Definition

Noun: 1. A football play involving a ball carrier advancing on the ground: In American football, a "running play" is a designed play where the offensive team attempts to advance the ball by having a player (the ball carrier) run with it, as opposed to throwing it forward. The primary objective is to gain yards by carrying the ball through or past the opposing team's defensive line.

Usage

• "Running play" is a specific term used in the context of American football strategy and play-calling.
• It is used to describe a type of play, often in contrast to a "passing play."
• It can be discussed in terms of its design, execution, and effectiveness against a particular defense.

Examples

• Noun:
  • On third down with short yardage, the coach called a running play up the middle.
  • The team's offense is most effective when they establish their running play early in the game.
  • The defense was prepared for a running play, so they stacked the line of scrimmage.

Advanced Usage

• "to execute a running play": To carry out the designed run play as planned by the offense.
  • The quarterback handed the ball off to the halfback to execute the running play.
• "to stop a running play": For the defense to prevent the ball carrier from gaining significant yardage.
  • The linebacker's primary job was to stop the running play before it reached the secondary.

Variants and Related Words

• Run (n): A common, shorter synonym for "running play" in football terminology.
  • It was a simple run off the left tackle.
• Rushing play (n): A fully synonymous term for "running play."
• Ball carrier (n): The offensive player who is running with the football during a running play.
• Handoff (n): The act of the quarterback giving the ball directly to a running back to initiate a running play.

Synonyms

• Run: (as a noun) The act or an instance of running with the ball in football.
• Rush: (as a noun) An attempt to advance the ball by running; synonymous with a running play.
• Ground game: Refers to a team's collective strategy and effectiveness in executing running plays.

Related Phrases

• Play action: A play that initially looks like a running play but is designed as a pass play to deceive the defense.
  • The play action fake froze the linebackers, creating an opening for the pass.
• Draw play: A specific type of running play designed to look like a pass play initially, causing the defensive line to rush upfield, before the quarterback hands off to a running back.
  • The draw play was effective because the defensive ends were focused on sacking the quarterback.

Noun

1. (American football) a play in which a player attempts to carry the ball through or past the opposing team
   • the defensive line braced to stop the run
   • the coach put great emphasis on running