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• Cover
• Introduction
• About This Book
• Foolish Assumptions
• Icons Used in This Book
• Beyond the Book
• Where to Go from Here
• Part 1: Getting Started with Football
• Chapter 1: America’s Greatest Game
• Why Football Is the Best
• Who’s Playing Football
• How Football Began
• How the Football Season Is Set Up Today
• How Television Helped Increase Football’s Popularity
• Why Millions Cheer Each Year for College Football
• What Makes the Super Bowl Number One
• Chapter 2: Meet Me on the Gridiron
• The Big Picture: Stadiums
• Getting Down to Business: The Field
• Looking at That Funny-Shaped Ball
• Meeting the Cast of Characters
• What Football Uniforms Are All About
• Chapter 3: Them’s the Rules (And Regulations)
• The Ins and Outs of the Game Clock
• The Coin Toss and Kickoff
• Downs Plus Yardage Equals Excitement
• Scoring Points
• The Role of the Officials
• Familiarizing Yourself with Referee Signals
• Penalties and Other Violations
• Disputing a Call: The Instant Replay Challenge System
• Part 2: Go, Offense!
• Chapter 4: The Quarterback, Football’s MVP
• Taking a Look at the Quarterback’s Job
• Determining What a Quarterback Needs to Succeed
• Quarterbacking Fundamentals
• Reading a Defense
• Calling Plays and Audibilizing
• Acing Quarterback Math
• Chapter 5: The Passing Game
• Getting to Know the Passing Game
• Recognizing the Role of Receivers
• Defining Important Passing Terms
• Looking at Passing Patterns
• Getting into the Shotgun Formation
• Chapter 6: Hitting the Ground Running
• An Overview of the Ground Game
• Meeting the Men Who Play the Ground Game
• Exploring Running Back Fundamentals
• Lining Up: The Formations
• Walking through the Basic Running Plays
• Chapter 7: The Offensive Line at Work in the Trenches
• Looking Down the Line
• The Lineman Physique: Fat Guys Doing the Job
• Understanding the Keys to Successful Offensive Line Play
• Uncovering a Lineman’s Worst Offense: Penalties
• Getting Acquainted with Blocking Terms
• Chapter 8: Offensive Plays and Strategies
• Offense Begins with Players
• Specialized Pass Offenses
• Some Newfangled Offenses
• Beating a Defense
• Gaining Better Field Position
• Offensive Strategies for Sticky Situations
• Scoring Offenses
• Disguising a Successful Play
• Part 3: The Big D
• Chapter 9: These Guys Are Huge: The Defensive Line
• Those Big Guys Called Linemen
• Linebackers: The Leaders of the Defense
• Defensive Alignments
• Sacks, Tackles, and Other Defensive Gems
• Chapter 10: The Secondary: Last Line of Defense
• Presenting the Performers
• Studying Secondary Tricks and Techniques
• Making a Mark: A Good Day in the Life of a Defensive Back
• The Problem of Pass Interference and Illegal Contact
• Examining the Two Types of Coverage (And Their Variations)
• Chapter 11: Defensive Tactics and Strategies
• Choosing a Base Defense
• Examining the Different Defenses
• Tackling Tricky Situations
• Part 4: Meet the Rest of the Team
• Chapter 12: Special Teams, Masters of the Kicking Game
• Who’s Who on Special Teams
• What’s So Special about Special Teams
• Placekicking
• Punting
• Chapter 13: Coaches, General Managers, and Other Important Folks
• A Team’s Fearless Leaders: The Coaches
• The Team’s Public Face: The Owners
• An Owner’s Eyes and Ears: General Managers
• The People Responsible for Finding Talent: Scouts
• Keeping Players Strong and Healthy: Trainers and Team Doctors
• Part 5: Football for Everyone
• Chapter 14: Armchair Quarterbacks and Other Fabulous Fans
• Deciphering the Announcers’ Slang
• Following a Game on Television or Radio
• Attending a Game
• Keeping Up with Your Favorite Teams
• Visiting the Football Halls of Fame
• Chapter 15: Youth Leagues and High School Football
• Determining When to Start Playing
• Signing Up Your Kids for Youth Football
• What Sets High School Football Apart
• Making the Most of the High School Game
• Thinking Ahead to a College Football Career
• Chapter 16: College Football — Where It All Started
• Why People Love College Football
• Big, Medium, and Small
• Examining College Conferences
• The College Football Playoff
• The Heisman and Other Trophies
• All-American and Other All-Star Teams
• Chapter 17: Taking a Look at the NFL (And Other Professional Leagues)
• The Birth of Pro Football
• The NFL Conferences
• The Pro Football Schedule
• Building a Team: It’s More than Drawing Straws
• Status Is Everything: Determining Player Designations
• The Business of Professional Football
• Making the Players’ Health a Priority
• Chapter 18: Playing Fantasy Football
• How Fantasy Football Leagues Work
• The Basics of How to Play
• Finding Information to Help Your Team
• Part 6: The Part of Tens
• Chapter 19: The Ten (Or So) Greatest Defensive Players of All Time
• Doug Atkins
• Dick Butkus
• Kenny Easley
• Joe Greene
• Jack Ham and Ted Hendricks
• Mike Haynes
• Ken Houston
• Sam Huff and Ray Nitschke
• Deacon Jones and Merlin Olsen
• Jack Lambert
• Dick “Night Train” Lane
• Bob Lilly
• Gino Marchetti
• Ed Reed
• Deion Sanders
• Lawrence Taylor
• JJ Watt
• Reggie White
• Chapter 20: More Than Ten Top Non-Quarterback Offensive Players
• Larry Allen
• Jim Brown
• Earl Campbell
• Tony Gonzalez
• John Hannah
• Don Hutson
• Jonathan Ogden
• Jim Parker
• Walter Payton
• Jerry Rice
• Barry Sanders
• Gale Sayers
• Art Shell
• Gene Upshaw
• Chapter 21: More Than Ten Greatest Quarterbacks of All Time
• Terry Bradshaw
• Tom Brady
• Drew Brees
• John Elway
• Otto Graham
• Peyton Manning
• Dan Marino
• Joe Montana
• Fran Tarkenton
• Johnny Unitas
• Steve Young
• Chapter 22: More Than Ten Greatest Coaches in the History of the Game
• Bill Belichick
• Paul Brown
• Joe Gibbs
• George Halas
• Jimmy Johnson
• Vince Lombardi
• John Madden
• Bill Parcells
• Knute Rockne
• Don Shula
• Bill Walsh
• Appendix: Football Speak
• Index
• About the Authors
• Advertisement Page
• Connect with Dummies
• End User License Agreement