Questions tagged [american-football]

Questions about the sport of American football. This should not be confused with the [football] tag, which only applies to the sport called "soccer" in most of North America.

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What happened to the wishbone?

The top rushing teams in college football are running some form of the wishbone/triple-option and some are doing it with less size and speed (military academies). It doesn't appear that defenses have "...
JeffO's user avatar
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11 votes
1 answer
35k views

NFL 6th (consecutive) year captain patch

Since 2007, many NFL teams incorporated a "C" patch for team captains, and the number of gold stars filled in represents the number of consecutive years a player has been captain for his team(1). If ...
user avatar
10 votes
1 answer
5k views

What's the etymology of the term Red Zone?

I know what the Red Zone is. My interest is the etymology of the word. I'm not sure of the first time I heard it or if they even used it when I was kid growing up in Oakland during the 70's. ...
Citizen's user avatar
  • 556
10 votes
2 answers
11k views

What is the Spider 2 Y Banana?

In a Jon Gruden interview on ESPN, he calls a play Spider 2 Y Banana. I have no idea what to make of this. What do the words even reference, and what do they mean?
yuritsuki's user avatar
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10 votes
2 answers
7k views

What is the job of the Assistant Coach in the NFL?

I understand what the job of a Head Coach is, but what does the Assistant Head Coach actually do during games/in the office?
Dynamic's user avatar
  • 966
10 votes
1 answer
43k views

When can you get up again after falling on the ground?

I had always thought that when the ball carrier was on the ground, they were down and the play was over. Recently I have seen a fair number of plays such as interceptions or fumble recoveries where ...
That One Actor's user avatar
10 votes
1 answer
8k views

Can a runner achieve a first down when offensive holding is called down field?

Say it's 2nd and 5 at Team A's own 25 yard line and a runner makes of gain of 10 yards to the 35 yard line. What happens if offensive holding is called down field at Team A's 35 yard line? Offensive ...
Rob G's user avatar
  • 105
10 votes
2 answers
515 views

Why wasn't Schwartz's challenge during the Thanksgiving Lions/Texans reviewed?

During the Nov 22, 2012 Detroit Lions/Houston Texans game, Lions head coach Jim Schwartz challenged a scoring play where the runner appeared to be down by contact. Since scoring plays are ...
Brad Koch's user avatar
  • 611
10 votes
2 answers
14k views

In college sports, does a redshirt have to sit a whole season?

More specifically to college football or even basketball, is a player who is redshirted allowed to play at all during their redshirt season?
Christopher Chipps's user avatar
10 votes
1 answer
6k views

Why is no second football game televised (possibly just in NY)?

Something confuses the heck out of me in regards to TV broadcasting of (American) Football. I used to live in Seattle. On Sunday, there were the early games, and the later games. One was selected ...
Beska's user avatar
  • 205
10 votes
1 answer
4k views

What are the disadvantages of the wide nine defensive scheme?

Correct me if i'm wrong I've read a little about a wide-nine defensive scheme. Trying to get an understanding of this. From my understanding, a wide nine defensive philosophy depends on defensive ...
chrisjlee's user avatar
  • 3,347
10 votes
1 answer
95k views

Requirements for Touchdown Catch Near the Goal Line

When a ball carrier has possession in the field of play, and carries the ball toward the end zone, the requirement for scoring a touchdown is that the ball cross the plane of the goal line. The ...
Nate's user avatar
  • 203
10 votes
2 answers
37k views

Is a ball live if it bounces off the field goal and back into the field of play on a kickoff?

If a team kicks off and the kickoff hits the upright of the field goal (or any part of the field goal) and the ball bounces straight back into the field of play (never hitting the ground out of bounds)...
Quick Question's user avatar
10 votes
3 answers
3k views

How do NFL teams do in their last game if they have already clinched a playoff spot?

Do they tend to rest their good players so they don't have as many injuries going into the playoffs? Basically, I'm wondering if I should bet against teams with playoff locks if the matchup is close......
user10232's user avatar
  • 201
10 votes
2 answers
4k views

What do referees do during halftime?

This question largely pertains to basketball and American football. I've seen footage from the team locker rooms during halftime where the coaches and players go over issues from the first half that ...
Devin's user avatar
  • 1,212
10 votes
2 answers
855 views

What are the rules for NFL restricted free agents that have a first round tender?

For teams with multiple first round draft picks, what are the rules defining which first round draft pick that a team would need to give up if it signs a restricted free agent (RFA) that have the ...
JW8's user avatar
  • 6,588
9 votes
1 answer
2k views

What happens when there are 2 turnovers on 1 play?

