I need your help. Does anyone know what each player's position is on the field?

[SusanJillParker]

I'm writing a story about a professional football player, a running back but I don't know what all of the other positions are. I know what a kicker and a center is.

I know what a quarterback is, of course. Only, I'm not sure why they call him a quarterback. Is it because he's a quarter of the way back from the other players?

I know what a running back is too, I think. And I know what a tackle is. Yet, how is a tackle different from a lineman.

What's an end and a defensive end, a tailback, halfback, fullback, God help me.

Then, I heard them say on TV a slot receiver? An ineligible receiver? What's the difference between a tight end and an end?

The only football games I watch are the New England Patriots games, my home team. All the rest of football, especially college football is boring to me. Sorry.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Google.

 

[TxRad]

Google.

All good writers learn to do their own research sooner or later instead of making hey look at me threads.

 

[SusanJillParker]

Google.

Thanks. I did. Having never played football (lol), for obvious reasons, I read and I'm still lost. I was hoping that someone could simplify the positions.

Actually, I tried playing touch football but the boys preferred tackling me (lol). When my mother saw what was happening, she forbid me to play with the boys. It wasn't my fault that I physically developed early.

I really don't have the interest in the positions of the game to digest and remember so much information. I just wanted to have basic knowledge enough of each position to intelligently write my story.

Thanks for your help.

 

[_Lynn_]

Google.

Yep.

.

 

[SusanJillParker]

Yep.

.

I have but every explanation has diagrams with X's and O's with arrows.

 

[_Lynn_]

I have but every explanation has diagrams with X's and O's with arrows.

Then use a sport you know the positions of and what they do for your story.

 

[EquinoxRising]

Google.

Priceless.

 

[SusanJillParker]

Then use a sport you know the positions of and what they do for your story.

The story sport is not up to me. I was hired to write a football story, not so much about the sport but more about the player and I needed to understand all of the positions for the dialogue that I need to write when they're the locker room.

Thanks for your help.

 

[SusanJillParker]

Priceless.

You're the new story ideas mod to help>

What do you know about football positions on the field of play?

 

[EquinoxRising]

You're the new story ideas mod to help>

What do you know about football positions on the field of play?

I wouldn't want to flood the AH with a story idea. Feel free to post an idea thread in SI.

 

[EquinoxRising]

The story sport is not up to me. I was hired to write a football story, not so much about the sport but more about the player and I needed to understand all of the positions for the dialogue that I need to write when they're the locker room.

Thanks for your help.

If you are commissioned to pen a story for a paying customer, isn't it in poor taste to not do the research yourself?

 

[Nathan_Brazil]

Defense

If the character is 6'4" 320 lbs, he's a defensive tackle. If he's 6'5" 270 and kills quarterbacks he's a Defensive End. If he's 6'2" 240 and all over the field, he's a linebacker.

Keep it simple.

 

[Nathan_Brazil]

Offense

Don't worry about words like halfback, slot receiver, or fullback. All of these refer to specific formations, rather than playing positions. If he carries it, call him a running back. If he catches it, call him a receiver... Again, keep it simple.

 

[Nathan_Brazil]

If you are commissioned to pen a story for a paying customer, isn't it in poor taste to not do the research yourself?

Asking questions of people you see every day... Isn't that research?

 

[TxRad]

Asking questions of people you see every day... Isn't that research?

Considering the source of this thread... No.

 

[FantasyXY]

Having played football and being an avid fan, I could easily explain all of this to you, but we don't got that kinda time.

I've been trying to teach my wife this stuff for years, and even though she is a life long football fan, she still doesn't quite get it.

 

[SusanJillParker]

Having played football and being an avid fan, I could easily explain all of this to you, but we don't got that kinda time.

I've been trying to teach my wife this stuff for years, and even though she is a life long football fan, she still doesn't quite get it.

Thank you for your response. I hope that quells some of my detractors why I don't research this complicated subject on my own.

Like many people, I used to think that football players were dumb. Yet, after seeing how they train and must remember so very many plays, plays that they may only need once months later, football players are like rocket scientists (lol).

I've gained a new respect for football players.

Thank you for your post.