The passing pocket is a term used in American football to describe the area in the backfield on created on a passing play where the offensive line forms a wall of protection around the quarterback to protect him. This allows him adequate time to find an open receiver and to pass the ball. The offensive line will drop back slightly, creating a protected area for the quarterback to find an open receiver and get rid of the ball. If he is unable to find an open receiver he will attempt to run the ball himself, throw the ball out of bounds to prevent a sack and/or turnover, or if there is no lane, he would collapse to the ground to protect the ball and try to avoid a fumble.
The term is typically referred to as "The quarterback steps up into the pocket."
Even with a well-structured offensive line, the quarterback only has seconds to pass the ball within the tackle box. Quarterbacks may scramble outside of the tackle box, either to gain more time for the wide receivers, to avoid a sack, or to rush the ball.
Read more about Passing Pocket: Tackle Box Structure, Tackle Box Protection Packages, Defensive Maneuvers, When The Tackle Box Collapses
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