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For other uses, see Rush (disambiguation).

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In American football, rushing has two different meanings.

[edit] Offense

Running back Henry Melton (#37) receiving the handoff and rushing the ball for the Texas Longhorns

The first is an action taken by the offensive team that means to advance the ball by running, as opposed to passing. A run is technically any play that does not involve a forward pass. It is usually done by the running back, after a hand-off from the quarterback, although quarterbacks and receivers can also run. The quarterback will usually run when a passing play has broken down, because there is no receiver open and the field has opened up. A team with an athletic quarterback may regularly call designed run plays for the quarterback, although, because of the risk of injury, this is rare. A wide receiver can run on an end-around, reverse, or on a screen pass. On the screen pass the quarterback will usually throw overarm, and whether it is a run or pass will depend on whether the pass goes forward or backwards. A wide receiver screen is usually intended to be a pass as if the wideout drops it, it is an incompletion rather than a fumble.

[edit] Defense

The other, usually called a pass rush, is an action taken by the defensive team that means to run towards the quarterback or kicker across the line of scrimmage. The purpose is tackling, hurrying or flushing the quarterback, or blocking or disrupting a kick. In both college and professional football, getting a strong pass rush is an important skill, as an average quarterback will often be able to be productive, even against a strong secondary, if he has lots of time to pass the ball. Teams will improve their pass rush by blitzing, which sends additional men at the quarterback. The rules on tackling a quarterback are fairly protective, and very protective in regards of the kicker. This has resulted in most teams sending few men at the kicker, as the risk of drawing a penalty is too great to justify the low chance of blocking a kick.

v • d • e Gridiron football concepts

Codes	American • Canadian (US-Canadian comparison) • Arena • Indoor • 9-man • 8-man • 6-man • Flag • Touch • Street/Backyard

Levels of play	High school • College • Sprint • Women's • Professional

Field	End zone • Goal line • Line of scrimmage • Neutral zone • Field goal range • Out of bounds • Sidelines

Equipment	Football (ball) • Helmet • Winged helmet • Shoulder pads • Uniform number • Penalty flag

Positions	Offense: Linemen • Quarterback • Running back • Halfback • Fullback • H-back • Wide receiver • Tight end • Slotback • Guard • Offensive tackle • Center • Eligible receiver Defense: Linemen • Linebacker • Defensive tackle • Defensive end • Nose tackle • Defensive back • Cornerback • Safety • Nickelback • Dimeback Special Teams: Placekicker • Punter • Kickoff specialist • Long snapper • Holder • Punt returner • Kickoff returner • Gunner

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 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 • Try

Scoring	Touchdown • Extra point • Two-point conversion • Field goal • Safety • Single (rouge)

Penalties	Blocking below the waist • Block in the back • Chop block • Clipping • Delay of game • Encroachment • Equipment violations • Face mask • False start • Horse-collar tackle • Illegal contact • Illegal formation • Illegal forward kick • Illegal forward pass • Illegal hands to the face • Illegal motion • Illegal participation • Illegal shift • Illegal substitution • Illegal touching • Illegal touching of a free kick • Illegal use of hands • Ineligible receiver downfield • Intentional grounding • Holding • Leaping • Neutral Zone Infraction • Offside • Palpably unfair act • Pass interference • Personal Foul • Roughing the kicker • Roughing the passer • Roughing the snapper • Sideline infraction • Spearing • Tripping • Unsportsmanlike conduct

Turnovers	Fumble • Interception • Muffed punt • Turnover on downs

Downs	First down • Three-and-out • Fourth down conversion

Play clock	Timeout • Two-minute warning • Running out the clock

Statistics	Passer rating • Reception • Return yards • Total offense • Yards from scrimmage

Celebrations	Touchdown celebration • Gatorade shower

Miscellaneous	Snap • Dead ball • Touchback • Instant replay • Coffin corner • Glossary of American football • Glossary of Canadian football • Rules • Rules in American football

If the running back takes into the end zone with the defence on him, it is by rule a touchdown.

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