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A Gridiron Glossary for Super Bowl Sunday

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Brandeis chapter.

Super Bowl Sunday is a great occasion for everyone—enthusiasts and bandwagon fans, like you.  The merging of beers, chips, dip, and comradeship is matchless.  But there is one thing that might put down your good time… you don’t know what the f*** anyone is talking about.  Here’s a small listing of jargon to help out your cause!

Audible (n) What that the quarterback shouts before hiking the ball, typically used to inform his teammates of a play change

Backfield (n) Area behind quarterback where the running backs line up

Bad Snap (n) When the center imprecisely aims the snap to the QB

Blitz (n) A play in which the defense has their players rush through the linebackers in an attempt to sack the QB

Center (n) The offensive player [in the middle of the line] who snaps the ball to the QB

Draw (n) A running play that is purposed to look like a pass (the QB makes a late handoff)

Encroachment (n) A foul in which a defender makes contact with an offensive player before the snap

End Zone (n)  The 10-yard area at both ends of the football field which is considered the goal (TOUCHDOWN!!!!!)

False Start (n) A violation in which an offensive player moves before the ball is snapped

First Down (n) A successful offensive motion in which the offensive team gains ten or more yards on a given play

Hail Mary (n) Any particularly long forward pass made in hopelessness with only a small chance of success [used at or near end of half]

Ice the Kicker (n) The act of calling a time out right before the opposing team’s place kicker attempts a field goal or PAT [distraction tactic]

Interception (n) A forward pass that is caught by the opposite team

Lateral (n) A backwards pass thrown by an offensive player to an offensive teammate [not a forward pass] [players must be past the line of scrimmage]

Line of Scrimmage (n) The line where the ball beings each play

Loose Ball (n) A fumble

Neutral Zone (n) The area between the ball and the defensive line [before the snap]

Offsides (n) An infraction in which the offensive moves across the neutral zone prior to the ball being snapped

Onside Kick (n) A short kickoff; offensive tactic by which the offensive team aims to get possession of the ball

Pick Six (n) An interception that’s returned for a touchdown

Quarterback Sneak (n) An offensive play in which the QB jumps into the line

Red Zone (n) The 20-yards in front of the end zone

Roughing the Passer (n) Unsanctioned contact; the act of running into or hitting the QB after the ball has been released

Sack (n) A defensive play in which the QB is tackled behind the line of scrimmage

Stiff Arm (v) To extend your arm in order to thwart oncoming defense

LASTLY A SUMMARY OF MODES OF SCORING:

•   Touchdown is worth 6 points

•   Extra Point Conversion is worth 1 point

•   Two-Point Conversion is worth 2 points

•   Field Goal is worth 3 points

•   Safety is worth 2 points

Photo Sources

http://www.digitaljournal.com/img/5/1/6/1/1/2/i/7/3/4/o/a_077.jpg

https://img1.etsystatic.com/024/0/6365286/il_340x270.501636399_4h3c.jpg

http://2.media.collegehumor.cvcdn.com/24/34/091f740f0d8e7ab36009b852ba82…

I am a Junior at Brandeis University who is passionate about writing and who loves surfing the web for useful articles and having fun doing what I like.