| C | Center |
| C | 2 defensive backs man-to-man technique on the widest wide receiver (in-and-out with the MOF player) |
| C gap | Gap between the tackle and tight end (or sideline if no TE) |
| Cadence | Words and numbers spoken by the QB at the LOS to hike the football |
| Cage | An alignment in a 4 DL defense in which the DE aligns head-up over the open side OT and has B-gap responsibility or is two-gapping |
| CAGE | Center and Guard. Combo block between the Center and the OG |
| Capped Route | An idea in which the defender is aligned in the path a route is attempting to go |
| Carry | When a player receives a handoff and carries the football on a run play |
| Carry | Term used to cover a receiver deep until help can come from over the top |
| Cat | A blitz, typically from a secondary player. |
| CB | Cornerback |
| Chains | 10-yard chain that shows the yardage needed to pick up a first down on any set of downs |
| Change of Strength | When the offense shifts/motions into a new formation and changes the formation play strength pre-snap |
| Chase | The backside defender assigned to follow for action coming back opposite original flow (boot, reverse, etc.) |
| Cheat | A change in alignment where a player aligns closer to where he eventually needs to go based on his assignment |
| Check Down | When a QB works through his progression and hits his safety valve, typically short and when under pressure |
| Check Release | A RB pass route that is run after it is clear he isn't needed in pass protection |
| Check Route | A RB pass route that is run after it is clear he isn't needed in pass protection |
| Check with Me | Offensive playcall made by the QB in the huddle that can be checked to if initial play is unlikely to work against defensive alignment. For huddle teams, often two plays called in the huddle. For no huddle teams, often checking with the sideline |
| Chip | Similar to brush block, but with a little more force with initial contact |
| Choice Route | Route by the receiver where he has options based on the defensive leverage and coverage |
| Chop Block | Illegal double team block in which one blocker blocks high and the other blocks low |
| Chuck | Momentary hit designed to temporarily delay a player from where he wants to go |
| Clamp | Man to man coverage (usually specifically on #1) on all route releases, often used in combination coverage calls |
| Clear | To run a route through an area to take defenders away from that area |
| Clear | To see an opening in the blocking for which the LB or S can attack the ball carrier |
| Clearing Route | To run a route through an area to take defenders away from that area |
| Clipping | An illegal block from behind, typically below the waist |
| Close | A slot receiver split 1-3 yards away from the tackle |
| Closed Formation | A side of a formation that has a TE without a flanker outside of him |
| Closed Side | The side of an offensive formation with an attached TE |
| Cloud | CB with outside leverage and run support and flat responsibility in pass coverage |
| Cloud Force | When a CB is responsible for maintaining "force" or outside leverage |
| Cloudy | To see bodies impeding the path between the LB or S and the ball carrier |
| Club | A sudden arm movement used to take advantage of opponent's momentum |
| Coffin-Corner Kick | A punt aligned to the corner so that it goes out of bounds before reaching the end zone |
| Combination Block | A pair of blockers in a zone blocking scheme that will double team a first level defender and work playside to a second level defender |
| Combo | A man-to-man coverage with two safeties playing two receivers based on their release (typically involving a TE) |
| Combo Block | Block by two blockers, typically working to a 2nd level player |
| Comeback Route | Route by the receiver where he breaks back to the football, typically to the outside |
| Completion | The act of completing a pass from thrower to receiver |
| Cone | A man-to-man coverage technique in which 2 DBs play 1 receiver (in/out) |
| Contain | The player responsible for not allowing the ball carrier to break outside of him. Leverage defender |
| Contain Rush | Outside-in pass rush that ensures the QB can't break the pocket |
| Convoy Block | A WR blocking assignment in which he initially goes for the safety. If he can't reach the safety, he comes back to block the corner. In an effort, blocking the most dangerous man |
| Corner Over | A defensive alignment that sees the CB follow the WR to the opposite side of the formation |
| Corner Route | A route that breaks from the inside and goes to the corner at 45 degrees |
| Cornerback | Defensive back that aligns over the top of a WR, playing either zone or man-to-man coverage |
| COS | Change of strength |
| Count | Number of players on the field, or in a defined area (box, one side of coverage, etc.) |
| Count | The number of "Hikes" before snapping the football |
| Counter | A play that looks to initially be going in one direction, but is designed to go the opposite direction |
| Cover 0 | No deep safeties |
| Cover 1 | One deep safety |
| Cover 2 | Two deep safeties |
| Cover 3 | Three deep zones covered in thirds |
| Cover 4 | Deep zones theoretically covered in fourths |
| Cover 5 | A Cover 3 adjustment; means different things in different systems |
| Cover 6 | Quarter-Quarter-half deep coverage |
| Cover 7 | From the Nick Saban playbook: a two high coverage where the strongside has 4 defenders on 3 receivers pattern match and the weakside has a 3 on 2 pattern match |
| Coverage | Scheme utilized by the defense to defend against the pass |
| Coverage Recognition | Ability for QB and WR to recognize the defensive coverage and adjust attack |
| Coverage Sack | A sack due to good coverage in the secondary |
| CP | Coaching Point |
| Crab | A technique by a blocker or defender where a player gets on all fours and makes it difficult for opponent to get leverage |
| Crack/Crackback Block | Where an outside receiver blocks a player inside of him and seals the outside, typically blocking either a safety or LB |
| Crash | When a defender breaks quickly to where he anticipates the ball going |
| Cross | A man-to-man coverage technique in which 3 defenders (DBs) play 2 receivers |
| Crossing Route | A route by a receiver that crosses the formation |
| Crossover Step | A lateral step in which the player's foot away from the direction he is going crosses across his body |
| Crowd the Ball | Alignment by the defense as close as possible to the LOS |
| Crown | Elevated center of the field for water drainage purposes |
| Crown | Top of the helmet |
| Curl Route | A route by a receiver that curls back to the QB, typically in an inward direction |
| Curl Zone | The area of the field outside the TE to the numbers on the field, typically starting from 3-5 yards depth going to 10-12 yards depth |
| Cushion | The vertical distance between a defender and a receiver |
| Cut | A man-to-man coverage technique in which a defender frees from his original coverage to go help on another receiver, typically moving in the opposite direction of the primary coverage defender's leverage. Often associated with a LB or safety taking over for a CB on an inside release/crossing route |
| Cut Coverage | A 3-on-2 double to play #2 and #3 man-to-man up and inside and cut to #1 on outside release |
| Cut Block | A legal block in which a player blocks at the knees or lower of a defender, always in front of the defender (never back of the knee) |
| Cut Off | "Two types of block: 1) Inward block from TE/WR that seeks to prevent penetration, cutting off the shortest route between the defender and the ball |
| 2) A backside block by an OL that prevents the backside of the defense from flowing to the football, i.e. cutting off their immediate path to the play" |
| Cutback | Change in direction by the ball carrier, typically in the opposite direction of the flow of the play. |
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