For you Non-Football fans...

There have been a few people who've asked me to explain football to them recently, so I've decided to go ahead and post the different types of players in a football game, to help a little bit. Obviously, there is more to it than what I am writing here, but this should give you a good basic understanding of all the postions (I have left the kickers and punters off of this list)

Offense:

There are 5 guys whose job it is to protect the other players. They line up in front on the line where the ball is placed. Collectively they are called
Offensive Lineman - They are: (from left to right):
the Left Tackle, Left Guard, Center, Right Guard, Right Tackle. To begin an offensive play, the center snaps (gives) the ball to the quarterback - When the center moves the ball, that is when the defenders can cross the line.

Quarterback (Takes the ball from the center and is in charge of making everything work. He gets the ball to the "skill position players" - on running plays, he gives the ball to the running back and on passing plays, he passes it to the receivers)

Running back (runs the ball on running plays and either protects the quarterback or becomes a receiver on passing plays)

Fullback ( a second running back that is mostly used to block for the running back on running plays and protect the quarterback on passing plays, he can also be a receiver)

Wide Receivers AKA Flankers or Ends (They block on running plays and run specific patterns on passing plays that allows the quarterback to get them the ball. Their job is to run the route in a manner that allows them to be "open" meaning no defender can keep them from getting the ball and to catch it if it is thrown to them.)

Tight Ends (they are a cross between Wide Receivers and the linemen. They block on running plays like a lineman and they line up next to one of the tackles (either one). This is why they are called Tight Ends. Because they are "Ends" who are "Tight" or close to the linemen. On passing plays, they can stay next to the linemen to block or they can run patterns like the Wide Receivers

Defense:

There are only 4 different types of positions on defense, but they can line up A LOT of different ways. Here are the basics:

Facing the Offensive Line there are Defensive Linemen. These are really huge guys (like 270 lbs or more) that start the play bent over with at least one of their hands on the ground. Their job is to tackle whoever has the ball while keeping the offensive line from blocking the linebackers. Defensive Linemen are called one of two things:

Defensive Ends are lineman that start the play across from either an offensive tackle or a tight end

Defensive Tackles are linemen that start the play across from either an offensive guard or the center (sometimes they are called a Nose Tackle if they are across from the center)

The 2nd type of position on defense is Linebackers. They line up behind the defensive linemen and they try to tackle whoever has the ball on a running play and they cover (try to keep them from catching the ball) the running backs and tight ends on passing plays (normally from 240-270lbs). There are three types of linebackers:

Strongside Linebacker (or "Sam" Linebacker) Lines up on the side that the tight end is on and covers him on passing plays. This is normally the biggest of the linebackers.

Middle Linebacker (or "Mike" Linebacker) Lines up in the middle of the defensive line (but normally about 5 yards back) so that he can cover both sides of the field equally well. He is known as the quarterback of the defense because it is his job to communicate the plays (which are signaled in via special sign language from the coaches on the sideline) and make sure everyone is in the right position and knows their job. On passing plays, he normally covers one of the running backs

Weakside Linebacker (or "Will" Linebacker) Lines up on the side of the formation that does not have a tight end. This allows him to have to worry about one fewer blocker. He is normally the fastest of the three linebackers

The third type of position on defense is Cornerback. A cornerback is a small guy who runs really fast (like 190-220lbs) they mirror the Wide Receivers on passing plays and they try to tackle the runner on running plays

The fourth and final position on defense is Safety. Safeties are a cross between a cornerback and a linebacker. (like 220-240lbs) They line up in the middle of the field behind the linebackers. They try to tackle runners on running plays and cover Tight Ends, Receivers and Running Backs on passing plays. There are two types of safeties:

The Strong Safety lines up on the side that the tight end is on and is closer to the linebackers because he is more focused on the Tight End and helping to tackle runners.

The Free Safety lines up further back and is more concerned with being the "last line of defense" He does not attack runners as aggressively. If all of the other defenders miss the runner, it is his job to keep the runner from scoring. On passing plays, he tries to prevent long throws and assist the other defenders in covering the receivers.

tired doesn't BEGIN to cover it.....

This past week has been very encouraging, very tiring and very scary. Encouraging because God has already honored my faith in this season of my life. Tiring because I have driven about 1300 miles in the last 5 days. Scary because I am moving out in faith and God isn't telling me what is going to happen... He just said, "Go" so I'm going.

As most of ya'll know, I am now a resident of Marietta, GA (where, apparently, "everything is betta" - according to an advertising slogan I heard). Getting from last Sunday to this Sunday was pretty serious:

My brother Chris and I had been talking for a couple of weeks about how we really wanted to see each other before I moved. Last Sunday I was talking about it with him again and looking at the resources God has given me to steward. I said, "Bro, if I can make $700 by Wednesday, I will come up there. If I can't, then I just won't be able to spend that money (for the trip) in faith." Meaning of course that I was putting my faith out there that God would allow me to make that amount and I could "justify" spending $100 for a two day trip to New Jersey.

Well, in the afternoon on Sunday, a sister blessed me with $150. I was REALLY encouraged! Then, Monday, I got an email from a guy who had been in a couple of classes with me at VCU. He wanted to get massage lessons from me, so that he could bless his mother and friends with good massages. We made plans to get together on Tuesday for the first 3 hours of the 6 that it takes for me to teach the full-body routine. Then I went to a massage appointment I had for that night. It was a 90 minute massage (that actually ran closer to two hours) and the client almost tripled what she would have been charged, as a gift to me (she "owed" me $110 and she gave me $300). Long story short (kinda): God came through with more money than I'd asked for and that allowed me to go up to New Jersey on Wednesday night. I left to come back to Richmond on Friday night and got in on Saturday morning. Saturday, I had to teach the other three hours of lessons and I saw a few more friends and said good-bye. I said good-bye to my sister and I drove down to ATL. I got here about 8:45 AM and service at the Father's House begins at 10, so I just went straight there. Service went until about 2 and then they had a reception/birthday party for Bishop Boone (58 today). SO, I got to Marietta about 3:30PM and I shopped the prices for hotels for a little while until I decided on La Quinta.

SOOOOOO, by faith, I have travelled back and forth to New Jersey and I moved to Atlanta, knowing nothing except that God wants me to go to Chiropractic school at Life University. 5 days and 1300 miles later, I am sitting here exhausted, getting ready to go to bed. La Quinta is my home until next Sunday. I wonder what will happen this week? I'm going to get some stuff done tomorrow and start looking for a job and a place to live on a more permanent basis. :)

Agape,
Joe

"Save Gomer!"