Football 101 | Chapter 7 | Offense

the offense segment of the football team is further divided into three main groups with specific positions within each group the three major groupings for the offense so the offensive line the receivers and offensive backs each group will have specific assignments it needs to accomplish for the offense to move the ball down the field and ultimately score by rule the offensive team must have seven players lined up on the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped and the play begins the offensive line normally consist 25 players a center two guards and two tackles whose job is to block opposing players on all plays run by the offense offensive linemen are usually bigger and or stronger than the other offensive players and need good balance and quickness in a limited area it is difficult for any offence to have success without a well-coordinated efficient offensive line the five offensive linemen must line up on the line of scrimmage the center lines up over the ball in addition to blocking assignments the center begins every play by moving the ball to the quarterback either by direct snap or by a shotgun snap the two guards lineup on either side of the center the two tackles lineup one on either side of the two guards for teams that won the ball more than a pass the tight end may be considered part of the offensive line the tight end will line up on the line of scrimmage on the outside of the offensive tackle and be used primarily as a blocker the tight end may be smaller and have the ability to run pass routes and catch the ball the receivers group usually starts with one or two players a flanker and the split end whose job it is to block on running plays and to run proper pass routes and be able to catch and run with the ball often they will be asked to block linebackers or defensive backs rather than bigger defensive lineman the flanker will line up of the line of scrimmage and split away from the tight end when the receiver lines up as a wingback his alignment will be of the line of scrimmage and just outside the position of the tight end the wingback may be used as a ball carrier in some offenses the split end lines up on the line of scrimmage on the side of the field away from the tight end split out from the offensive tackle either the flanker or split end can become ball carriers when the offense runs a reverse play the offensive backfield will usually be made up of three players 1 quarterback who should be a good athlete smart understand the offense and be able to handle the pressure other position in addition there will be 1 fullback who must be able to block on both run and pass plays carry the ball especially running inside the offensive tackles and run some pass routes to catch the ball and one halfback or tailback whose primary assignment will be to carry the ball on many running plays run proper pass routes catch the ball and serve as a blocker the quarterback serves as the leader of the team calls the play formation and snap count in the huddle breaks the huddle brings the team to the line of scrimmage and at the line calls out the cadence to start the play he received the snap from the center and either hands the ball off to another player passes the ball to a receiver or runs with the ball the quarterback lines up directly behind the center to receive the ball or 4 yards behind the center if he's receiving a shotgun snap the full-back will line up behind the quarterback or directly behind one of the offensive tackles the halfback in line up behind one of the offensive tackles or behind the full-back in an i-formation