Strategy of American football

American football is much like war. A successful strategy includes assessing your offensive and defensive capabilities and how those match up with those of your opponent. It also includes choosing between relying on your strengths and doing what your team does best (which is what your opponent expects you to do) or relying on the element of surprise, utilizing unconventional tactics, to catch your opponent off guard and thus gain the advantage. Unlike war, however, each side alternates between being on offense and defense in an orderly fashion. Each successive turn is called a possession or drive. During a possession, a team has no more than 4 tries (or downs) to advance the ball toward the goal. Downs are akin to battles fought in the trenches on the line of scrimmage. Strategy is the key to effective play: whether on offense, defense, or special teams, a team must make good decisions before the play even begins in order to overcome what the other team may bring to bear.

Offensive Strategy

When on offense, the goal, of course, is to invade the opponents' territory and stand triumphant in their end zone, ball in hand (touchdown). Even the best offenses, though, often score less than half the time, so if an offense cannot score a touchdown, their next best outcome is getting close enough to kick a field goal. If the offense cannot get 10 yards (first down) in three downs and is not in field goal range, their best bet might be to punt the ball and get the other team as close to their goal line as possible and hope their defense does the job. This is the battle of field position. It is also imperative that when an offense has the ball, they be aware of where their team stands in the larger "war." This is called clock management. If a team is trailing on the scoreboard and it is late in the game, they want to not only score, but score quickly. Passing the ball is a quicker way of moving the ball and scoring than Running the ball. Conversely, if a team is ahead and the end is near, they will want to chew up as much time as possible, so keeping the clock moving by running plays is probably what they will want to do.

Offensive Players

On offense, there are three type of players: linemen, backs, and receivers. The player's abilities as well as the coach's philosophy determine what formations a team will run their plays out of (or often vice versa a coach will choose players with abilities to compliment the offensive formation and plays he likes. The basic positions and their general duties; however, don't vary from team to team that much. The players are the "foot soldiers" in the game of football, so understanding football strategy begins with understanding what each players role is. The position name (and the Initials recognized by coaches, players, and fans alike shown in bold below) may vary from one teams' playbook to another, these are the ones most commonly used:

Linemen

• Center- The Center C is the player who snaps the ball to the QB. Like the other four linemen, his job is blocking- run blocking means impeding the defenders efforts to tackle the ball carrier on a running play, pass blocking means stopping the defenders from disrupting or tackling the QB. The center is also usually responsible for calling the blocking schemes on the line, directing the other linemen on who blocks who.
• Guard - Guards G line up on both sides of the center. The guards are generally bigger than the center and are typically better run blockers than pass blockers.
• Tackle - Tackles T are the "bookends" of the offensive line. They are usually the biggest offensive linemen, but also must be agile enough to thwart any outside pass rush. If a team has a righthanded QB, the left tackle is usually the best pass blocker on the line to prevent a "blindside" pass rush the QB might not see.

Backs

• Quarterback The Quarterback QB is the "Field General" of the offense. Aside from being the leader of the offense, in most offenses his primary duty is passing the ball. Since passing the ball is an offenses quickest way to move the ball downfield, a team must have a QB who can throw the ball accurately and make the right decisions on who to throw the ball (the "open" receiver). In some offenses, the QB is often called upon to be a runner as well. Other times, a QB might have to take the ball and run if pass protection breaks down and there are no open receivers.
• Halfback The Halfback HB, also known as Running Back RB or Tailback TB , is on the field for one major purpose- to run the ball. If a team is to have an effective running game, it falls on the HB's shoulders. He may have blocking duties and in some offenses and on some plays he may become a receiver, but in most offenses, the HB is there to run.
• Fullback The Fullback FB is also a running back, but in recent years, the FB position has developed into more of a blocking back, and in some schemes a receiver. The FB is usually the bigger, more physical of the two running backs, and so often a QB will often hand the ball to his FB in short yardage situations where every inch must be earned the hard way.

