Football For Dummies, USA Edition (7^th Ed.)

Learn how to tell a first down from a touchdown and get up to speed on the latest trends in the sport

Football For Dummies is a comprehensive fan?s guide to football and its many components. This updated edition includes coverage of new players, rules, and strategies. With deep explanations of every position, analysis of offense and defense, and detailed strategies for play, football legend Howie Long and established football analyst John Czarnecki present the basics of football for fans of all ages and experiences. Get the working knowledge that you need to follow the game of football and enjoy it with friends and family. The book covers everything you need to be the most knowledgeable spectator in the stadium!

• Learn the rules of football so you can follow what?s happening in the game
• Increase your enjoyment of football by discovering the nuances you don?t know
• Keep up with friends and family when you watch games together, in person, or on TV
• Get up to date on the latest players, rule changes, and top strategies

This fun Dummies guide is for everyone who is interested in football and wants to get familiar with the sport, including its history, so they can watch games in person and on television, follow all the action, and enjoy football games to the maximum. It?s also a great reference for fans who need to settle bets about the official rules of play!

Introduction 1

Part 1: Getting Started with Football 5

Chapter 1: America’s Greatest Game 7

Chapter 2: Meet Me on the Gridiron 17

Chapter 3: Them’s the Rules (And Regulations) 33

Part 2: Go, Offense! 61

Chapter 4: The Quarterback, Football’s MVP 63

Chapter 5: The Passing Game 79

Chapter 6: Hitting the Ground Running 93

Chapter 7: The Offensive Line at Work in the Trenches 117

Chapter 8: Offensive Plays and Strategies 131

Part 3: The Big D 159

Chapter 9: These Guys Are Huge: The Defensive Line and Linebackers 161

Chapter 10: The Secondary: Last Line of Defense 177

Chapter 11: Defensive Tactics and Strategies 193

Part 4: Meet the Rest of the Team 211

Chapter 12: Special Teams, Masters of the Kicking Game 213

Chapter 13: Coaches, General Managers, and Other Important Folks 235

Part 5: Football for Everyone 249

Chapter 14: Armchair Quarterbacks and Other Fabulous Fans 251

Chapter 15: Youth Leagues and High School Football 261

Chapter 16: College Football: Where It All Started 273

Chapter 17: Taking a Look at the NFL (And Other Professional Leagues) 289

Chapter 18: Playing Fantasy Football 307

Part 6: The Part of Tens 317

Chapter 19: The Ten (Or So) Greatest Defensive Players of All Time 319

Chapter 20: More Than Ten Top Non-Quarterback Offensive Players 333

Chapter 21: More Than Ten Greatest Quarterbacks of All Time 343

Chapter 22: More Than Ten Greatest Coaches in the History of the Game 351

Appendix: Football Speak 361

Index 373

Howie Long is a former Oakland/Los Angeles Raider defensive end with eight Pro Bowl appearances and one Super Bowl win. In 2000, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Howie is an Emmy Award-winning studio analyst for Fox Sports.

John Czarnecki is a pro football consultant.