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PAD LEVEL
Height of shoulder pads off the ground while engaged during a play; in general, the lower the better (to maximize balance and leverage).
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PANCAKE BLOCK
A block that knocks the defender off his feet.
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PATIENCE
A RB's ability to wait for a blocking scheme to unfold before attemping to turn a play downfield. A runner with little patience outruns his blockers and runs into defenders before the blockers do.
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PHONE BOOTH
Region extending a yard or two in all directions around an offensive or defensive lineman; the small area on the field on which most of their action takes place.
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PICK AND SLIDE
The ability to see blocks and pick holes as a runner.
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PLAYS OVER HIS PADS
Describes a player who shows good balance by not leaning or lunging too far forward.
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PLAYS THE PIANO
Describes a lineman who does most of his work in the trenches as opposed to up and down the field.
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PLAYS WITH LIGHT HANDS
Has no force with his hand punch; considered a negative for a lineman.
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PLAYS WITHIN HIMSELF
Plays within his ability.
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PLUCKS THE BALL
Describes a player who grabs a pass strongly with his hands, away from his body.
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POCKET PRESENCE
A QB's understanding of what his blockers are doing and how the defense is rushing him, plus the innate sense of when the rush is closing in.
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POINT OF ATTACK
Spot of the field to which a run play is directed.
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POST PATTERN
A passing route in which the receiver sprints 8 to 10 yards, fake, look back at QB, then sprint deep at 45 degrees, the opposite pattern is the flag route. It is called a post pattern because the middle of the field is where the goal posts are found.
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POWER TRAIN
Lower and central body as it relates to football playing strength.
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PRECISION PASSER
A QB with excellent accuracy.
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PRESS COVERAGE
Refers to defensive back lining up on the line of scrimmage.
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PRESSES BLOCKERS
Describes a defender who routinely gets his hands inside his blocker's hands, his center of gravity below the blocker's, and initiates body-to-body contact.
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PREVENT DEFENSE
A defensive strategy that utilizes deep zone coverage in order to prevent a big pass play from happening down field, usually at the expense of giving up yards at shorter distances.
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PRO SET
Offensive formation using two backs, lined up side-by-side 2-3 yards behind the quarterback, with one on either side of the quarterback
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PROGRESSION READS
System most clubs use whereby the QB, in deciding which receiver to throw to, reads defensive keys in a specific sequence, such as beginning downfield and then progressing back toward the line of scrimmage, or vice versa.
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PROJECT
A player who will require substantial practice time before is capable of playing regularly in the NFL.
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PROJECTION PICK
A player who may be selected to play a position other than the one he played in college.
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PURSUIT ANGLE
The path a defender takes to the ball. Good defenders pick a spot on the field where they can realistically make a tackle, then run to it, as opposed to chasing the ballcarrier wildly.
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PUSHES THE PILE
When a running back generates extra yards by shoving through a mass of blockers and defenders at the line of scrimmage.
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