Terminology

OFFENSIVE LINE ON-FIELD TERMINOLOGY

Fork Hands – Two hands come under and up like a Fork Lift machine.

6-inch pass pro punch – Two hands up like a boxer ready to extend elbows for quick strike, while keeping a good knee bend w/ an arched back, good base and slight stagger with weight distributed on your insteps.

Arch back – The game is played in the Power Position which is similar to the position one takes when squatting & deadlifting in the weight room. When on the football field, the lineman should have an arched back. If you lean and round your back you will be beaten.

Waist Bender vs. Knee Bender – Knee bender bends knees and arches back which allows him to be explosive and powerful.  A waist bender bends at the waist with straight legs and a rounded back and will not be successful playing offensive line. 

Keep a base – Keep your feet at least shoulder width apart at all times, if you click your heels and bring your feet together then you will lose your balance and be defeated.

False step – This is a poor step, normally because your stance is too wide and you are forced to step underneath yourself to regain balance, master a good stance w/ weight on your insteps & a slight stagger then you will not have a false step. 

Over set – When you set too wide and the DL comes inside on a pass rush, must maintain inside leverage.

Zone Scheme – OL works in same direction, using combination blocks to block the defense as they come.

Inside Zone – Ball designed to attack the inside hip of the play side tackle then HB will read the block of the interior DL on the Center or Guard, prevent penetration which will allow the HB to press the ball front side before he cuts back.

Outside Zone – Ball designed to attack the outside Leg of the TE, reading the end man on the line for cutback, work to reach your defender or at least wash him down the line to allow cutback, do not allow penetration. 

Press – Press the defender back to his side of the field.

Prevent penetration – Keep the defender on his side of the ball, do not allow him to play on the offensive side of the ball. 

Strong back side hand – Expect zone running plays to cut back, so latch on with back side hand preventing the DL from shedding your block. 

Gap Scheme – For example, powers and counters, the play side of the OL blocks down inside, most times back side OL will be pulling. 

Man Scheme – Plays where everybody is assigned a specific man, for example FB ISO plays, toss sweep plays with pulling linemen. 

Sam Linebacker – Linebacker on the TE side.

Mike Linebacker – Middle of three linebackers. 

Will Linebacker – Linebacker on the weak side of the Defense (usually opposite side from the TE).

Base Personnel – When defense has a combination of seven DL & LBs on the field, normally 4 DL and 3LBs.

Nickel Personnel – When the defense has a combination of six DL & LBs on the field, normally 4 DL and 2LBs, they bring on an extra defensive back called a Nickel.