answers Archives - Football for Normal Girls

Surviving the Super Bowl : Answers

Ok people, it’s the moment of truth! How did you do on the Surviving the Super Bowl quiz yesterday? Find out below!

1. What’s a snap?

That noise you make with your fingers and thumb
The button thing on your vest
The exchange of the football from the center to the quarterback
The exchange of the football from the quarterback to the center

While 1 & 2 are valid answers, a snap is what happens at the beginning of every play when the center transfers the ball to the quarterback.

2. What’s a drive?

A collection of plays that results in the scoring of a touchdown
A team’s complete collection of plays during one possession of the football
When a defensive player tackles the quarterback
The way a team travels from the hotel to the stadium

Teams can expect to have about a dozen offensive possessions, or drives, per game.

3. There are 6 players on offense who stay constant, 5 who are interchangeable. Which of the following is a constant on offense?

The right and left guards, right and left tackles, center, and quarterback are the players who remain constant on every offensive play. The tight ends, wide receivers, and running backs are interchangeable and arranged in personnel groups.

4. Which of the following is NOT an offensive lineman?

5. What does the phrase “3 and out” mean?

A team did not convert on it’s first 3 downs and has to punt
A team has 3 players out on injury
A team is sending 3 wide receivers running out routes down the field
A team did not convert on it’s first 3 downs and is kicking a field goal

If a team doesn’t gain 10 yards on their first 3 downs and is deep in their own territory, they’ll likely punt it away on 4th down. This process is called a “3 and out.”

6. It’s 2nd and 12 at the offenses 30 yard line. Which yard line do they need to reach to earn a first down?

The 40 yard line
The 42 yard line
The 20 yard line
The 18 yard line

2nd and 12 means that the offense needs to gain 12 yards for a first down. Since they’re at their own 30 yard line, they’ll need to reach their 42 yard line to earn a new set of downs.

7. A team has 4 chances, called downs, to gain 10 yards. So why wouldn’t most teams run a play on 4th and 1 from their own 20 yard line instead of punting it away?

It’s against the rules
They’re going to kick a field goal instead
They have to punt at least 10 times per game
They’d be risking turning the ball over to the other team and putting them in scoring position

If a team goes for it on 4th down and doesn’t convert, they have to turn the ball over on downs to the other team. That means that the other team will begin it’s drive right where the offense left off. If the offense left off at their own 20 yard line, that means the other team, now on offense, would be within 20 yards of the end zone and therefore very likely to score if the ball were turned over on downs.

8. The two sections of defense are:

The defensive starters and the defensive backups
The defensive front and the defensive backs
The defensive offense and the defensive defense
The defensive red zone and the defensive end zone

The defensive front consists of the defensive tackles, defensive ends, and linebackers. The defensive backs are the cornerbacks and safeties.

9. Which of the following players does NOT play in the defensive front?

Ends
Tackles
Linebackers
Safeties

Safeties play in the backfield with the cornerbacks.

10. The single tackle in a 3-4 system is called the:

The front tackle
The main tackle
The nose tackle
The head tackle

The one ridiculous answer in this quiz that is actually true: the sole tackle in a 3-4 system who plays in between the defensive ends is called the nose tackle.

11. The defensive backs are also known as the:

Primary
Secondary
Tertiary
Quad Unit

The DB’s are called the secondary because they are the second section of defensive players.

12. The defense brings 8 players into the box. What type of play are they anticipating?

Punt
Field Goal
Run
Pass

Lots of players up front = running play. Lots of players spread out in pass protection = passing play.

13. One linebacker goes out, one defensive back comes in. What package is the defense using?

Penny
Nickel
Dime
Quarter

If two linebackers were swapped out for two DB’s, it’d be a dime package. You’ll rarely see a quarter package (a swap of 3) and a penny package doesn’t exist.

