NFL: Explainer
Browse SportsMonkie's explainer about nfl, organized in one crawlable topic hub.
49 articles in this topic.
Cover 2 Defense in Football: Rules, Alignment, and Weaknesses Explained
Cover 2 defense explained: two deep safeties split the field, five underneath defenders, strengths vs. deep passes, weaknesses in the middle, and the Tampa 2 twist.
Cover 3 Defense in Football: How It Works, Strengths & Weaknesses
Cover 3 defense explained: three deep defenders split the field into thirds while four underneath defenders play zone. Strengths, weaknesses, and how to beat it.
Cover 4 Defense (Quarters Coverage) in Football: Rules and Weaknesses
Cover 4 defense explained: four deep defenders split the field into quarters, pattern-match rules, run strengths, and how it differs from Cover 2/Cover 3.
Offensive Positions in Football Explained: Every Role on the Unit
Offensive positions in football explained: QB, RB/FB, WR, TE, and the five offensive line spots (LT, LG, C, RG, RT) with duties and alignment.
Defensive Positions in Football Explained
Defensive positions in football fall into three groups: the defensive line (ends, tackles, nose tackle), linebackers, and the secondary (corners, safeties).
Football Positions Explained: Every Offense, Defense & Special Teams Role
Football positions explained: every offense, defense, and special teams role in American football, what each one does, and how they fit together.
Football Referee Signals: The Complete NFL Hand Signal Chart
Football referee signals explained: touchdown, first down, holding, false start, pass interference, and every hand signal NFL officials use on the field.
I-Formation in Football: Alignment, Strengths, and Modern Use
The I-formation lines up QB under center with fullback and running back stacked behind him. See its alignment, strengths, weaknesses, and NFL use.
Illegal Formation in Football: The Full Rule Explained
Illegal formation in football is a 5-yard penalty for lineup violations at the snap: fewer than 7 on the line, misplaced eligible receivers, or covered players.
Man Coverage in Football: How It Works, Cover 0 vs Cover 1
Man coverage in football has each defender guard one specific receiver, not a zone. Cover 0 vs Cover 1, strengths, weaknesses, and how it differs from zone.
Match Coverage in Football: How Pattern-Match Defense Works
Match coverage is a zone/man hybrid where defenders read receiver routes and lock on man-to-man within zone rules. Full breakdown of pattern matching.
Football Formations and Coverages Explained: The Complete NFL Guide
Football formations and coverages explained: how NFL offenses line up, how defenses answer with zone and man coverage, and why each matchup wins or loses.
Pistol Formation in Football: What It Is and Why NFL Teams Use It
The pistol formation lines the QB ~4 yards behind center with the RB directly behind him, blending shotgun passing with a hidden run threat.
Press Coverage in Football: How Corners Jam Receivers at the Line
Press coverage in football is when a corner lines up at the line of scrimmage and jams the receiver at the snap to disrupt route timing.
Prevent Defense in Football: What It Is and Why Coaches Get Criticized for It
A prevent defense drops extra defensive backs deep to stop the big play late in a half, trading short completions for protection against a game-changing bomb.
Pro Set Formation in Football Explained: Alignment, Uses, and Fade
The pro set formation lines up the QB under center with a halfback and fullback side by side, two WRs, and a TE. Here's how it works and why it faded.
Quarterback Position in Football: Role, Skills, and Responsibilities Explained
The quarterback position leads the offense, calling plays, taking the snap, and throwing or handing off the ball. Learn the QB's full job in football.
Running Back Position in Football: Role, Skills & Types Explained
The running back position carries the ball, catches passes, and pass-blocks. Learn the halfback vs. fullback split, key skills, and top RB examples.
Safety Position in Football: Free Safety vs. Strong Safety Explained
The safety position in football is the deepest defensive back, splitting into free safety (deep coverage) and strong safety (run support) roles.
Shotgun Formation in Football: How It Works, Why Teams Use It
The shotgun formation lines the QB 5-7 yards back for a snapped pass. Learn its alignment, personnel, strengths, weaknesses, and history.
Singleback Formation in Football: How the Ace Set Works
The singleback formation lines up one running back behind a QB under center, no fullback, for balanced run-pass disguise. Full breakdown here.
Spread Offense in Football: Definition, Principles & History
The spread offense spreads receivers wide from shotgun to stretch defenses horizontally. Learn its principles, strengths, weaknesses, and NFL history.
Tampa 2 Defense Explained: How the Cover 2 Variation Works
The Tampa 2 defense explained: how it modifies Cover 2 by dropping the middle linebacker deep, why Tony Dungy and Monte Kiffin built it, and its strengths and weaknesses.
