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 strategiesThis 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!

Learn how to tell a first down from a touchdown and get up to speed on the latest trends in the sportFootball 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 strategiesThis 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 1Part 1: Getting Started with Football 5Chapter 1: America's Greatest Game 7Chapter 2: Meet Me on the Gridiron 17Chapter 3: Them's the Rules (And Regulations) 33Part 2: Go, Offense! 61Chapter 4: The Quarterback, Football's MVP 63Chapter 5: The Passing Game 79Chapter 6: Hitting the Ground Running 93Chapter 7: The Offensive Line at Work in the Trenches 117Chapter 8: Offensive Plays and Strategies 131Part 3: The Big D 159Chapter 9: These Guys Are Huge: The Defensive Line and Linebackers 161Chapter 10: The Secondary: Last Line of Defense 177Chapter 11: Defensive Tactics and Strategies 193Part 4: Meet the Rest of the Team 211Chapter 12: Special Teams, Masters of the Kicking Game 213Chapter 13: Coaches, General Managers, and Other Important Folks 235Part 5: Football for Everyone 249Chapter 14: Armchair Quarterbacks and Other Fabulous Fans 251Chapter 15: Youth Leagues and High School Football 261Chapter 16: College Football: Where It All Started 273Chapter 17: Taking a Look at the NFL (And Other Professional Leagues) 289Chapter 18: Playing Fantasy Football 307Part 6: The Part of Tens 317Chapter 19: The Ten (Or So) Greatest Defensive Players of All Time 319Chapter 20: More Than Ten Top Non-Quarterback Offensive Players 333Chapter 21: More Than Ten Greatest Quarterbacks of All Time 343Chapter 22: More Than Ten Greatest Coaches in the History of the Game 351Appendix: Football Speak 361Index 373