Nomenclature - #

# A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Term	Definition
$	Strong Safety, Star
#1	Receiver nearest the sideline on that side of the ball
#2	Receiver second from the sideline on that side of the ball (can be a WR, TE, or even RB)
#3	Receiver third from the sideline on that side of the ball (can be a WR, TE, or even RB)
#4	Receiver fourth from the sideline on that side of the ball (can be a WR, TE, or even RB)
0 Route	Quick hitch
0 Technique	Aligned head-up over the center
00 Personnel	0 RBs, 0 TEs, 5 WRs
00 Technique	Aligned over the center at linebacker level
01 Personnel	0 RBs, 1 TE, 4 WRs
02 Personnel	0 RBs, 2 TEs, 3 WRs
03 Personnel	0 RBs, 3 TEs, 2 WRs
04 Personnel	0 RBs, 4 TEs, 1 WR
05 Personnel	0 RBs, 5 TEs, 0 WRs
1 Route	Bench route
1 Technique	Aligned over the center's shoulder
10 Personnel	1 RB, 0 TEs, 4 WRs
10 Technique	Aligned over the center's shoulder at linebacker level
11 Personnel	1 RB, 1 TEs, 3 WRs
12 Personnel	1 RB, 2 TEs, 2 WRs
12th man	Home field advantage due to the crowd
13 Personnel	1 RB, 3 TEs, 1 WR
14 Personnel	1 RB, 4 TEs, 0 WRs
2 Route	Quick slant
2 Technique	Aligned head-up over the guard
20 Personnel	2 RBs, 0 TEs, 3 WRs
20 Technique	Aligned over the guard at linebacker level
21 Personnel	2 RBs, 1 TE, 2 WRs
22 Personnel	2 RBs, 2 TEs, 1 WR
23 Personnel	2 RBs, 3 TEs, 0 WRs
2i Technique	Aligned over the guard's inside shoulder, "i" standing for inside
3-on-2	A man-to-man coverage technique (typically by LBs) where 3 receivers defend 2 receivers based on the release of their route
3 Route	Deep out
3 Technique	Aligned over the guard's outside shoulder
30 Personnel	3 RBs, 0 TEs, 2 WRs
30 Technique	Aligned over the guard's outside shoulder at linebacker level
31 Personnel	3 RBs, 1 TE, 1 WR
32 Personnel	3 RBs, 2 TEs, 0 WRs
3-3-5 Defense	3 DL, 3 LBs, 5 DBs (generally 3 safeties)
3-4 Defense	3 DL, 4 LBs, 4 DBs
3-5-3 Defense	3 DL, 5 LBs, 3 DBs
4 Route	Curl
4 Technique	Aligned head-up over the tackle
40 Technique	Aligned over the tackle at linebacker level
4-2-5 Defense	4 DL, 2 LBs, 5 DBs (generally 3 safeties)
4-3 Defense	4 DL, 3 LBs, 4 DBs
4-4 Defense	4 DL, 4 LBs, 3 DBs
46 Defense	Bear defense, named after Doug Plank who wore #46. Defense specifically covers the Center and both Guards on offense
4i Technique	Aligned over the tackle's inside shoulder, "i" standing for inside
5 Route	Come back
5 Technique	Aligned over the tackle's outside shoulder
50 Technique	Aligned over the tackle's outside shoulder at linebacker level
5-2 Defense	5 DL, 2 LBs, 4 DBs
5-3 Defense	5 DL, 3 LBs, 3 DBs
6 Route	Dig, Square In
6 Technique	Aligned head-up over the tight end
60 Technique	Aligned over the tight end at linebacker level
6-2 Defense	6 DL, 2 LBs, 3 DBs (traditionally a goal line defense)
6i Technique	Aligned over the tight end's inside shoulder, "i" standing for inside
7 Route	Corner, Flag
7 Technique	Aligned over the tight end's outside shoulder
70 Technique	Aligned over the tight end's outside shoulder at linebacker level
7-1-2-1 Defense	7 DL, 1 LB, 2 CB, 1 Deep Safety
7-2-2 Defense	7 DL, 2 LBs, 2 DBs
7-on-7	Practice Passing Drill involving QB, C, and eligible receivers
8 Route	Post
9 Route	Streak, Fade, Go
9 Technique	Lined up outside the tight end's body