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SAM
The strong side outside linebacker
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SCOPE
Refers to an arthroscopy, which is the visual examination of the interior of a joint with a special surgical instrument. It usually involves a shorter recovery time than more invasive surgery methods.
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SCRAPES (AND SIFTS)
When a LB or DB avoids blockers by trying to go around them, in lieu of taking them on directly.
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SECOND GEAR
Ability to accelerate beyond initial level of speed when running downfield or in space.
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SECOND LEVEL
Down the field.
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SECOND-LEVEL BLOCK
Block by an O-lineman on a LB or safety 2-3 yards downfield.
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SEES ENTIRE FIELD
Describes a QB who knows the locations of all his eligible receivers and can read the entire defense, allowing him to find open, nonprimary receivers.
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SELL OUT
To sacrifices one's body.
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SELLS ROUTES
Describes a receiver who routinely fools his defender by, say, making different routes look identical at the start of the pattern.
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SEPARATION
Ability of a receiver to put distance between himself and the defender on a pass pattern.
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SETTING THE EDGE
A defender's ability to set his feet in the ground, sink his hips and anchor against the run.
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SHADED NOSE
A DT who lines up over one of the center's shoulders.
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SHAKE AND BAKE
Quick, elusive moves.
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SHED
To disengage from a blocker.
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SHIFT
When two or more offensive players move at the same time before the snap. All players who move in a shift must come to a complete stop prior to the snap.
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SHORT-AREA BURST
Ability to accelerate within a short distance.
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SINK HIPS
Act of lowering hips to provide proper balance and explosion into breaks (for receivers) or defensive linemen (offensive linemen).
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SLANT
A receiver route. In the slant route, a receiver runs straight up field a few yards, plants his outside foot hard while in full stride, and turns 45 degrees towards the quarterback. A staple of the West Coast Offense(WCO) and the player may go as little as 2 yards or as many as 6 yards before moving inside for the pass. Variations include the quick slant in which the player plants and turns at the snap instead of running ahead first and the Slow or Zone route, in which the receiver runs 10 to 15 yards downfield to get behind the linebackers before turning.
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SLEW FOOTED
Feet point slightly outward.
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SLOBBER-KNOCKER
A particularly gruesome tackle or hit.
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SMALL-AREA PLAYER
A player who is effective only when responsible for a limited area of the field.
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SMASHMOUTH
Physical style of play.
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SPLIT
The distance between the feet of adjacent offensive linemen. Said to be wide, if there is a large gap between players, or narrow, if the gap is small.
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SPLIT END
A player position on offense. A receiver who lines up on the line of scrimmage, several yards outside the offensive linemen. The term is now rarely used in American Football, having been long since replaced by the wide receiver or wideout, with no distinction between whether the receiver is on the line or not.
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SPLITS
The distance between the feet of adjacent offensive linemen. Said to be wide, if there is a large gap between players, or narrow, if the gap is smal
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SQUARES SHOULDERS
When a blocker keeps his shoulders in front of his assignment, allowing him to adjust to whatever move a rusher attempts to make while remaining balanced.
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STACK
For defenders: To engage a blocker head on, using his body to help fill a running lane.
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STACK AND SHED
To take on a blocker, locate the ball and disengage.
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STALK BLOCKER
Receiver adept at running a fake pass route then blocking his defender once that player realizes the play is a run.
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STAY FRONTAL
Stay in front of an opponent.
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STRAFE
Sideways motion of a defender (usually a linebacker) moving laterally while diagnosing a play.
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STRAIGHT-LINE PLAYER
One whose speed is negated by inability to change direction quickly or make sudden moves.
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STRONG SIDE
The side of the offensive line where the tight end is lined up, making for more inline blockers than on the opposite (weak) side.
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STUNT
A tactic used by defensive linemen in which they switch roles in an attempt to get past the blockers. Both defenders will start with power rushes, with the stunting defender getting more of a push. The other lineman will then go around him, ideally using him as a pick to get free from his blocker.
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SUDDENNESS OFF THE EDGE
Combination of acceleration, fluidity and anticipation that allows a pass-rusher to take a step or two into the backfield before his blocker is in position to engage him.
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SUSTAIN BLOCK
To latch onto a defender, keeping him from disengaging.
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SWIM MOVE
Pass rush move where defender swings one arm over blocker to give him less surface area to block.
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SWINGMAN
A player who can play more than one position.
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SYSTEM QB
A QB whose statistics are inflated by playing in a pass-happy offense or whose shortcomings were masked by the type of offense he ran in college.
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