Learn and talk about Skill position, American football positions

Skill positions in gridiron football are the positions that are most responsible for causing or preventing points from being scored. The skill positions are:

Quarterback
Running back, particularly halfback
Wide receiver
Slotback, especially in Canadian football
Cornerback
Safety
Return specialist
Less commonly, linebacker and defensive end

Skill positions are often contrasted with linemen – players who line up along the line of scrimmage. Skill position players are generally smaller than linemen, but they must also be faster and have other talents (such as the ability to throw or catch the ball, cover an opposing receiver, or to dodge opponents) that rely more on finesse than on brute force. Positions that are not considered "skill positions" would include nose tackles, defensive tackles, offensive linemen, fullbacks, and tight ends (though the latter two positions can be either skill or non-skill, depending on the situation).

Placekickers, punters, long snappers and holders are usually considered separate from both the skill positions and the lineman positions, due to their highly specialized lines of work.

Positions in American football and Canadian football
Offense		Defense		Special teams
Linemen	Guard, Tackle, Center	Linemen	Tackle, End, Nose tackle	Kicking players	Placekicker, Punter, Kickoff specialist
Quarterback		Linebackers		Snapping	Long snapper, Holder
Backs	Halfback (Tailback), Fullback, H-back	Backs	Cornerback, Safety, Halfback	Returning	Punt returner, Kick returner
Receivers	Wide receiver, Tight end, Slotback	Backs	Nickelback, Dimeback	Tackling	Gunner
Formations (List) — Nomenclature

Gridiron football concepts

Codes

Levels of play

Field

Equipment

Positions

Offense	Quarterback Running backs (Halfback, Fullback, H-back) Receivers (Wide receiver, Tight end, Slotback) Linemen (Center, Guard, Tackle)

Defense	Linemen (Defensive tackle, Defensive end, Nose tackle) Linebacker Defensive back (Cornerback, Safety, Nickelback, Dimeback, Halfback)

Special teams	Placekicker Punter Kickoff specialist Long snapper Holder Punt returner Kickoff returner Return specialist Gunner

Other	Utility player Triple-threat man Skill position Game manager

Play types

Offense	Rush Pass Incomplete pass Lateral Bootleg play Draw play End-around Flea flicker Flexbone formation Fourth down conversion Hail Mary pass Halfback option play Hook and lateral Kneel Motion Hurry-up offense Option run Option offense Play-action pass Quarterback keeper Quarterback sneak Quick kick Reverse Scramble Screen pass Spike Statue of Liberty Sweep Tackle-eligible Trick play Wildcat formation

Defense	Tackle Blitz Rush Sack Shooting the gap Stunt Zone blitz

Special teams	Kickoff Kickoff return Punt Punt return Drop kick Fair catch Fair catch kick Icing the kicker Onside kick Squib kick Conversion

Scoring

Statistics

Celebrations

Officiating

Miscellaneous

This American football–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Original courtesy of Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skill_position — Please support Wikipedia.
A portion of the proceeds from advertising on Digplanet goes to supporting Wikipedia.

Skill position

Talk About Skill position

Support Wikipedia