Center (football)
The offensive team or offense in American football or Canadian football, is the team that begins a play from scrimmage in possession of the ball. A play usually begins with the quarterback taking a snap from the center, and then either handing off to a back, passing to a receiver or a back, or running the ball himself.
The offensive unit in American football consists of a quarterback, linemen, backs, and receivers. The function of the linemen is to block. The line consists of a center, two guards, two tackles and one or two tight ends. Backs include halfbacks and a fullback, who usually block, run the ball, or receive a pass. The primary function of the wide receivers is to catch passes.
The ultimate makeup of the offense and how it operates is governed by the head coach or offensive coordinator's offensive philosophy.
- center - the center performs the normal blocking functions of all linemen and, in addition, is the player who puts the ball in play by means of the snap.
- guard - the two guards are the offensive linemen directly on either side of the center and inside the tackles. Like all interior linemen, their function is to block on both running and passing plays. On some plays, rather than blocking straight ahead, a guard will "pull" in order to block a player on the opposite side of the center, in a running play called a "trap". Sometimes both guards will pull, in support of an outside running play called a "sweep".
- tackle - the offensive tackles play on either side of the guards. Their role is primarily to block on both running and passing plays. The area from one tackle to the other is an area of "close line play" in which some blocks from behind, which are prohibited elsewhere on the field, are allowed. The left tackle is usually considered the more important tackle because he usually protects the quarterback's blindside against the best pass-rusher on the defense.
- tight end - the tight ends play on either side of, and immediately next to, the tackles. They are a mix between a lineman and a pass receiver. If an end moves away from the tackle, he is called a split end. Modern formations usually have only one tight end, and a wide receiver instead of a second tight end. Many modern formations dispense with tight ends completely, replacing them with wide receivers. Formations with two tight ends, or even three (with the third tight end lining up as a backfield player beside one of the other tight ends), are typically restricted to short-yardage situations.
- wide receiver - the wide receivers are speedy pass-catching specialists. Their main job is to run pass routes and get open for a pass, although they are occasionally called on to block. A wide receiver may line up on the line of scrimmage and be counted as one of the necessary 7 players on the line in a legal formation, or he may line up off the line of scrimmage and be counted as being in the backfield. There are generally two types of wide receivers, speed and possession. A speed receiver's primary function is to stretch the field, be a home run threat, and to not allow the defense to cheat and bring an eighth man into the box. A possession receiver is generally the more sure handed of the two and is used to keep possession of the ball by making catches that gain first down yardage, but he lacks the raw speed to attack a defensive backfield.
- halfback - the halfbacks may function as running backs, blocking backs or short-yardage receivers. In some formations, running back positions may have specialized names. In a traditional formation, there are two halfbacks. Modern formations typically have only one, and some formations have none. However, the term has all but disappeared from the modern American football vocabulary. The term "tailback" is also used to describe the same position.
- running back - the modern term for the position formerly called "halfback".
- h-back - a position that was popularized by Joe Gibbs during his first tenure with the Washington Redskins; the h-back is a hybrid position that combines the skill-sets of fullback, tight end, and even wide receiver, the h-back usually replaces the fullback
- fullback - like running backs, a fullback may do some running, some blocking, and some short receiving. A classic fullback is more of a straight-ahead, "four yards and a cloud of dust" power runner than a halfback. Many modern formations do not use a fullback. Most plays utilizing the fullback call for him to block, generally by running up the middle of the line, clearing a path for the tailback to run.
- wingback - the wingback is a position found only in traditional formations, his modern role being subsumed into the wide receiver.
- quarterback - it all revolves around the quarterback
See also
