One yard of linear distance in the direction of one of the two goals. A field is 100 yards (120 when both end zones are included). Typically, a team is required to advance at least 10 yards in order to get a new set of downs. Identical in length to the standard unit of measurement…
Tag Archive: Definitions
Y-receiver
Term usually used in offensive play calling to refer to the tight end. For example, “Buffalo Right 534 Boot Y Corner” tells the Y-receiver to run a corner route.
Yards After Catch
Short for Yards After Catch. Amount of yardage gained after initial catch.A quarterback’s length of pass is the distance from where the line of scrimmage is, to where the receiver caught the ball. YAC is the distance the ball carrier ran after the initial catch. Screen pass plays boosts YAC effectively due to the short…
X-receiver
Term used in play calling that usually refers to the split end, or the wide receiver that lines up on the line of scrimmage. For example, “Split Right Jet 529 X Post” tells the X-receiver to run a post route.
Wishbone
A formation involving three running backs lined up behind the quarterback in the shape of a Y, similar to the shape of a wishbone.
Wing back
A player position in some offensive formations (Flexbone). Lines up just outside the tight end and one yard off the line of scrimmage. A versatile position that can be used as a receiver, blocker, and/or runner of reverses.
Win-loss(-tie)
The ratio of wins to losses (and if necessary, ties), expressed as a pair or trio of numbers. For example, 6-1 means 6 wins and 1 loss and 5-3-1 means 5 wins, 3 losses and 1 tie.
Wide receiver
A player position on offense. He is split wide (usually about 10 yards) from the formation and plays on the line of scrimmage as a split end (X) or one yard off as a flanker (Z).
Wildcat offense
An offensive philosophy that dictates that either a quarterback or a running back can receive a direct snap from the snapper; it is often compared to the single wing. The Wildcat creation is attributed to Gus Malzahn (current OC at SEC Auburn University, formerly at Tulsa and Arkansas where he made the formation famous with…