During the last seconds of the 2015 AFC Championship (Broncos vs Patriots), the ball was intercepted by a Bronco, and while the guy was running, he accidentally fumbled the ball and the Patriots ...
Marc Rasmussen's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
714 views

NFL football incentives

How do incentives work in the NFL in respect to salary cap? For example last season, if Nick Foles played 3 more snaps against the Redskins, he would have received $1,000,000 based on total plays ...
Keltari's user avatar
  • 368
9 votes
1 answer
137k views

Why are there stickers on helmets of football players in college football

While watching college football this afternoon I saw a couple college football players with stickers on the back of their helmets. Why are there stickers on the back helmets of football players ? Are ...
chrisjlee's user avatar
  • 3,347
9 votes
1 answer
919 views

By what rule was the Fail Mary pass in the 2012 Packers/Seahawks game a touchdown?

There was a call at the end of the 2012 Green Bay/Seattle game in which a play which appeared to result in an interception was ruled a touchdown. The controversy surrounding the referee lockout adds ...
Brad Koch's user avatar
  • 611
9 votes
2 answers
390 views

What's the rule governing the Lynch touchdown in the Falcons - Seahawks playoff game?

In an amazing comeback, the Seahawks got a TD with less than a minute on the clock. The running back Marshawn Lynch seemed to fumble the ball, which was then picked up by the center and carried into ...
posdef's user avatar
  • 7,281
9 votes
1 answer
24k views

Why do the captains of the New England Patriots not wear captain patches?

Before the 2012-2013 season, the Patriots released their captain list... Tom Brady Logan Mankins Vince Wilfork Jerod Mayo Devin McCourty Matthew Slater However, none of these players wear the ...
Zack's user avatar
  • 3,616
9 votes
2 answers
1k views

Does a fast paced NFL offense tire out the defense more than the offense?

NFL broadcasts of Philadelphia Eagles games are full of shots of the opposing team's defense struggling to catch its breath. The announcers often discuss how Chip Kelly's fluid, no-huddle offense ...
two sheds's user avatar
  • 193
9 votes
1 answer
7k views

Is hiking the football required or just a good idea?

In football, the ball starts at the line of scrimmage and from there is hiked back to the quarterback. Doing this creates room for the quarterback to make passing or running plays. Clearly hiking the ...
MJF's user avatar
  • 91
9 votes
2 answers
5k views

Understanding the roles of different types of offensive lineman in American football

When New York Giants drafted Justin Pugh this year, the ESPN announcers said they picture him as a guard because his arms are short. Football announcers rarely give technical details and tend to over-...
Bob's user avatar
  • 773
9 votes
1 answer
13k views

Difference between three technique and five technique defensive linemen

During the predraft period, many scouting reports will mention that a defensive end can play a "three technique" or is better suited for a "five technique" role. Being unsure of what that meant, I did ...
JW8's user avatar
  • 6,588
9 votes
2 answers
1k views

American football yards after contact stats

I'm trying to find a breakdown of passing plays that takes into account yards after contact so I can subtract it out of a quarterbacks throwing yards to give a better picture of QB versus receiver ...
Jason Nordwick's user avatar
8 votes
3 answers
4k views

Can a team in the NFL make the playoffs with only three wins?

It's impossible for all the teams in a division to have losing records in their divisional games--every time someone loses a game, someone else in the division wins it. But the home team could win ...
kuzzooroo's user avatar
  • 1,540
8 votes
4 answers
36k views

How do football players remember so many plays?

A given NFL or college football team has a large variety of plays. How do players remember them all? I don't think I could remember all those plays if I spent years studying those playbooks.
Stan Shunpike's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
3k views

What is the closest any team has come to playing a home Super Bowl?

When this question was first posed, no team whose home stadium is hosting the Super Bowl had ever made it to the Super Bowl. My question is, which team has come the closest? (Closest in this case ...
PopularIsn'tRight's user avatar
8 votes
3 answers
14k views

In the NFL, is it legal to fake an extra point kick and run a two point conversion?

In the NFL, is it legal to fake an extra point kick and instead run a two point conversion? E.g. they snap to the holder who runs it into the end zone instead of spotting it for the kick. I would've ...
dlanod's user avatar
  • 585
8 votes
2 answers
983 views

In American football, purpose of motioning the slot receiver

While watching a play with the New England Patriots you often see the z receiver or slot receiver (correct me if they aren't equivalent terms) motion towards the quarterback but then moves back to his ...
chrisjlee's user avatar
  • 3,347
8 votes
2 answers
548 views

How does the interference call work in American football?

I try to follow American football as much as I can, but having lived my whole life in Europe it's not something you get exposed to a lot. So I had to decipher the game by myself. One particular rule ...
posdef's user avatar
  • 7,281
8 votes
1 answer
40k views

What happens if a team kicks the ball through the uprights on a kickoff?

