BETA
Chapter 1
Decoding the secret language of football
Chapter 2
The architecture of X's and O's
Chapter 3
From headset to huddle
Chapter 4
The chess match before the snap
YOUR GOAL
Master of Inside the NFL playbook
Ch 2 · The architecture of X's and O's
dave Discover the architecture of NFL playbooks. Learn how a single play is designed, called, and adjusted at the line of scrimmage.
dave The NFL Kill Call
Kill, switch the play! Kill, switch the play! We see the defense, we run it our way.
dave Linemen use zone or gap blocking systems to coordinate their movements against defensive rushes.
dave Play designers use geometric concepts to force defenders to cover as much grass as possible.
Fun Fact
The 'Go' route: The number 9 in the route tree is always a straight sprint down the field, designed for maximum speed.
Glossary
playbook (noun)
A book containing a sports team's strategies and plays. Coach Paul Brown first introduced systematic playbooks in the 1940s to organize his team's complex offensive schemes.
A book containing a sports team's strategies and plays. Coach Paul Brown first introduced systematic playbooks in the 1940s to organize his team's complex offensive schemes.
Quiz
In the standard NFL route tree, which direction do odd-numbered routes (like 3 or 5) typically break?
Quiz
What is the main difference between zone blocking and gap blocking for offensive linemen?
Quiz
Which coach pioneered the 'vertical stretch' passing game with the San Diego Chargers in the 1970s?
Quiz
In a 'screen pass' play, what does the offensive line intentionally do to deceive the defense?