14. Kickoffs occur:

At the beginning of the first half
At the beginning of the second half
After scoring plays
All of the above

The coin flip, however, only happens once, and determines who kicks the ball off first and who defers until the second half.

15. It’s 4th and 1. The offense is on the defense’s 20 yard line and decides to kick a field goal instead of going for it. What will the total field goal distance be?

2 yards
20 yards
30 yards
37 yards

Ball at the 20 + 10 yards of end zone + 7 yards lined up behind the tee = a 37-yard kick, total.

16. What does it mean to “go for 2″?

Run a 2-pt scoring play instead of kicking for an extra point
Run 2 players into the end zone and have both of them score separate touchdowns
Kick a field goal for 2 points
Kick an extra point for 2 points

If a team needs to even or exceed the score late in the game, they’ll likely go for 2.

17. When can a team go for 2?

After an extra point
After a field goal
After a touchdown
After a kickoff

A team can only go for 2 after scoring a touchdown, in place of kicking a 1 point extra point.

18. If a team is down and needs to get the ball back quickly, what type of kick might they try?

A kickoff
An onside kick
A fair catch kick
All of the above

If you need more information about the thought process and execution behind onside kicks, check out this post.

19. True or False: Offensive and defensive players can also play on the special teams unit

True
False

True! Sometimes a few of a team’s best offensive players play on the special teams unit as punt returners, like wide receiver Wes Welker.

20. True or False: You are SO PREPARED to Survive the Super Bowl!

True
False

SO TRUE! You can absolutely survive the Super Bowl in fine form with all of this information under your belt. You’re going to love watching the Super Bowl this year! Have fun!

YOUR Questions : Three Game Play Scenarios

One of the most exciting parts of running this website is getting quality questions from readers about things that happen on the field. It’s helpful for me to learn more about what happened and then explain it, and hopefully helpful to all of you to have some questions answered. If you want to join in on the party, feel free to send in questions (by email, Facebook, Twitter, comment, carrier pigeon) anytime!

Here’s the most recent roundup of great reader questions:

Jens, all the way from Germany, asked:

I think there was an interesting situation in [the Packers vs. Lions] game when the last TD by Jones was reviewed and ruled an incomplete pass. As I understood, the pass receiver must take 2 steps inbound the field before he becomes a runner and only then its sufficient that the balls crosses the goal line without the runner needing to have both feet in the end zone. But Jones second step yesterday was already in the end zone and so he stayed a receiver which had to have both feet on the ground which he didn’t have. Did I understand that correctly?

This goes hand in hand with something we talked about last week in Ashley’s Rookie Season – what constitutes a touchdown? In this scenario, it was a little unclear at first whether James Jones was running into the end zone as a runner or catching the ball in the end zone as a receiver. He caught the ball right at the edge of the field and was kind of in no man’s land.

As a runner entering the end zone from the field, a player has to take two steps in bounds to establish himself as a runner and then get the football across the goal line to score a touchdown. As a receiver catching the ball in the end zone a player needs to have planted both feet in the end zone after catching the ball for a touchdown.

In the replay the officials saw that Jones tok one step inbounds on the field…and one step in the end zone. So he was neither an established runner getting the ball across the goal line or a receiver catching a pass with two feet in bounds.

But the best part of the play was the denial that happened in the stands before this touchdown was recalled. Poor guy can’t catch a break!

Michelle asked:

We’re watching the Saints-Patriots game… at the end, they weren’t even really lining up. What are the rules in terms of having a distinct line of scrimmage where people can’t move (in case of false start) vs what was happening in the last minute and a half of the game?

This is something we’ve all seen before: in the last few minutes of the game when the offensive is rushing to get down the field and score players line up haphazardly and get the play off quickly.

While it looks a little sloppier, the rules are still there. The line of scrimmage is still an impassable line, the offense still has to have 7 guys on the line, and they still have to set up and pause for 1 second, but it looks much less “set” because it happens so quickly and the defense usually doesn’t set up, either – hence not really lining up.

