Defensive back
The defensive backfield consists of safeties and cornerbacks whose main task is the defense of the opposing passing game . In the typical defense formations 3-4 Defense (three defensive linemen and four linebackers) and 4-3 Defense (four defensive linemen and three linebackers) there are two safeties and two cornerbacks. The safeties are a strong safety which is also used near the line of scrimmage in the defense of the running games and the free safety , which is the last man responsible for defending deep passes in particular. The two cornerbacks play as man-hitches close to the opposing wide receivers in order to prevent them from catching the pass. This ranges from pure man to man coverage , in which the cornerbacks even change the attack side with their respective receiver, to zone defense ( zone coverage ), in which the cornerbacks receive receivers in their zone, with the safeties and z. Sometimes also linebackers, fluently taking over and handing over.
If the defense brings more than four defensive backs onto the field (in obvious pass situations or because the opposing offense is setting up three or more wide receivers), this is a so-called nickelback , which replaces a defensive lineman or a linebacker. The Nickelback is another cornerback whose name comes from the American 5 cent ( nickel ) coin . If the defense brings another, sixth, defensive back for a defensive lineman or linebacker, this is also usually a cornerback and is called a dime back . The term dime is derived from the American 10-cent coin ( dime ), since two nickels make one dime.
There is also the so-called quarter defense (based on the next largest coin: the quarter dollar), which involves a seventh defensive back on the field. This is often a safety, as the third safety of a team is usually better than the fifth cornerback. This defense, also known as Prevent Defense , is used almost exclusively when the opposing offense tries to achieve a touchdown shortly before the end with a Hail-Mary pass . As the name suggests, only attempts are made to prevent points being gained, while a short or medium gain in space is accepted in cases of doubt. In order to avoid confusion with the captain of the offense , the quarterback , the seventh defensive back is not called the quarter back .