Tight End Position in Football Explained: Role, Skills, and Famous TEs
The tight end position in football is a hybrid blocker-receiver lined up beside the tackle. Learn its rules, responsibilities, skills, and top examples.
What Is a Cornerback in Football? Position, Role & Skills Explained
A cornerback in football is the defensive back who covers wide receivers in man or zone coverage. Learn the role, skills, and famous CBs.
What Is a Linebacker in Football? Position, Roles & Types Explained
A linebacker (LB) is a defensive player who lines up behind the line to stop the run, cover receivers, and blitz the quarterback. Full breakdown here.
Wide Receiver Position Explained: Role, Routes & Types
The wide receiver position is the primary pass-catcher split wide from the line; learn WR roles, routes, skills, and stats here.
Wildcat Formation in Football: What It Is and How It Works
The wildcat formation snaps the ball to a non-QB, usually a running back, while the QB splits out wide. Learn its rules, strengths, weaknesses, and history.
Zone Coverage in Football: How It Works, Shells, and Weaknesses
Zone coverage in football explained: defenders guard areas instead of players. Learn Cover 2, Cover 3, Cover 4, strengths, and soft-spot weaknesses.
7-on-7 Flag Football: How It Works
7-on-7 flag football is a pass-only, no-contact format with seven players per side. Positions, lineups, defense and how to build a team.
Flag Football Field Dimensions: 5v5 and 7v7
Flag football field dimensions for 5v5 and 7v7: the NFL FLAG 30 x 70 yard field, end zones, first-down lines and how high school sizes vary.
Flag Football vs Tackle Football
Flag football replaces tackling with pulling a flag and drops pads; tackle football is the full-contact game. Rules, safety and skills compared.
How Does Fantasy Football Work?
Fantasy football lets you draft real NFL players and score points from their real-life stats. Here is how drafts, scoring, and matchups work.
How Does the Waiver Wire Work?
The waiver wire is fantasy football's system for claiming free-agent players in a fair order, using either a priority list or a FAAB budget. How it works.
Keeper League Rules in Fantasy Football
A keeper league lets you retain a few players each year, usually at a draft-pick cost. How keeper rules work, and keeper vs dynasty leagues.
Mr. Irrelevant: The NFL Draft's Last Pick
Mr. Irrelevant is the last player picked in the NFL Draft. Where the nickname came from, the Irrelevant Week tradition, and the most famous one of all.
What Does ADP Mean in Fantasy Football?
ADP is Average Draft Position: the average spot a player is picked across many fantasy drafts. How to read it and use it to draft smarter, not blindly.
What Is a Bootleg in Football?
A bootleg is a play where the quarterback fakes a handoff, then rolls out to the opposite side to pass or run. How it works vs play action.
What Is a Fair Catch in Football?
A fair catch lets a returner catch a punt or kickoff untouched by signaling first, giving up the return in exchange for protection from being tackled.
What Is a Good 40-Yard Dash Time?
A good 40-yard dash time depends on position: elite skill players run ~4.3s, while a solid all-round time is about 4.5s. Benchmarks by position, explained.
What Is an RPO in Football? Run-Pass Option
An RPO is a run-pass option: one play where the QB reads a defender after the snap and decides to hand off or throw. How it works, explained.
What Is Best Ball Fantasy Football?
Best ball fantasy football is a draft-only format with no weekly lineup decisions. How it works, scoring, roster strategy, and how it differs from classic fantasy.
What Is Superflex in Fantasy Football?
Superflex is a fantasy football lineup slot that can be filled by a QB, RB, WR or TE. Why it makes quarterbacks so valuable, explained.
What Is the Flex Position in Fantasy Football?
The flex is a lineup slot you fill with a RB, WR or TE of your choice. How flex works on ESPN and Sleeper, plus who to start in it each week.
NFL Franchise Tag Explained: Types and Costs
The NFL franchise tag lets a team keep a free agent for one guaranteed year. The exclusive, non-exclusive and transition tags explained, plus deadlines.
What Is the Wonderlic Test in the NFL?
The Wonderlic is a 50-question, 12-minute cognitive test the NFL long used at the Combine. What it measured, scoring, and why it's been phased out.
When Did the NFL Salary Cap Start?
The NFL salary cap started in 1994, tied to free agency and a new CBA. Here's the history, how the cap works, and why it shapes team-building today.
NFL Cheerleader Salaries: Pay and the Lawsuits
What NFL cheerleaders actually earn — the per-game pay, the wage lawsuits that forced change (Raiderettes' $1.25M settlement), and which teams have no squad.
NFL Practice Squad Salary: What Players Make
NFL practice squad players earn $13,000 a week in 2025 (about $234,000 a season), with veterans negotiating up to $22,000. Full pay rules explained.