In the Patriots at Saints game specifically, both teams play a fast offense. Tom Brady drove the ball down the field at lightening speed in what was likely a pre-planned, pre-rehearsed 2-minute drill. The offense knew how they had to set up, the defense had to cope. As per Rob Ryan’s face after the game, we all know how well that went.

Erin asked:

I’m currently watching the Bills [vs. Bengals] game and there was some discrepancy about whether or not a touchback ruling would stand – the refs were reviewing the play to see if the ball hit the pylon (?) or if it was out of bounds (and therefore dead). Can you clarify a) what the pylon is and b) where the ball has to be to to be “dead” and c) what out of bounds is?

Ok, so here’s the situation: when a team is kicking off (to start a new drive) and the kick goes into the end zone or out of bounds beyond the end zone, it’s ruled a touchback (a ruling in which the ball is brought out to the 20-yard line to start a new drive). If the kick goes out of bounds prior to the end zone it’s downed at the spot where the kick landed.

In Buffalo, if the kick had gone out of bounds at the 1-yard line (or between the 1-yard line and the end zone), it would have pinned the Bengals all the way back to that 1-yard line – they would have had to start the drive barely a yard outside of their own end zone. If the kick hit the pylon – the orange cone indicating where the end zone begins – it would have been ruled a touchback, and the Bengals would have started on the 20-yard line.

So a) the pylon is the orange cone that indicates where the end zone begins, b) the ball is dead when it hits out of bounds, and c) out of bounds is anywhere outside of the field of play, which is outside of the white lines that run along the perimeter of the field.

Thanks for a great round of questions, everyone! Keep them coming!

YOUR Questions : How do I pick a team?

Being a fan of an NFL team, or of any team, for that matter, will rip your heart out. It will make you cry in your jersey the night of an excruciating loss and make you cry in your pajamas the next morning when you wake up and remember what happened. It will make you become wholly irrational: you will start to say no to social plans because your team is playing and it’s televised; you will do strange things like yell at TV screens and jump up and down alone in your living room and nervous-eat a whole pint of Ben & Jerry’s in the the 4th quarter of a playoff game. Being a tried-and-true fan will see your everyday loyalty and raise it to a lifetime of indentured servitude. It will take your time, your tears, your weekends, your perspective, and last but certainly not least, your sanity. It will put you smack dab in the front car of the wildest roller coaster of your life with no control over the intensity, duration, or direction of the ride.

In short: it’s awesome.

But if you aren’t already a fan of a team…how do you choose which one to root for? It’s a huge decision. Not to put too much pressure on you…but it’s a question that equals in gravity to whom you choose to marry. Seriously. In fact, even though I’m not yet married, I feel like being a diehard fan has multiple parallels to marriage: it’s a lifetime commitment that will bring you unlimited joy and unthinkable grief…sometimes all in one weekend.

That’s similar to marriage, right?

If you are looking for a ~~spouse~~ team to tie your anchor to, here are three helpful Do’s and Don’ts to consider when choosing your team.

DO Consider:

1. Geography

This is the reason most people become fans of certain teams, and it makes sense. If you live in the direct geographical area of the team you are going to cheer for you have a built-in support system. The locals are going to high-five you when your team wins and give you a knowing look of “there’s always next season” when your team loses. Living where your team lives also gives you the opportunity to cheer them on in person, and you can always count on the games being televised in your area.

If you know you are going to be living where you are living for awhile and that place is near a team, definitely consider cheering for the hometown squad. It makes life a whole lot easier.

2. Family History

Do you have a long line of Cowboys fans in the family? Does everyone gather on Sundays to cheer on the Chargers? If so, consider being part of that lineage. While it’s funny to see Uncle Ted turn a bright shade of fuchsia when you arrive to his Raider Nation Sunday Kickoff party decked out in Broncos gear…let’s just say it won’t help to create a sense of family unity. Having a family support system, like having a geographical support system, is also a plus. And you automatically know what to get everybody for Christmas.

