Women's Guide to Football Players on the Football Field

Each year I sit down with my husband during the big OU and Texas blowout as all his friends and their wives join us in watching the big game. I started paying attention to the women's reactions and the reactions of the men. It didn't take me long to realize that most of the women in the room had no idea as to what was going on in the football field or why that guy was passing the ball to the other football player who was running down the field.

I decided to write this article after a friend of mine told me that she would like to interact more with her husband and that he loved football but she was having a hard time following it. I understood why she wanted to be able to follow it so much; it was something that she and her husband could enjoy together since this was what her husband was into. I also believe that a lot of people can't get into the game because they simply don't understand it or can't follow it. Football is just like any other sport and it takes a little time to learn. This guide is your basics of what each football player does and what he is called.

The Offense Team

The Quarterback

The Quarterback is the main player in the football game. He is the one that most people would refer to as the man's man or as they would often say in movies; the guy every girl wants to date and every guy wants to be like. The Quarterback calls the plays in the huddle and often screams to his teammates the plays when they are in line at the scrimmage. He is also the one who receives the ball at the center and then passes it off to the running back or maybe throws the ball to a receiver or he may even run with it.

The Center

The center player is the person who hands the ball to the Quarterback during a play and he always handles the ball on every single play.

The Running Back

The running back is the one who often runs with the football. I have heard many people call the running back a tail back, halfbacks, and of course wingbacks.

The Fullback

The fullback may seem like they aren't that important but he is one of the most important player since his job is to block for the running back or he may do what is known as pass-block to help the quarterback. Fullbacks are generally bigger than the running back and are also short-yardage runners which make them perfect for playing the great sport of football.

The Wide Receiver

The Wide Receiver is one who can often get past the defense team and catch the ball. These players are often quick and fast. Some coaches will use between two to four during a play.

The Tight End

The tight end has two jobs that require him to either block or he can serve as a receiver on the team. The tight end is often to the left or right of the quarterback.

The Left Guard and Right Guard

The left guard and right guard are on both sides of the quarterback and their job is to block and protect the quarterback or those who are carrying the ball.

The Left Tackle and Right Tackle

The left and right tackle is beside the left guard and right guard. Their names pretty much tell what they do and why they are in that position.

This makes up the offensive team. If you pay attention to a football game after reading this then you will be able to understand which player is which and what their purpose is on the football field.

The Defense team:

The Defense Tackle

The defense tackle are often parallel to the left and right guard on the offence team. Their job is to maintain their position to try and stop a running play or they can run through a gap that is on the offensive line to try and confuse the quarterback or stop a backfield formation. Basically their job is to try and ruin the plays that the other team has.

The Defensive End

The defensive end is on both sides of the defense tackle with two men in this position. Their job is to try and stop the offensive blocks and to try to get to the backfield so that they can try to tackle the quarterback or whoever is carrying the ball on the opposing team. The defensive end is also known to force the players out of bounds if the play happens to run to the outside. If they are not able to force them out of bounds then they may use the option of forcing them into their other teammates to overcome the play.

The Linebacker

The linebackers are the ones that you see just behind the defensive line or in the middle. These players are often the best tacklers on the team. The team usually has between three and four linebackers on every play and they are known for defending the run and the pass.

The Safety

The safety is always the farthest away from the line of scrimmage. The easiest way to remember this is that they are the ones on the outer part away from the rest of the team and there are two of these men together. The safety's job is to defend the deep passes and runs. The reason for the safety is in the event that the offensive team makes it that far they will have extra hands to protect the goal.

The Cornerback

The cornerbacks are on the most outer part away from the center of the line of scrimmage. The cornerbacks are often across from the wide receivers on the opposite team.

This is a handy little guide that everyone should know when they are first starting to learn the rules of the game or for those who don't really understand what each player does or why they did a certain thing.