Agent – An undrafted free agent (UDFA) is a player eligible for the NFL draft but not selected, thereby free to sign with any team.
• Unrestricted Free Agent – A UFA, or unrestricted free agent, is a vested veteran whose contract ended at the start of the new league year, free to sign with any team.

V

• Veer – The veer play is an option run play that gives the quarterback the choice to either hand the ball to a runner or keep it himself based on the read defender.
• Vertical Leap – The vertical leap is an event at the NFL Combine that measures the explosiveness of the prospective players.
• Veteran Minimum Benefit – The veteran minimum benefit provides salary cap relief for teams that sign veterans to a one-year deal for the minimum salary at the player’s position.

W

• Wall Return – A wall return is a directional punt return where the return team seeks to line blockers in a vertical “wall” on one side of the field, providing a path.
• Wall Technique – Wall is an underneath coverage technique used by defenses to help secondary defenders with deep coverage responsibility.
• Wheel Route – A wheel route is where the inside receiver and outside receiver cross paths and after about five yards, the inside man breaks outside, up the sideline.
• Wide 9 Technique – A wide 9 technique player aligns well outside the offensive tackle or tight end, using pure speed and agility to get to the quarterback.
• Winning the Edge – Winning the edge is a phrase used to describe a pass rusher’s efforts to defeat an offensive tackle at the top of the arc.
• Working Progressions – Quarterbacks have a number of potential receivers on a play. Working progressions refers to how a QB moves through options before finding an open receiver.

X

• X Receiver – The X receiver is a pass-catching position on offense whose alignment and responsibilities depend on the system or scheme in place.

Y

• Y-Cross Concept – The Y-Cross concept is a staple of Air Raid offenses, using deep routes to occupy the safeties and crossing routes from the tight end or slot receiver.
• Yankee Concept – Yankee concept is generally a two man deep crossing combo, with the underneath receiver running a deep over, and the other route a deep post over the top.

Z

• Z Receiver – The Z receiver is a pass-catching position on offense whose alignment and responsibilities depend on the system or scheme in place.
• Zone Blocking – Zone blocking is a running scheme in which the OL block gaps, rather than a power blocking scheme where each OL is responsible for a specific defender.
• Zone Turn – A zone turn is a maneuver executed by a defensive back where he flips his hips toward the inside of the field to face the quarterback while in coverage.

#

• 0 Technique DL – A 0 technique nose tackle in a 3-4 defensive front aligns directly over the center and is responsible for controlling the A gaps on either side of center.
• 00 Offensive Personnel – 00 personnel is an offensive personnel package where the five eligible receivers consist of 0 running backs, 0 tight ends, and 5 wide receivers.
• 02 Offensive Personnel – 02 offensive personnel is an offensive personnel package where the five eligible receivers consist of 0 running backs, 2 tight ends, and 3 wide receivers.
• 1 Technique DL – 1 technique defensive lineman align between the center and guard, are commonly used in 4-3 scheme and are responsible for controlling gaps and double-teams.
• 10 Offensive Personnel – 10 offensive personnel is a package where the five eligible receivers consist of 1 running back, 0 tight ends, and 4 wide receivers.
• 11 Offensive Personnel – 11 offensive personnel is a grouping in which an offense uses one running back, one tight end, and three wide receivers.
• 12 Offensive Personnel – 12 offensive personnel is a balanced offensive package that gives the offense one running back, two tight ends and two wide receivers.
• 13 Offensive Personnel – 13 offensive personnel is a heavy package with one running back, one wide receiver and three tight ends.
• 14 Offensive Personnel – 14 offensive personnel is an offensive package with four tight ends, one running back, and no wide receivers.
• 2-Point Stance – The 2-point stance features 2 points of contact with the ground (2 feet) & is seen with all safeties, CBs, and off-ball LBs, along with most base 3-4 OLBs.
• 20 Offensive Personnel – 20 offensive personnel is an offensive personnel package where the five eligible players consist of 2 running backs, 0 tight ends, and 3 wide receivers.
• 21 Offensive Personnel – 21 offensive personnel is a balanced offensive personnel group with two running backs, one tight end and two wide receivers.
• 22 Offensive Personnel – 22 offensive personnel is a balanced package featuring two running backs, two tight ends and a single wide receiver.
• 23 Offensive Personnel – 23 offensive personnel is an personnel package where the five eligible players consist of 2 running backs and 3 tight ends, with 0 wide receivers.
• 3 Technique DL – A 3 technique defensive lineman aligns on the outside shoulder, between the guard and tackle in the B-gap, and is responsible for controlling or penetrating.
• 3-4 Base Defense – The 3-4 base defense consists of three defensive lineman (a NT and two DE) and four linebackers (two inside linebackers and two outside linebackers)
• 3-Point Stance – The 3-point stance is the most common technique among interior defensive linemen and traditional base 4-3 DEs as it allows for burst off the line.
• 4 Technique DL – 4 Technique is an alignment designation for a defensive lineman on the line of scrimmage that is lined up over the tackle, between the B Gap and C Gap.
• 40 Yard Dash – The 40 yard dash is the most basic and well-known combine drill. It measures the straight-line speed of players.
• 4-3 Over Front – A 4-3 over front can be identified by the alignment of the interior linemen, specifically if the strong side DT is playing a 3 technique.
• 4-3 Under Front – A 4-3 Under Front consists of four defensive linemen and three linebackers that shifts the strength of the defensive line ‒ and, in particular, the 3 technique defensive tackle ‒ to the weak/open side of the offensive formation.
• 4-Point Stance – The 4-point stance features 4 points of contact with the ground, as the defender has both hands & both feet on the ground with his weight sitting forward.
• 5 Technique DL – The 5 technique defensive lineman, usually in a 3-4 front, aligns directly across from the offensive tackle and is responsible for two gaps (B & C).
• 5×5 Kickoff Alignment – A 5X5 kickoff alignment is five men deployed to each side of the kicker, and is typically employed in order to disguise the target location of the kick.
• 6×4 Kickoff Alignment – The 6×4 kickoff alignment consists of six men on one side of the kicker, overloading coverage to that side, and only four men on the other, weak side.
• 6 Technique DL – 6 Technique is an alignment for defensive lineman: outside the tackle, head up on the tight end, between the C Gap and D Gap.
• 7 Technique DL – 7 Technique is an alignment designation for a defensive lineman that is lined up over the inside shoulder of a tight end, outside the left tackle and C gap.
• 90 Man Roster – The 90 man roster is the expanded roster NFL teams are allowed to use in between the end of the regular season and the start of the new season.