Glossary of American football terms
Terms used in American football
The following terms are used in American football, both conventional and indoor. Some of these terms are also in use in Canadian football; for a list of terms unique to that code, see Glossary of Canadian football.
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2–4–5 defense
A type of nickel formation with two linemen (two defensive ends, DEs, or one DE and one defensive tackle, DT), four linebackers (two interior linebackers, ILBs, and two outer linebackers, OLBs), and five defensive backs (three cornerbacks, CBs, one free safety, FS, and one strong safety, SS). More common among teams with 3–4 base defenses than the 3–3–5, because all four starting linebackers remain on-field while the defensive linemen (the slowest players on the defense) come out. This maximizes versatility for the defense against three- and four-wide receiver, WR, offensive sets. a safety will often cover the fourth receiver, and a linebacker will cover the tight end or halfback, leaving three to patrol the middle of the field. The 2–4–5 is most often used against the two-minute offense, when substituting players may be difficult.
3–3–5 defense
A variation of the nickel formation with three linemen (two defensive ends, DEs, and one defensive tackle, DT), three linebackers (two outer linebackers, OLBs and one middle linebacker, MLB), and five defensive backs (three cornerbacks, CBs, one free safety, FS and one strong safety, SS).
3–4 defense
A defensive formation with three linemen and four linebackers. A professional derivative in the 1970s of the earlier Oklahoma, 5–2 or 50 defense, which had five linemen and two linebackers.
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