What happens if during a kickoff, the kicker kicks the ball through the uprights? These are the two situations I think this is possible: The game kick-off Kick after touchdown
Dor Cohen's user avatar
  • 7,693
8 votes
4 answers
35k views

Can a team sign an NFL player during the playoffs?

I was watching the Seahawks playoff game on 5 January 2019 and the kicker got injured. For instance, if the Seahawks won that game, could they sign a new player to replace the injured kicker or is the ...
nak5120's user avatar
  • 235
8 votes
2 answers
11k views

When does 12-men on the defense stop play?

I'm a bit confused about the rule for 12 men on the field in American Football when it's called on the defense. It seems like sometimes this penalty stops play and the offense does not get a chance to ...
Daniel's user avatar
  • 546
8 votes
1 answer
3k views

Why isn't the term "hat trick" used in American Football?

Hat trick is commonly used in association football and hockey when a player scores three goals in a match or game. Given that association football and American football have similar roots, I would ...
Trevor D's user avatar
  • 701
8 votes
1 answer
1k views

Players at certain position are all injured, what happens?

What happens if all or the basic amount of necessary players on a NFL team are injured in the same game and cannot return to play? Do they take some other players that are able to play such necessary ...
SMS von der Tann's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
3k views

Why was Iowa's long snapper an eligible receiver after snapping the ball on Iowa Nov. 4, 2017 swinging gate play?

On Nov. 4, 2017 Iowa ran a trick play in their upset of Ohio State in which their long snapper hiked the ball to the punter before running down the field and catching a pass. The long snapper was ...
kuzzooroo's user avatar
  • 1,540
8 votes
2 answers
17k views

Is the quarterback allowed to make an underhand throw in the NFL?

Is the quarterback allowed to make an underhand throw in the NFL? If so, if the pass is incomplete is the play dead?
alamoot's user avatar
  • 10.9k
8 votes
2 answers
361 views

Football and 19 34

I received a sweater several years ago with embroidery on the front. The image shows the outline of a old-time (American) football team with the numbers 19 34. Every time I wear it, people ask me ...
Commodore63's user avatar
8 votes
3 answers
7k views

NFL broadcast info---HS or college affiliation? What does that mean?

When a professional football player introduces himself and states his college affiliation, must that player have graduated from that college or does 3 years allow for him to declare that school ...
curious's user avatar
  • 81
8 votes
3 answers
35k views

Why doesn't a player have to catch the ball from a punt?

I've been getting in to NFL this season and really like the sport. One point I was unclear about in the rules is when a team punts the ball. Why does the receiving player not have to catch it? I ...
Kristian Bright's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
3k views

In North American football, why are 2 of the 5 offensive linemen called "tackles"?

In North American football, why are 2 of the offensive linemen referred to as "offensive tackles"? I mean, 1) they're not allowed, under the rules, to tackle anyone, and 2) there is no equivalent ...
Sevan Evans's user avatar
8 votes
3 answers
3k views

Why are some offensive formations illegal in American football?

In American football you have to have at least 7 players on the line of scrimmage. You can have more, but some of your players are then "covered" by others and are no longer eligible. What's the point ...
kuzzooroo's user avatar
  • 1,540
8 votes
1 answer
5k views

Does a blocked extra point count as a missed extra point for the kicker?

Does a blocked extra point count as a missed extra point? This was the case in last Monday night's game when Justin Tucker's extra point was blocked and from what I understand it was counted as a miss ...
Footballfan's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
9k views

How can an NFL team with a worse win-loss record than a division rival clinch a playoff berth before their rival?

As of week 16 of the 2015 NFL season, the top two AFC West teams are the Broncos and the Chiefs. Specifically: Notice the x next to the Chiefs indicates they have clinched the playoffs. So they ...
Stan Shunpike's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
6k views

Quarterback pass to self

In the wild card round of the 2017-18 NFL season, Marcus Mariota, quarterback of the Tennessee Titans, made a pass to himself for a 6-yard touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs. This makes me ...
alamoot's user avatar
  • 10.9k
8 votes
1 answer
974 views

What will happen to the current Bowl games when the playoff system commences?

In 2014, the NCAA will switch from the current Bowl Game system for Division 1 football to a four-team playoff format wherein the top 4 teams will compete for the championship. Will the current Bowl ...
SocioMatt's user avatar
  • 2,429
8 votes
3 answers
1k views

Is there a penalty for kicking a PAT from the 2 yard line in the NFL?

This year the NFL changed the way extra points work so that 2-point-conversion attempts are snapped from the 2 yard line as they always were, but extra points are now snapped from the 15. If a team ...
Daniel's user avatar
  • 546

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