Receivers

• Wide receiver: Depending on the formation, an offense may have anywhere from one to five wide receivers (WRs). Most formations feature two WRs, though at the professional level, three-WR formations are increasingly common. Receivers are among the fastest, tallest, and most agile players on the team and their job is to get "open" (create distance between themselves and defenders), catch the ball when thrown to them, and run after the catch. Well-rounded receivers are also effective downfield blockers, though effectiveness in that regard is extremely secondary to their pass-catching role.

• Tight end: The tight end (TE) used be considered simply a hybrid wide receiver/lineman. Not fast enough to be a wide receiver, not big enough to be a lineman, the tight end did a little of both depending on the situation. Today, some tight ends are the best of both worlds. Make no mistake, the best tight ends are a potent weapon in their offense's arsenal. Other teams alternate tight ends using a good receiving tight end on passing downs and a good blocker in obvious running situations.

Offensive Formations

Before the ball is snapped, before the linemen collide into each other, comes the formation. The formation a team lines up in says a lot about a team's offensive strategy. Most teams have a formation they prefer to line up in, while other teams like to leave the defense guessing. Teams will often have "special formations" which they only use in obvious passing situations, short yardage or goaline situations, or formations they have developed for that particular game just to confuse the defense. Because there are a nearly unlimited number of possible formations, only a few of the more common ones are listed below.

• Pro Set
• Shotgun formation
• Wishbone formation
• I formation
• Goal Line formation

Offensive Plays

Running Plays

• Line Plunge
• Sweep
• Reverse
• Off Tackle Run
• Student Body Right
• Draw play
• Counter Trey
• Quarterback sneak
• Option

Passing Plays

• Screen Pass
• Hail Mary
• Down and In
• Down and Out
• Post Pattern
• Flag Pattern
• Slant

Special Offensive Plays

• Spiking the Ball to stop the clock
  • Because an incomplete pass stops the game clock, a team's quarterback will sometimes "spike the ball" (throw it directly at the ground) in order to stop the clock without using a time out. This is most commonly done when a team is trying to score points late in the second or fourth quarter and/or when the team has run out of time outs.

• Downing a knee

Specific Offensive Strategies

There are several offensive strategies that have evolved over recent years, especially after the NFL outlawed most downfield contact on receivers (that is, past the 5 yard "chuck" zone, where most contact is allowed). Thus, recent strategies attempt to utilize the passing game to open up the defense, as it is less predictable and carries the possibility for greater gain.

• The "West Coast" offense was designed by Bill Walsh during his coaching days at Stanford and applied successfully to the San Francisco 49ers during the 1980's, resulting in three Super Bowl wins. The West Coast Offense is characterized by short passes such as screens, flares, and quick slants. It depends on an accurate and quick-thinking quarterback. Teams that utilize this offense in the NFL typically have coaches that were Bill Walsh (or Mike Holmgren) disciples. The Green Bay Packers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions and the Philadelphia Eagles use the West Coast offense.

• The "Run and Gun" (or, if referring to a Steve Spurrier team, the "Fun and Gun") offense relies heavily on the deep or "vertical" passing game. It features a quarterback with an excellent arm but limited mobility (a "pocket passer"), and a bevy of talented wide receivers. This offensive scheme also demands excellent pass blocking from its offensive lineman. Although rushing the football is still somewhat common, unlike in other schemes the "pass sets up the run." Run and gun offenses use halfback draws and halfback delays to keep the defense from pass rushing and keeping 5 or 6 defensive backs in the game every down. Teams that use this offense are the Indianapolis Colts and the St. Louis Rams.

• The "Power Football" (colloquially, "Smashmouth Football") offense is a traditional scheme referred to as "three yard and a cloud of dust." It depends heavily on large, powerful running backs running straight ahead and gaining yards after contact (YAC). This offense uses "the run to set up the pass" via play-action. This offense is very patient and is most effective when matched with a dominating defense that keeps the opponent from scoring. Power Football allows the team to control the ball for longer periods of time, denying the opposing offense time with the ball. Few teams use this offense; only the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers are true Power Football teams.

Defensive strategy

The general goal of defensive strategy is to prevent the offensive opponent from scoring, and to either gain control for their offense or to score themselves. There are many different defensive strategies.

