[OT] Can anyone help me understand Football?

[drothgery]

By the way, if anyone does want to have 'soccer' explained to them, I'll gladly take a shot at it.

The only difficult to understand things in soccer are

1) Exactly when are you offsides? As near as I can tell, offsides in soccer seems to translate to 'has a good chance of scoring if they get the ball'.

and

2) How did the @#$%*ing Germans manage to beat the American women in the World Cup last month?

 

[frankthedm]

My feelings about USA football...

The bloodier the injury, the better.

 

[Pseudonym]

Is golf a sport?

No, because the object is to get the lowest score possible, which goes against all sports logic.

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

The only difficult to understand things in soccer are

1) Exactly when are you offsides? As near as I can tell, offsides in soccer seems to translate to 'has a good chance of scoring if they get the ball'.

Offsides is called when a player goes past the final defender (other than the goalie) WITHOUT the ball. The idea is to keep folks from camping out right next to the goal.

You can run past that final defender all you like, if you have the ball.

 

[Shadowdancer]

Maybe this will clear up some misconceptions and misinformation.

A tailback and fullback are usually the same thing, the running back who starts furthest away from the line of scrimmage, although some teams call their half-back a tailback due to the particular offensive formations they use. A halfback is usually a smaller runner, and in the I formation usually lines up between the fullback and the quarterback, although not necessarily so.

While a tailback and fullback are both running backs, they are not the same thing. The term "tailback" is usually used by teams running the I formation offense. It is the running back who lines up deepest in the I formation, behind the fullback, not between the fullback and the quarterback. In the I formation, the quarterback lines up directly behind the center, with the fullback about 5 yards behind the line of scrimmage and the tailback about 7 yards behind the line of scrimmage. They are all in one line perpendicular to the line of scrimmage.

True, the tailback is usually smaller and faster, but not always. The fullback is usually bigger and stronger, and is used primarily as a blocker and in short-yardage situations when power is more important.

The term "halfback" is used by teams running a T formation offense. In this formation, the fullback is again directly behind the quarterback with a halfback on either side of him. They are lined up in a straight line, parallel to the line of scrimmage. In the Wishbone variant, the two halfbacks are set a little further back than the fullback, so that the alignment of the quarterback and the other three running backs looks vaguely like a bird’s wishbone.

Most teams that run a T formation put one of the halfbacks on a wing, which means he lines up next to the tackle or tight end, but set back off the line of scrimmage a bit. Or they will remove one of the halfbacks completely in favor of a second wide receiver.

Most pro teams run what is called a pro set formation. In it, you have two running backs in the backfield behind the quarterback. Usually, one is a fullback and primarily blocks for the other runner. These can be split to either side of the quarterback, or lined up in an I formation, or with the fullback lined up on the wing.

There are dozens of offensive football formations, and only slightly fewer defensive formations. A common offensive formation is the "I" formation, in which the quarterback, halfback, and fullback all line up in a row behind the center.

The correct sequence is quarterback, then fullback, then tailback, all lined up in a row.

If the quarterback is backed away from the center, and there are fewer running backs, then this is the "shotgun" formation, usually used for passing.

The shotgun formation often uses the same number of running backs. They line up on either side of the quarterback.

There are huge numbers of other formations though, from a power "I" formation (usually used for short yardage running plays, use two tight ends and two running backs) to a five wide receiver set in which the tight end and one of the running backs are replaced by receivers.

The power I formation has nothing to do with the number of tight ends used, although many teams do use two tight ends when running a power I formation. The "power" in the power I comes from the use of a second fullback, lined up next to the first fullback. So you have three running backs: two fullbacks, who usually block, and the tailback, who usually runs the ball.

Most five receiver sets use four wide receivers and one tight end. This way, the team can keep an extra blocker in the mix if the defense blitzes or the offense runs a quarterback draw. The tight end will read what the defense is doing, and if he has no one to block, he will go out for a pass. If he has a blocking responsibility, he will stay at the line of scrimmage and block. Very few teams have a fifth wide receiver who is better at catching passes than their primary tight end.

On defense, the two basic alignments are the "4-3" and the "3-4", this describes the number of defensive linemen and linebackers in the defense. A "4-3" has four linemen and three linebackers, and "3-4" has this reversed.

Many colleges and high schools use a 5-2 alignment with five linemen and two linebackers. Sometimes the two ends will stand up rather than get down in a three- or four-point stance, in effect becoming linebackers and the alignment looks just like a 3-4. But the responsibilities are different than in a straight 3-4. Also, they will often use a 6-2 alignment if the other team very rarely passes.

But there are dozens of other formations, from a "nickel" formation (take out a linebacker and replace him with another cornerback, to better defend against the pass), or even a "dime" formation (two cornerbacks added), and so on.

