"The modern game of football is filled with plays and formations with names like the Counter Trey, the Wildcat, the Zone Blitz and the Cover Two. They have become part of the sport's vernacular, and yet for many fans they remain just names, often confusing ones. To rectify that, Tim Layden has drilled deep into the core of the game to reveal not only how these chalkboard X's and O's really work on the field, but also where they came from and who dreamed them up..."--Dust cover flap.

At head of title: Sports Illustrated.

The web of coaches -- The single wing -- The wing T -- The wildcat -- The wishbone -- Option fever -- Air Coryell -- Air heirs -- The West Coast offense -- Lombardi's power sweep -- Student body right -- Zone blocking -- The spread offense -- The one-back spread -- BYU air raid -- The spread option -- The cover two -- The Ryan Family defense -- The zone blitz -- Spread stoppers -- The double A gap blitz -- The no-huddle offense -- A-II and beyond.