"Football Talk" - Things Us Girls Need to Know

So being that this site was initially created for female football fans who love the Ravens (judging by the number of viewers per day I would have to assume that there are a few guys who check the site out too) my dad has given me a list of some "football phrases"that you might want to brush up on ;)


I did a little research to make sure I was totally accurate and tried to make my explanations as simple as possible!


Bubble screen pass - The bubble screen is when a receiver takes a step forward, then darts toward the quarterback to receive the ball while the linemen release to clear a path for the receiver. The bubble screen is usually most effective against zone or man coverage. It can be risky because it is dependent on proper timing; a zone blitz or a defensive end dropping into coverage can interrupt the timing of the play, and could result in the quarterback being sacked.


Pick six - An interception is commonly referred to as a "pick", a shortened form of "picked off". An interception returned for a touchdown is commonly referred to as a "pick 6" because the resulting touchdown is worth 6 points.


Fade pass (in end zone) - This pass is a soft throw to a receiver who tries to sprint past his defender and gather in the ball. The fade is usually made to a corner of the end zone.


Blitz - This is a team defensive maneuver in which one or more linebackers or defensive backs, who normally remain on the defensive team's side of the line of scrimmage during a play, are instead sent across the line to the offensive side to try to tackle the quarterback or disrupt his pass attempt. **Bonus : The name of the play is taken from Blitzkrieg, the German strategy of "Lightning War" during World War II.


Play action pass - This pass is often used against defenses that are presently focused on stopping the run. By simulating as that the play is initially a running play, the offense attempts to deceive the defense into acting on the run fake and being out of position in their pass coverage, giving receivers more time and room to get open behind the linebackers.


Audible - Changing a play at the line of scrimmage by calling out predetermined set of signals. An audible is often called by the quarterback when he doesn't like the play call after getting a look at the defensive formation.


Blind side - The side opposite the direction a player is facing. When a right-handed quarterback sets up for a pass, the left tackle is responsible for protecting his blind side.