How to Learn the Positions in Football

     Football is a very complex game that is hard to follow for the first time. This page provides basic knowledge of the positions in football. Once the viewer knows what each position does and how they contribute to the game, it will be much easier to follow. There are various formations used in football by both the offense and the defense. The rules of football allow for countless formations. This results in a game that is constantly changing. 
     In order to understand the positions, one must first know a few terms. The first term the viewer must know is the line of scrimmage. The line of scrimmage (LOS) is the place where the football is at the beginning of a play. The offensive line and defensive line will get into their stances on either side of the LOS. This area is frequently referred to as "the trenches" by broadcasters. The next term viewers need to know is first down. Football is based on the ability or inability to move the football towards a goal known as the endzone. An offense starts with the ball on first down. This team has 4 downs to gain 10 yards or the ball is given to the other team. If 10 or more yards are picked up, the offense is rewarded with another first down, and the process repeats itself. Next, the viewer needs to become familiar with the positions.
     The offensive line consists of 2 Tackles, 2 guards, and 1 center. Behind the center is the quarterback. This is the centerpiece of the offense, as he touches the ball on every play. Behind the quarterback can be a fullback in some formations, a running back in other formations, sometimes both, sometimes neither. 
     The defensive line consists of 2 defensive tackle and two defensive ends in what is known as a base defense or 4-3 (4 stands for amount of defensive lineman on the field and 3 stands for amount of linebackers on the field). In a 3-4 defensive alignment there would be 3 defensive lineman consisting of 1 defensive tackle and 2 defensive ends and 4 linebackers. This bring me to linebackers. These players line up behind the defensive line and there is normally 3 or 4 on the field, depending on the formation. 

http://football.about.com/cs/football101/a/positionoff.htm

http://www.ducksters.com/sports/footballplayerpositions.php

http://football.calsci.com/Positions.html