PLAYS
Each drive is made up of a series of plays, and each play is defined, in part by the following information:
Down: 1st down, 2nd down, etc. This gives you an idea of how many plays the offense has to get another first down.
To Go: 1st and
10, 2nd and
3, etc. This tells you how many yards until the next first down.
(If the situation is "1st and
goal," that means the offense is so close to the goal that they have 4 downs to score a touchdown: they CANNOT get another 1st down.)
Ball At: 1st and 10 at the
Florida 20. This tells you where the ball is - how many yards they have to move the ball to get a touch down. If Florida is at its own 20, there is 100-20 = 80 yards until a touchdown. If it's at the opponent's 20, it has 20 yards until a "TD."
At the beginning of each play, the ball is placed between the two teams at what is called "the line of scrimmage." If the ball is moved PAST the line during the play, the offense gained yardage; otherwise, there is "no gain" or it lost yards.
The OFFENSIVE LINE lines up to one side of the line of scrimmage, the DEFENSIVE LINE lines up on the other side. Behind the offensive line are the BACKS: the quarterback (the "field general") and, for example, running backs and tailbacks - who usually run the ball. To each side of the offensive line are the WIDE RECEIVERS, who usually catch passes.
Behind the defensive line are LINEBACKERS, and behind them are DEFENSIVE BACKS. These backs usually try to prevent successful passes, and the linebackers either help them OR help the defensive line get through the offensive line (something called a "blitz," like the German blitz of WWII).
The play begins when an offensive lineman (the "center") "snaps" the ball, handing it off to an offensive back (usually the "QB" or quarterback). This player can run the ball himself, hand the ball to another back, pitch the ball under-hand to a back, or pass it to a receiver.
(If one of the offensive linemen or receivers move before the snap of the ball, it's a "false start" penalty - a loss of 5 yards and the down is replayed. If one of the defensive players crosses the line of scrimmage (the "neutral zone"), it's "offsides," a defensive penalty.)
(An offensive back CAN move before the start of a play, but only one back at a time can be "in motion.")
If the pass is incomplete - if the ball hits the ground - the ball is "dead" and the play is over. Otherwise - if a runner drops the ball, if the handoff doesn't work, if an underhand pitch isn't caught - the ball is "live," and can be recovered by the other team (a turnover).
The play ends with an incomplete pass, but that's not the only way a play can end:
- It can end when the ball-carrier runs out of bounds or scores a touchdown.
- It can end when the ball-carrier is "tackled," when a defensive player grabs the guy and brings him down to the ground, so that a knee hits the turf.
- In college rules, it can end when the ball-carrier's knee hits the ground, even if he just slipped.
I love the defense, so I will mention one more thing about the play: the "D" loves to stop a drive, but there are other things they like to do: cause a turnover (a fumble or interception) OR tackle the ball-carrier BEHIND the line of scrimmage. If they tackle the QB that way, it's called a sack.
The defense LOVES to sack the QB.
Bubba