Alignment
A player's starting location and leverage relative to the ball, teammates, opponents, and formation strength.
Reading the call sheet
Setting the formation
Loading the next OpenPlay view.
Reading the call sheet
Loading the next OpenPlay view.
Learn Football
Plain-language definitions for the terms used across OpenPlay.
A player's starting location and leverage relative to the ball, teammates, opponents, and formation strength.
A pressure in which a linebacker, defensive back, or another second-level defender attacks the passer or run fit.
A coordinated set of assignments designed to create a particular blocking angle, route conflict, or coverage answer.
Responsibility for preventing the ball carrier or quarterback from escaping outside the defensive edge.
One of three vertical divisions of the deep field, commonly used by Cover 3 defenders.
One play in the offense's series of opportunities to gain the line to gain or score.
The pre-snap arrangement of offensive or defensive players across the field.
A named space between offensive blockers that offenses attack and defenders fit, usually lettered outward from the center.
An immediate passing answer used when the defense sends a rusher the protection cannot block.
A defender's positional advantage toward the space or route direction they intend to deny.
The field location the offense must reach to earn a new first down.
Coverage that begins from zone positioning and converts to receiver matchups according to route-release rules.
A defensive personnel grouping with five defensive backs, commonly used against three-receiver formations.
The combination of position groups on the field for a play, such as one running back and one tight end.
The protected space formed around a passer by offensive blockers during a dropback.
The ordered sequence of route or defender reads a quarterback uses to decide where to throw.
Post-snap secondary movement that changes the defense from its initial shell into its final coverage responsibilities.
A defender's responsibility for a gap, edge, or support lane against a running play.
The horizontal distance and location of a receiver relative to the formation and nearest teammate.
The side of a formation with greater eligible-receiver, tight-end, or blocking presence, as defined by a team's rules.
A defender's alignment or method of attacking a blocker, often named by a numbered position on the offensive lineman.
Coverage in which defenders protect areas and distribute receivers according to routes entering those areas.
Coverage in which a defender is primarily responsible for a particular eligible receiver.
A rush plan intended to hurry, move, or sack the quarterback by stressing protection rules and blocking matchups.
The yards remaining before the offense reaches the line to gain and earns another first down.
The first play in a new series of downs, earned by reaching the line to gain or beginning a possession.
The ball's location on the field and the strategic advantages or risks created by that location.
The area near the defense's goal line where scoring is close and vertical field space is compressed.
The boundary a ball carrier or possessed pass must cross for a touchdown.
A dead-ball result that places the ball at a rule-defined yard line after certain kicks or end-zone plays.
An offensive grouping with one running back, one tight end, and three wide receivers.
A defensive personnel grouping with six defensive backs, often used in clear passing situations.
A blocking system in which linemen step toward an area, combine adjacent defenders, and climb according to defensive movement.
A blocker who leaves the initial position and travels behind teammates to lead through another gap or around the formation.
A planned receiver path with timing and leverage intended to create space or stress a coverage rule.
The pre-snap structure of defensive linemen and nearby box defenders relative to offensive blockers.
A coverage shell with one safety primarily responsible for the deep middle of the field.
A coverage shell with two safeties aligned to divide or disguise responsibility across the deep field.
The offense's assignment system for identifying and blocking pass rushers while preserving a throwing pocket.
A quarterback's assessment of alignment, leverage, shell, numbers, and pressure threats before the snap.
The confirmation or revision of a pre-snap expectation based on defender movement after the ball is snapped.
The defender whose movement or leverage most directly determines a ball carrier's or quarterback's decision.