3. Compelling Qualities

If you don’t live near a team and no one in your family is a huge fan of one team in particular, the best way to choose a team is to do a little research and compare compelling qualities. I’ll use myself as an example, since this is how I became a Packers fan. I live in Upstate New York, so my regional team would technically be the Giants, but could have just as easily been the Jets, Bills, or Patriots. I wasn’t particularly enamored with any of those teams and wasn’t close enough to the epicenter to feel like they were truly my hometown teams. No one in my family had an allegiance to any NFL team, so there wasn’t any friction there – although when I was in 4th grade I liked the Cowboys because the boy I liked was a big fan. That’s as close as I got to signing on with a franchise due to family ties. But when I was in 5th grade, everything changed. I saw Brett Favre running around the Superdome with his helmet hoisted high into the air, and it was like love at first sight: I was officially a Packers fan.

Like all incidents of immediate love, there needs to be a foundation to the relationship to substantiate the infatuation. I came to love the franchise (the only publicly owned franchise in all of professional sports), the rich history (including the title for most total championships of any NFL team), the high quality – personally and professionally – of players and coaches who called Green Bay home over the years (Bart Starr, Vince Lombardi, Reggie White, Mike Holmgren, to name just a few), the blue collar, hardworking-but-fun-loving, attitude that defines the team and the fans, and the overall nature of what it means to be a Packers fan.

It’s so important to have pride in your team, especially when you don’t live in the area and don’t have other family or friends as fans, so surveying the compelling qualities of your potential new team is all-important. Don’t necessarily look at the team right now because the current roster will change, coaches will come and go, and and good seasons and bad seasons are par for the course. Instead, take a look at the team’s history, what the franchise stands for, the nature of the fanbase, the current and former players and coaches, and ask yourself how you’d fit in.

Mostly, trust your gut. It’s kind of like choosing a college: you read a lot of brochures and take in a lot of info and visit a lot of campuses – but when you know, you know.

For the love of all that is fandom, DO NOT:

1. Jump on a Bandwagon

Just say no. The current fans won’t like you (and can spot a bandwagon-jumper a mile away) and you’ll soon find yourself looking for another bandwagon to jump onto once the one you’re on falls to pieces, as it inevitably does. The star player will get injured, the dynamic head coach will lose games, and the preseason favorite will soon become the regular season dud. Thinking about picking the team that just won a Super Bowl because you think they’re a sure bet for a future replete with victory? Think again. It’s been 8 years since a defending Super Bowl Champion has even won a playoff game. And the chances of repeating as two-time champs are incredibly slim.

Whatever you do, stay off of the bandwagon. It’s a highly unstable place to be.

2. Choose a Team Because You “Should”

It doesn’t work in dating and it doesn’t work in fandom. Picking a team just because you feel like you should pick them – whether it’s because or a hometown connection or family connection or because you like a boy who likes a team – never leads to a happy long term relationship. It’s hard enough to be a fan as it is, and it’s harder still to stay committed and not get resentful when things go south if you’re only in it because you feel like you have to be.

3. Choose Lightly with the Intention of Choosing Again Next Season

Don’t pick a team “just for now.” Just don’t do it. You’ll become a serial dater of multiple teams and really, who can keep up with that Instead, take your time and pick a team for the long haul without looking back.

Being a fan is one of the most rewarding experiences life has to offer – truly. It’s the opportunity to be part of something bigger than yourself in the context of community, to stick with a constant through the highs and lows, to believe that there is always hope for the future. Don’t miss out on being a true fan just because you don’t currently have a team! Use these guidelines, choose wisely, and cheer on.

If you are already a fan of a team, what has your experience been? How did you pick your team? Would you add any do’s or don’ts to the list?

YOUR Questions : What’s Fantasy Football?

