The term “weapons” in football refers to offensive players who ease the quarterback’s job. An example of a potent weapon would be a team with a number of talented wide receivers.
In football, the quarterback is the most significant position, but he cannot do everything.
Someone must catch the ball for the quarterback to complete passes and throw touchdowns.
As a catch-all term, weapons refer to all the skill positions a quarterback can throw to.
An offense with plenty of weapons will be able to generate separation and make it easy for the quarterback to complete passes.
Poor weapons will make it difficult for the quarterback to find open receivers.
When players have weapons on the offensive line, they are more likely to create big plays once they have the ball in their hands. Dynamic players after the catch can make quarterbacks’ jobs much easier.
What Players are Considered Weapons on Offense?
In most instances, when writers and fans refer to weapons in football, they are referring to players that the quarterback throws to. Below are the top positions that are often considered weapons.
Wide Receivers
When judging a team’s weapons, the first place someone looks is at the wide receiver room.
The team is in good shape if they have a talented number one receiver and quality players at the second wide receiver position and the slot receiver position.
Even if their tight ends and running backs aren’t stellar, teams with quality receivers will usually be considered effective weapons.
When a team has an elite wide receiver duo, a competent quarterback can often make it work.
Furthermore, if a team does not have wide receivers who can generate separation, the quarterback will have a very difficult time.
It is often not enough for most teams to run the passing offense through tight ends and running backs.
If a team already has a franchise quarterback, it will prioritize getting quality wide receivers.
Tight Ends
Tight ends are also in the conversation when it comes to quarterback weapons, despite not being the first position considered.
Due to the increased passing in football, this position has experienced a large increase in production. Some teams have even made tight ends their top receivers.
However, having a quality pass catcher at the tight end is not a prerequisite for having reliable weapons.
There are many teams that can use an average tight end and still have several weapons at their disposal for the quarterback.
Another offensive strategy involves bringing in incredibly athletic tight ends who can create mismatches against linebackers.
QBs can benefit greatly from these types of players, especially in the red zone.
Running Backs
When evaluating a quarterback’s weapons, running backs are measured for their ability to catch the ball from the backfield.
In some teams, the running back can be one of the team’s most reliable receivers. This is a safety value if the quarterback doesn’t have any other options.
As a result, a capable receiving back can be a very valuable asset to any team.