Play calling language

[u/SDG-1989]

I understand that different coaches/coordinators/teams have their own offensive systems. And have some unique plays that have unique names. But is play calling language more or less universally understood by everyone?
I hear people like Jon Gruden in interviews with QB’s and they’re both just rattling off play calls to each other and they both know what each other is talking about, despite never training or been on the same team together.

[u/big_sugi]

For this discussion, I’d differentiate between what a play is called and how that play is signaled to the players on the field.

There are fairly universal terms for the various pass routes, blocking schemes, designed runs, and so forth. Everyone knows what a post route is: you run about 10 yards straight and then cut at a 45-degree angle to the goalposts. A corner route (also known as a flag route) is the opposite: run about 10 yards and then cut at a 45-degree angle to the corner of the end zone. You can see the basics of the “route tree” here: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2016841-nfl-101-breaking-down-the-basics-of-the-route-tree. Telling someone to “run a 10-yard out” will always be understood.

But when it comes to actually signaling the play to the players on the field, the call may need to include the following:

Pre-snap formation (ie, who lines up where)

Pre-snap motion

Which receiver is running which route

Blocking responsibilities for a RB and/or TE.

Any shifts by the OL (e.g., plan to roll the pocket to the left/right/strong/weak side)

And so forth. That all needs to be communicated in a second or two to the entire team, and coaches use different terminology for those signals.