Another day, another new feature: YOUR Questions! This site is for all of you, and I want to provide information that you actually want to read to help you out each weekend! Please feel free to ask any and every question you might have in whatever way works for you – comment on a post, shoot me an email, post it to the Facebook page, send a tweet – pick your poison! I’m always ~~happy~~ overjoyed to get questions from you guys, so please send them in as they come to you!

The question of the year so far seems to be Fantasy Football – what is it, how do you play it, and why does it matter? GREAT questions, and very relevant to this era in football fandom. Let’s go through each facet:

What is Fantasy Football?

Fantasy football, in it’s traditional form, is a season-long game in which a participant competes against a group of other participants by drafting and fielding a fantasy “team” each week. A draft – much like the NFL draft (minus NYC, plus pizza) – is held prior to the season, and each participant is tasked with drafting a “team” of starters and alternates – usually between 15-18 components. Each week, the fantasy participant will select players to form his team for the week, which consists of one quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, one tight end, one kicker, and one defense/special teams unit. Those components will earn fantasy points based on their performance on the field. Specific amounts of points and terms of winning are determined differently in different types of leagues, but generally, the participant with the most points at the end of the season wins.

There are also other Fantasy Football-esque style games, like Knockout/Survivor/Elimination Leagues (in which participants pick one sure bet to win each week and are eliminated as their picks are eliminated) and Pick’Em Leagues (in which participants pick the winner of each game and receive points based on correct picks). These are a lot of fun to play if you don’t have the time or emotional energy it takes to maintain a successful Fantasy Football roster.

How do you play?

Round up a group of friends and family and decide on what type of league you want to play in (and for most websites, even though Week 1 is over, you can still create a new league). The Yahoo! Survivor and Pick’Em Leagues are linked above. For traditional Fantasy Football, a few popular options are Yahoo!, ESPN, CBS, and the NFL. If none of your friends or family members want to play or if you just want to fly solo and compete anonymously, most fantasy leagues have a “public league” option in which you can compete against strangers on the internet. (But if you can, play with people you know. It’s so much more fun that way.)

After signing up for a league…what do you do? I’ll let the experts advise you on that. Here are a few resources to get you started:

Matthew Berry (just listen to everything he says…he’s a fantasy genius)

How to Play Fantasy Football for Dummies

Fantasy Football 101 (from the NFL)

Why does it matter?

If you’ve never played fantasy football before, you’re probably wondering this. Why does everyone care about a fake game when there are REAL games being played?!

Mostly, because Fantasy Football will turn you into a points-crazed fanatic, and will completely change how you watch football games. There are good and bad components to this, in my opinion.

On the good side, playing Fantasy Football in any capacity makes you more attuned to the week’s on-field action. If you play in a traditional league, you are much more aware of specific players and positions, and that works wonders for your NFL know-how. If you play in a Survivor or Pick’Em league, you are keeping a constant eye on the outcomes of each game, which helps you to become more invested in following each week’s games. It helps football fans, casual or crazed, become involved in the game in a way that they have a hand in controlling, which adds an enjoyable (and otherwise impossible) sense of ownership to fandom.

On the bad side, playing Fantasy Football can make you forget that there are real games being played by real players who are out there for the love of the game to win the game, not to earn more fantasy points for your fantasy team. I think former Patriots and Chiefs General Manager Scott Pioli said it best in his article on the MMQB:

A large number of fans want NFL teams to be built “fantasy style” with top name players and top stats players. Over the last 10 years, I can’t tell you how many times I have heard comments from fans about the lack of opportunities that “their” players were getting. I’m sure Fantasy Football is good for the business of football, but it’s not good for players to hear they should be getting the ball more—or for teams just trying to do whatever it takes to win a game, not just compile stats.

He hit the nail right on the head. There are aspects of Fantasy Football that are great for football, but as a whole, it can at times detract from the real sport of football rather than add to it.