Many teams will take out a lineman rather than a linebacker in the nickel formation. It just depends on the team’s personnel.

Once an offensive lineman is on the line of scrimmage and set in his down stance, he cannot move at all until the start of the play.

This is a common misconception. Actually, the lineman cannot simulate the start of a play once he is set. Or in other words, he cannot move his feet, or move his head or body in a manner that would make the defense believe the play has started. The linemen can, and frequently do, move while in their set stance. They will move their heads from side to side to see how the defense is lined up. They will talk to each other, to make sure everyone knows their blocking assignments against that defensive alignment, especially if the defense looks like it will blitz. They often will even point to various defensive players, indicating either who they will block or who someone else without a specific assignment (a running back or tight end) needs to pick up and block on the play.

A team can only have one man in motion at the time of the snap, and he is limited in the directions he can more (parallel to and towards the line of scrimmage only)

Wrong. The man in motion can only move parallel to the line of scrimmage or away from it. He can never move toward it prior to the snap.

 

[Dingleberry]

I'm shocked no one has mentioned the way many geeks nowadays learn all they ever know about sports: video games. I knew the basics of the game, but I finally learned how to appreciate it after several hundred hours of "NFL Gameday" on the Sega back in the day.

 

[Braxx]

Here are some additional terms you may hear announcers/fans talk about that aren't necessarily intuitive.

OFFENSE

Spread formation - 4 receivers and a TE/Back, and like the name implies, spread out all the way down the line of scrimmage.

Trips - Three receivers on one side of the formation.

Trap - A lineman steps back from the line of scrimmage at the snap of the ball and runs paralell to the line of scrimmage in the direction of the play. The other linemen block in the other direction, leaving a defender unblocked to get clobbered by the pulling Tackle/Guard/Center.

Screen - A timed pass play to a RB/WR with the intent of drawing defenders upfield and then throwing over this mob . Thoretically, the WR/RB will catch the ball in the dead space vacated by the defenders, with a convoy of blockers around him.

DEFENSE

Stunt - Instead of rushing straight upfield, one or more defenders rush to their right or left in a tightly coordinated and timed sequence in an attempt to confuse the offensive line.

Zone Blitz - A recent addition, this is a blitz where a corner/linebacker/safety will come on a delay and one or more defensive linemen (!) will drop back in short pass coverage.

Safety - The only way the defense can score w/o the ball. This requires the defenders to either (1) tackle an offensive player in their own end-zone or (2) block a punt that goes out of the opponents end zone.


Hope this helps.

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

Continuing the minor soccer hijack...(just to warn you all )

Firstly, the German women beat the American women because the German team is the other main power in women's football, if I remember. Next time around, the USA might win it again. Who knows?

As for the offside rule, it's much simpler than it seems. It's all about keeping players from lurking around near the goal, as pointed out before.

At the moment the ball is played forwards, the assistant referee has to judge whether any attackers are closer to the goal-line than the defenders. The goalkeeper doesn't count for the purposes of this explanation. If the attacking player and the defender are level, that's also fine. The endless debate and argument comes into play when you find out that some idiot put a clause into the rule about 'interfering with play', which means that if you're offside but you don't move or something, play can continue.

I'll try a little pictorial explanation, too.

A1: Player making a pass (attacker)
A2: Player we're looking at to see if he's offside
D1-4: Defenders

1) Player not offside

...............................D1
.....................D2
A1.....................A2
....................D3
........................D4

Although A2 is closer to the goal line that D2 or D3, D1 is closer than him, so he's not offside.

2) Player offside

...............................D1
...............................D2
A1...............................A2
...............................D3
...............................D4

This time, the defence has moved forwards just before A1 passes the ball, and so A2 is caught offside. Flag goes up, and play restarts from the position of the offside player.

The habit of using offside as a major defensive gamble was very popular in the 80's, but it was hellishly boring to watch. The rules were changed so an attacker level with the defence was not flagged offside, and referees were encouraged to give the benefit of the doubt to the attacking team, which livened up the game a lot.

 

[Storm Raven]

Maybe this will clear up some misconceptions and misinformation.

Or not.

While a tailback and fullback are both running backs, they are not the same thing. The term "tailback" is usually used by teams running the I formation offense. It is the running back who lines up deepest in the I formation, behind the fullback, not between the fullback and the quarterback. In the I formation, the quarterback lines up directly behind the center, with the fullback about 5 yards behind the line of scrimmage and the tailback about 7 yards behind the line of scrimmage. They are all in one line perpendicular to the line of scrimmage.

I said "usually", since different teams use different terminology for the same thing. However, even in an I formation, you frequently find a halfback, and the order in which he is lined up in can vary, althoguh he is frequently lined up between the fullback and the quarterback. (and in the single wing, he always was).