For a discussion of the basic elements of defensive strategy, see American football defensive schemes.

3-4

The 3-4 defense has declined in popularity over the years, but it is still used by some professional football teams and by a few college football teams. The 3-4 defense is so named because it involves 3 down linemen and 4 linebackers. There are usually 4 defensive backs.

The 3 down linemen attempt to break into the backfield in order to sack or rush the quarterback or to stop running backs and other players behind the line of scrimmage. The defensive line is made up of a nose tackle (NT), who lines up in front of the opposing team's center and two defensive ends (DEs), who flank the nose tackle on both sides.

4 linebackers line up behind the defensive line. In a 3-4 defense, the linebacker unit is made up of two middle or inside linebackers (MLBs/ILBs), who are flanked on both sides by outside linebackers (OLBs). Linebackers often try to break into the offense's backfield or they stay back to defend against the pass or the run.

4-3

The 4-3 defense is probably the most commonly used defense in modern American Football. The 4-3 defense is so named because it involves 4 down linemen and 3 linebackers. There are usually also 4 defensive backs.

The 4 down linemen attempt to break into the backfield in order to sack or rush the quarterback or to stop running backs and other players behind the line of scrimmage. The defensive line is made up of two defensive tackles (DTs) and two defensive ends (DEs). The two defensive tackles line up in the middle of the line, in front of the opposing team's center. The two defensive ends flank the defensive tackles.

3 linebackers line up behind the defensive line. In a 4-3 defense, the linebacker unit is made up of a middle or inside linebacker (MLB/ILB), who is flanked on both sides by outside linebackers (OLBs). Linebackers often try to break into the offense's backfield or they stay back to defend against the pass or the run.

Nickel

The nickel defense is employed in obvious passing situations, or against a team that frequently uses four-wide receiver sets on offense. The defense has 5 defensive backs, and has either 4 down linemen and 2 linebackers or 3 down linemen and 3 linebackers.

In most defenses, the secondary consists of two cornerbacks (CBs), a free safety (FS) and a strong safety (SS). The nickel defense adds an extra defensive back, known as the "nickel back" (NB), in order to defend against the pass. A nickel back is also employed in the "dime" defense (see below) and are usually free or strong safeties, although cornerbacks can be utilized as well. The term "nickel" comes from the five-cent value of a United States nickel, in reference to the fifth defensive back.

Dime

The dime defense is usually employed in obvious passing situations. The formation usually consists of 6 defensive backs, and has either 4 down linemen and 1 linebacker, or 3 down linemen and 2 linebackers.

A dime defense differs from the nickel in that it adds yet another defensive back to the secondary. The sixth defensive back is called a "dime back" (DB). The defense gets its name because a dime is two nickels.

Quarter

The Quarter defense has 3 down linemen, one linebacker, and 7 defensive backs. This is usually only used in a third-and-very-long situation (because the defense can afford to allow a short gain), to prevent a long score on the last play of a half, or when the defense believes that the offense will definitely pass (for example if the offense goes into the huddle without anyone competent to carry the ball). This gets its name because the defensive backs divide the field into four vertical quarters for zone coverage.

Half-dollar defenses, with eight defensive backs, are very rare, often to prevent a Hail Mary.

Cover 2

The Cover 2 defense, also known as a "1-gap" defense, is a variation of the 4-3 defense. Each player on defense is responsible for defending the 'gap' between the two opposing offensive players. The success or failure of the Cover 2 defensive implementation relies solely on each individual defender successfully defending their assigned gap. Defensive players must each defend their gap and, in the case of the linebackers and secondary, are also responsible for a certain 'zone' (area on the field of play) in the secondary.

The Cover 2 defense utilizes 4 down linemen for rushing the passer, 3 linebackers responsible for run and pass defense, and a secondary consisting of 2 cornerbacks, a strong safety, and a free safety. Although the secondary's primary responsibility is pass defense, it too is involved in stopping the run. Particularly the strong safety, which will, in potential running situations, line up near the linebackers, in effect, taking the role of an additional linebacker. This is known as 'putting 8 men in the box' to stop the run.

