How to Play Football: NFL Style

Mark St. JeanRyan WelshAlex Clark

Charles Angotto

Professional football first took place in the

United States in 1895 in the town of Latrobe, Pennsylvania.

The American Professional Football Association was formed in 1920 before giving way to the NFL in 1922.

In 1946 the All-America Football Conference was formed, as an NFL rival. It included teams such as the San Francisco 49ers, the Baltimore Colts, and the Cleveland Browns.

The leagues merged in 1950.

History of the NFL

Professional football became more popular when CBS

began broadcasting select games in the late 1950s. The Packers defeated the Chiefs, 35-10, to win the

first Super Bowl in 1967. The AFC and NFC conferences were established with

13 teams each in 1970. That same year, ABC created Monday Night Football,

which featured a Monday night matchup between two popular teams. This program was an instant success and served to further increase the NFL’s popularity.

History (continued)

The regular season currently consists of 16

games per team, with 4 preseason games and 3 rounds of postseason play.

The NFC and AFC each consist of four divisions: North, South, East, and West.

There are four teams per division, with a total of 32 teams in the NFL.

This season, the NFL has been issuing large fines to players for illegal contact during games in an attempt to make the game safer for its players.

The NFL Today

The NFL plans to reduce the preseason down

to 2 games, and increase the regular season to 18 games. The postseason will remain at 3 rounds.

New technology will be embraced to make the game safer for players. Such technology may include air cell shock absorb helmets and footballs that have built in sensors to indicate whether or not they crossed the first down or goal line.

The Future of the NFL

A prototype image of the X-1 helmet from Xenith.

Image courtesy of MSNBC.

Offensive line

Offensive Tackle- Outermost player on the line of scrimmage (2) Primary Skill-Run and Pass Block

Offensive Guard- Player directly beside the tackle to the inside of the line(between the Tackle and the Center)(2) Primary Skill- Run and Pass Block

Center- Innermost lineman between the two guards who snaps the ball to the quarterback (1) Primary Skill- Snap the Ball and Run and Pass Block

Offensive Positions: Linemen

Wide Receivers

Wide Receiver/Flanker- Two Players closest to the sidelines on opposite sides Primary Skill-Catching the ball when thrown to

Slot Man/Split End- Player in between the outermost lineman and the Flanker Primary Skill- Catching the ball across the middle of

the field Tight End- Player directly next to the tackle on the

line of scrimmage Primary Skill- Run Blocking/Catching

Offensive Positions: Receivers

FLSESE TE TE

Quarterback

Throws, hands off, or runs the ball each down Begins each play behind the center

Running Backs Halfback/Tailback- Farthest player behind center when the

ball is snapped Primary Skill- Running the ball downfield

Fullback- Player behind quarterback and in front of running back Primary Skill- Run Blocking/Carrying

Offensive Positions: Backfield

FLSESE TEQBFBTB

Defensive End

Outermost Lineman Primary Skill- Rushing the Passer

Defensive Tackle/Nose Guard Innermost Lineman

Primary Skill- Run Stopping

Defensive Positions: Linemen

Outside Linebackers

Strong Side- Player behind the Defensive End on the right side Primary Skill- Coverage, Run Stopping, and Pass Rush

Weak Side- Player behind the Defensive End on the left side Primary Skill- Coverage, Run Stopping, and Pass Rush

Inside Linebacker Mike Linebacker- Player in between the two Outside

Linebackers Primary Skill- Leader of the Defense as well as

Coverage, Run Stopping , and Pass Rush

Defensive Positions: Linebackers

Cornerback

Player closest to the sideline opposite the Receivers Primary Skill- Pass Coverage

Free Safety Player behind the Linebackers on the left side

Primary Skill- Pass Coverage Strong Safety

Player Behind the Linebackers on the right side Primary Skill- Pass Coverage, Blitzing, and Run

Stopping

Defensive Positions: Defensive Backs

Defense VS. Offense

FS SS

Place Kicker

Kicks the ball away to begin the game Kicks Field Goals

Punter Punts the ball away on 4th down Punts the ball away after a Safety

Long Snapper Snaps the ball to the punter Snaps the ball to the holder

Holder Holds the ball on Field Goals Often a Backup Quarterback or the Punter

Special Teams Positions

Advance the ball into the opposite end zone, 6

points Advance ball 10 yards, given 4 tries Complete 2 point conversions, 2 points

Objective (offense)

Kick field goals, 3 points Kick extra points, 1 point Kick off to opposing team Punt to opposing team Receive kick/punt from opposing team Block extra points/field goals of opposing team

Objective (special teams)

Stop advance of opposing teams offense Take the ball from the offense by fumble or

interception Stop opposing team’s 2 point conversion Force opposing offense into a safety, 2 points

Objective (defense)

Penalties (5 yards)Penalty Description

Encroachment Touching opposing player before the snapOffsides Being on the wrong side of the line of scrimageFalse Start Offensive player moving before snapDelay of Game Offense takes to long to start the playExtra Player Having more than 11 men on the fieldIlligal Forward Pass Illigal use of the forward passRunning Into Kicker Running into the kickerIlligal Formation Offense has illigal player formatIlligal Motion Offense has 2 men moving at onceIlligal Shift Offensive line shifts illigalyIneligable Reciever Offense has more than 5 men downfield

Penalties (10 yards)

Penalty DescriptionHolding Holding another playerPass Interference (offense) Stopping player from receiving ballTripping Tripping another playerHelping the Runner Carrying the ball carrier Batting Ball Purposely hitting/kicking loose ball

Penalties (15 yards)

Penalty DescriptionChop Block Blocking a player at or below the kneesClipping Blocking a player from behind, below the kneesFacemask Grasping another player's facemaskRoughing the Kicker hitting the kicker, while leg is in the airRoughing the Passer Hitting a defensless quarterbackSpearing To tackle, leading with e helmet Unsportsmanlike Conduct Being unsportsman likeBlock in the Back blocking an opponant in the backUnnecisary Roughness Hitting a defensless player with excessive force

Penalties (other)

Penalty Description ResultIntentional Grounding Quarterback Throwing ball away, to avoid sack 5 yards, loss of downsPass Interference (defense) Impeding opposing players abilty to catch ball spot of the foulContacting a Referee Intentionaly touching a Referee 15 yards, EjectionMailicious Intent Hitting another player with intent to hurt 15 yards, EjectionPunching Hitting another player with closed fist 15 yards, EjectionKicking Deliberatly kicking another player 15 yards, Ejection

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Works Cited