Strong side:  passing strength, 2 or more wr side

Weak side:  away from the passing strength

Open side:  side away from the tight end

Closed side:  side to the tight end

X:  receiver away from the tight end, that is on the line of scrimmage

Z:  receiver to the tight end side, off of the line of scrimmage

Y:  Tight end

Corners aced:  corners align left and right regardless of formation

Corners run:  corners align on wr and stay with them

Slot:  2 wr on the same side of the formation

Cluster:  (3) receivers, tight ends, or backs aligned closed together on and near the line of scrimmage

Defensive Line Techniques and alignments

(Where the defensive linemen line up ½ yard off of the ball)

0:  head up on the center

1:  right/left eye of the center

2:  inside eye of the guards

3:  outside eye of the guards

4:  inside eye of the tackles

5:  outside eye of the tackles

6:  head up on a tight end

7:  inside eye of the tight end

8: One Body outside of the tight end

9.  outside eye of the tight end

Linebacker alignments

See defensive line chart and add a zero for linebacker alignments, for to five yards off of the line of scrimmage

Zone coverage terms

Buzz:  safety and linebacker in cover 3 exchange coverage responsibility, linebacker has the flat, safety has the hook

Clamp:  call made in cover 2 to cover slot receiver man to man on all vertical and inside cuts

Cloud:  corner has flat responsibility and primary support on the run

China:  an under route by # 1 receiver once # 2 receiver has cleared the seam area

Cushion:  separation between receiver and defender

Force:  player is responsible for run to his side

Inside technique:  DB maintains inside leverage on wr

Jam:  collision receiver with hands and extended arms dictating the release of the receiver

Outside technique:  DB maintains outside leverage on wr

Press:  an alignment head-up and tight on the receiver.

Sky:  safety has curl/flat responsibility

Spy:  A designated defensive player assigned to quarterback scrambles

Man to Man pass coverage terms

M/M:  symbol for man to man coverage

Banjo:  when 2 defensive backs are responsible for 2 receivers in close proximity they may switch off to avoid being picked

I/O:  in/out coverage by 2 defenders covering one receiver