The Cover 2 defense is designed to counter the West Coast offense philosophy of using high percentage passes to maintain ball control. The West Coast offense is designed for getting yards after a catch has been made. The Cover 2 defense is designed to eliminate the run after the catch. The Cover 2 is meant to place maximum pressure on the quarterback via the 4 down linemen. The strategy behind this tactic is that if the quarterback is successfully pressured in this way, the quarterback will not be able to get into a rhythm offensively, hence he will make more mistakes: interceptions, incompletions, fumbles, etc. Any defensive player can blitz the quarterback during the course of the game, adding to the quarterback's confusion. Often, instead of a straight out blitz, a corresponding defensive lineman might drop back into short pass coverage to make up for the blitzing linebacker/defensive back. This is known as a 'zone blitz'. In addition, once the blitz is successful, the defense can later 'show' a blitz before the snap, causing the quarterback to call an audible at the line of scrimmage, and then fake the blitz. But the blitz in the Cover 2 defensive scheme is utilized as a strategy of choice rather than a necessity of play.

One of the strengths of the Cover 2 defense is its ability to mask what the defensive players will do after the snap of the ball, since each down, the players line up in exactly the same formation. There are nickel and dime versions of the Cover 2 as well, in which a nickel/dime back is substituted appropriately for a linebacker in more pass-oriented downs.

The weakness of the Cover 2 defense is that the cornerbacks are relied on heavily in both run and pass defense. A defensive breakdown or missed tackle at the conerback position can oftentimes result in a big gain for the opposing offense. The Cover 2 defense is built on the premise that 'speed kills', hence, players in a Cover 2 defense are usually smaller and faster than their counterparts in a traditional 4-3 defense. This lack of size and mass is usually compensated by the fact that often, an offensive player with the ball is being tackled by two, three, or sometimes even more defensive players on any given play.

The premier example of the Cover 2 defense is the 2002 Superbowl XXXVII Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In Superbowl XXXVII, Tampa Bay, ranked the #1 defense in the league, defeated the #1 ranked offense in the league, the Oakland Raiders, 48-21. Oakland quarterback Rich Gannon was sacked 5 times, threw 5 interceptions (3 interceptions were returned for touchdowns), and for the most part, was ineffective against the Cover 2 defense of the Buccaneers. Oakland was equally ineffective running the ball against Tampa Bay as well.

Eight in the box

The defensive linemen and linebackers collectively - or, more properly, the area of the field where they typically line up - are often referred to as "the box" and thus normally number seven players; on occasion, however, circumstances call for an additional man to be placed therein (generally a linebacker if the team uses the 4-3 as its base alignment, or a defensive lineman in cases where the 3-4 is ordinarily utilized), whereupon one player in the secondary (most commonly the free safety) is removed from the lineup. Sometimes a player in the secondary (usually the strong safety) acts as an additional linebacker and no actual lineup change ensues. Some teams use a defensive system in which one of the players is cross between a linebacker and a strong safety and is called a "rover".

Teams most often put "eight in the box" or "stack the box" when the opposing team has a weak passing game and thus must rely heavily on its running attack, particularly if the opponents' normal starting quarterback is injured and a backup is playing in his place. By having more players in "the box," the defense can more effectively contain the opposing team's running game. In so doing, the defense "dares" the other team to throw the football.

Special teams strategy

General topics

• Field position
• Touchbacks

Kicking team topics

• Downing the ball inside the 20
• Fake punts
• Kick-offs out-of-bounds
• Onside kick
• Preventing a run-back / "Bloopers" on kick-off
• Punts out-of-bounds
• Squib kicks

Receiving team topics

• Blocking punts
• Deciding whether to "take it out"
• Fair catch
• Roughing the kicker

External Resources

• American Football Coaches Association Assocation of American Football coaches. Most of the major coaches, especially at the college level, belong to this organization.
• CoachSchorr.com A free resource of information, including diagrammed and annotated plays and articles, about coaching American football.
• NFL The official website of the National Football League - the primary professional American football league.