The term "halfback" is used by teams running a T formation offense. In this formation, the fullback is again directly behind the quarterback with a halfback on either side of him. They are lined up in a straight line, parallel to the line of scrimmage. In the Wishbone variant, the two halfbacks are set a little further back than the fullback, so that the alignment of the quarterback and the other three running backs looks vaguely like a bird’s wishbone.

Outside of high school and short yardage, teams rarely run three running back sets. Only a handful of teams use the wishbone at all, its an even more uncommon formation than a five wide receiver set.

Most teams that run a T formation put one of the halfbacks on a wing, which means he lines up next to the tackle or tight end, but set back off the line of scrimmage a bit. Or they will remove one of the halfbacks completely in favor of a second wide receiver.

And doing this, they effectively call it a T formation, but make it function like an I formation. Essentially this gets down to terminology that makes no difference. Most teams go with a two back set, a halfback (a smaller lighter runner), and a blocking back. Functionally, the various terms (halfback, fullback, tailback) mean almost nothing, as they are used differently by different teams and at different times.

Most pro teams run what is called a pro set formation. In it, you have two running backs in the backfield behind the quarterback. Usually, one is a fullback and primarily blocks for the other runner. These can be split to either side of the quarterback, or lined up in an I formation, or with the fullback lined up on the wing.

And? This is different from what I described how?

The correct sequence is quarterback, then fullback, then tailback, all lined up in a row.

For some teams, using some terminology.

The shotgun formation often uses the same number of running backs. They line up on either side of the quarterback.

Frequently the shotgun has an empty backfield, or a single back in the backfield. I was describing the typical situation, since he asked how to recognize formations. Normally, you can recognize the shotgun in part by the lesser number of backs lined up in the backfield. Of course, the only requirement for a shotgun formation is that the quarterback be backed away from the center.

The power I formation has nothing to do with the number of tight ends used, although many teams do use two tight ends when running a power I formation. The "power" in the power I comes from the use of a second fullback, lined up next to the first fullback. So you have three running backs: two fullbacks, who usually block, and the tailback, who usually runs the ball.

I've never seen a power I set that didn't include two tight ends. Then again, the team I played on used two tight ends as a regular set, so that may be the reason.

Most five receiver sets use four wide receivers and one tight end. This way, the team can keep an extra blocker in the mix if the defense blitzes or the offense runs a quarterback draw. The tight end will read what the defense is doing, and if he has no one to block, he will go out for a pass. If he has a blocking responsibility, he will stay at the line of scrimmage and block. Very few teams have a fifth wide receiver who is better at catching passes than their primary tight end.

I was giving the most extreme cases, from the most "run heavy" offense (the two tight end, multiple back formation) to the most pass happy (the five wide receiver set). Yes, many teams use four wide and a tight end, but that's not the extreme case.

Many colleges and high schools use a 5-2 alignment with five linemen and two linebackers. Sometimes the two ends will stand up rather than get down in a three- or four-point stance, in effect becoming linebackers and the alignment looks just like a 3-4. But the responsibilities are different than in a straight 3-4. Also, they will often use a 6-2 alignment if the other team very rarely passes.

In high school that can work. But his question was about pro football, since he is playing fantasy football and wants to know what to look for on the field there. Most teams rarely, outside of specialty defenses, like a goal line defense, use six defensive linemen. And the 5-2 is a rare defense in pro football, since most teams can pass well enough to make it not work unless you have superlative defensive linemen. The 3-4 and 4-3 are the most common defensive alignments.

Many teams will take out a lineman rather than a linebacker in the nickel formation. It just depends on the team’s personnel.

I've usually seen it done by taking out a linebacker. Usually because the other tem is inserting another wide receiver and taking a secondary receiver out so the nickel is being used so you don't have a linebacker trying to cover a wideout. But this is probably heavily dependent upon your personnel.

This is a common misconception. Actually, the lineman cannot simulate the start of a play once he is set. Or in other words, he cannot move his feet, or move his head or body in a manner that would make the defense believe the play has started. The linemen can, and frequently do, move while in their set stance. They will move their heads from side to side to see how the defense is lined up. They will talk to each other, to make sure everyone knows their blocking assignments against that defensive alignment, especially if the defense looks like it will blitz. They often will even point to various defensive players, indicating either who they will block or who someone else without a specific assignment (a running back or tight end) needs to pick up and block on the play.

That's the complicated explanation. It doesn't help a beginner much though.

Of course, there is also this rule "No interior lineman may move after taking or simulating a three point stance." which is different from the rule you quoted (check the NFL football rules.

Wrong. The man in motion can only move parallel to the line of scrimmage or away from it. He can never move toward it prior to the snap.

Yep, got my motion backwards. Of course, prior to the snap, you can move in any direction.

 

[Welverin]

Hockey: Insert ball into goal with stick. On ice.

It's called a puck! and it's not at all ball like.