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Shooting the gap is a term used in American football. To "shoot the gap", a defensive lineman will exploit the space between the offensive linemen. The defensive lineman is usually one of the defensive tackles. The gaps are given different letters depending on their distance from the center. The gaps between the center and guard are known as the "A gaps", and between the guard and tackle are known as the "B gaps". Shooting the gaps requires the defensive lineman to turn his shoulders and get past the offensive line into the backfield by any means possible, usually by diving through the gap. The play is often used during a blitz, as the defense will try to rush past the offensive line in order to get to the quarterback and cause a quarterback sack.

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

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