• Offensive line (OL): consists of five players whose job is to protect the passer on pass plays and clear the way for runners by blocking members of the defense on rush plays. Except for the center, offensive linemen generally do not handle the ball. **Labeled T, G, and C in above picture**
• Quarterback (QB): receives the snap on offensive plays. He then hands or tosses it to a running back, throws it to a receiver or runs with it himself. The quarterback is the leader of the offense and calls the plays that are signaled to him from the sidelines.
• Running backs (RB): line up behind or beside the QB and specialize in running with the ball. They also block, catch passes and, on rare occasions, pass the ball to others. If a team has two running backs in the game, usually one will be a halfback (HB) or tailback (TB), who is more likely to run with the ball, and the other will usually be a fullback (FB), who is more likely to block.
• Wide receivers (WR): line up near the sidelines. They specialize in catching passes. Wide receivers also create big running plays by blocking defensive backs.
• Tight ends (TE): line up outside the offensive line. They can either play like wide receivers (catch passes) or like offensive linemen (protect the QB or create spaces for runners).

**At least seven players must line up on the line of scrimmage on every offensive play. The other players may line up anywhere behind the line. The exact number of running backs, wide receivers and tight ends may differ on any given play. For example, if the team needs only 1 yard, it may use three tight ends, two running backs and no wide receivers. On the other hand, if it needs 20 yards, it may replace all of its running backs and tight ends with wide receivers.

 

Three Basic Formations:

I-Formation (shown in picture at top of page): One quarterback, two wide receivers, one tight end, one full back, and one half back. Full back and half back are lined up in a straight line directly behind quarterback.

Wing-T Formation: Three running backs, one (or two) tight ends, and one (or zero--depending on how many tight ends)

Picture compliments of: http://football-plays-and-drills.com/football-plays.html

 

Spread Formation: One quarterback, one running back, four wide receivers, and zero tight ends.

Picture compliments of: http://members.aol.com/airraid414/passhappy/arhome.htm