Description

The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense. The center is also the player who passes (or "snaps") the ball between his legs to the quarterback at the start of each play.

Roles

The center's first and primary role is to pass the football to the quarterback. This exchange is called a snap. Most offensive schemes make adjustments based on how the defensive line and linebackers align itself to the offensive line, and what gaps they line up in. Because the center has an ideal view of the defensive formation before the snap, he typically makes the first line call. This call is typically based on the position of the defensive linemen or linebackers in his gaps (0i-1i), most subsequent adjustments are dependent on this call. In some cases the center may call an adjustment for the entire offensive line.

After the snap, the center performs blocking assignments. The blocking assignments vary by offense but typically consist of the following:

Run blocking

Run blocking assignments will vary based on the current play and the defensive formation when the ball is snapped. Typically, these assignments consist of the following:

• Blocking middle or backside linebackers in certain formations, then moving up to secondary levels if no linebacker is present.
• Assisting guards in their blocking assignments. This may be a center/guard double-team where the center and guard are assigned to the same target (usually a defensive tackle) to get extra push or drive. Assistance may also be just a quick hit or "chip" to throw the defensive player off balance and help the guard to execute his block, while the center moves up to higher level targets.
• Backside blocking for pulling guards or defensive tackles. In some offensive schemes, certain plays will involve the "pulling" an offensive lineman to block for the ball carrier. If a guard needs to pull for a block, the center will typically block the defensive tackle in order to fill the guard's void.

Pass Blocking

• Pass blocking for a center is very similar to the above Run Blocking section. The center will initially help guards based on the position of the defensive linemen. In the case of a blitz, the center may need to pick up a rushing linebacker, safety or corner. A good center also needs to stay vigilant during pass blocking to protect against defensive stunts and twists.

CFL

Warriors