Do you guys play Fantasy Football? Have you noticed a change in how you watch or follow games because of it?

Film Room Answers : Players Revealed!

Welcome back! Let’s dive right in and reveal the answers to yesterday’s film room questions. We’ll break each question down using the three identifiers we’ve been talking about this week: number, context, and roster.

Question 1: Identify the following players and their position: 84 (Falcons), and 43 (Panthers)

Number: Let’s start with 84 for the Falcons. From his number alone, we know that 84 on offense is either a tight end or a wide receiver. Since defensive backs wear numbers between 20-49, we can be nearly 100% certain that 43 for the Panthers is a defensive back.

Context: 84 is aligned on the outside of the formation and runs way down the field to catch the ball. All signs point to him being a wide receiver. 43 is in the mix with the receiver trying to break up the pass, further proof that he is indeed a defensive back.

Roster: To double check our work, all we have to do is double check the roster for both teams in 2012.Roddy White, 84, is a wide receiver for the Falcons, and Haruki Nakamura, 43, is a free safety for the Panthers.

Question 2: Identify the following players and their positions: 39 (Patriots), 25 (Broncos)

Number: This is a case in which both numbers only have a single option: 39 is within the range for running backs, and 25 is within the range for defensive backs. It doesn’t get much easier than that! But let’s take a closer look just to test ourselves further.

Context: We see 39 come out of the backfield and run the ball. He’s wearing a number that only defines running backs. It’d be a pretty far stretch to say that this guy is anything other than a running back. As for 25, we see him lined up at the far side of the formation at the start of the play and move across the field to the ball to make a tackle. His uniform number and method of pursuit make a pretty good case for defensive back.

Roster: The roster confirms it! Danny Woodhead, 39, is a running back for the Patriots, and Chris Harris, 25, is a cornerback for the Broncos.

That one was way too easy. So I gave you a challenge with this next one.

Question 3: Identify the following players and their positions: 75 (Packers), and 99 (Texans)

Number: 75 on offense is either an offensive lineman or possibly a center. 99 on defense is either a lineman or a linebacker. Tricky, tricky!

Context: Here’s the litmus test: does 75 snap the ball? No. So he’s not the center. He’s aligned two spaces to the right of the center, which would make him the right tackle. Let’s take a look at 99. He’s on the defensive line, but he’s not on the outside edge and he’s not in a two-point stance – two defining factors of linebackers. Since he’s of larger build and he’s an outer defensive lineman, all clues point to him being a defensive end. There’s also a tell-tale jump as the ball is being thrown that may give you a hint as to which player this is…

Roster: Bryan Bulaga, 75, is an offensive tackle for the Packers. And J.J. Watt, aka “J.J. Swatt,” is 99, a defensive end for the Houston Texans. J.J. has earned his nickname – if he knows he’s not going to get to the quarterback, he does a great job of distracting him while he throws, often knocking the ball off-course with his huge hands and feared jump.

Question 4: Identify the following players and their positions: 44 (Bucs), and 50 (Saints)

Number: 44 on offense could either be a tight end or a running back. 50 on defense could either be a center or a linebacker.

Context: I kind of feel bad for 44 that we have to watch him take these hits; he runs into a wall of Saints every single down. His responsibility on all 4 downs is to block, not run, and he’s not aligned in the backfield on any play. Those signs point to him being a tight end, not a running back. As for 50, let’s go back to our previous litmus test: does he snap the ball? Nope! So he’s not a center; he’s a linebacker.

Roster: Roster says…Dallas Clark, 44, is a tight end for the Bucs, and Curtis Lofton, 50, is a linebacker for the Saints.

So how’d we do, gang? Any problems? Do you feel more than ready to tackle the regular season once it finally arrives?!?!

Surviving the Super Bowl: Test Answers

Yesterday, you did the hard work. You took the test. Today, find out how awesome you did!

Here we go!