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
Famous quotes containing the words passing and/or pocket:
““Reason” causes us to falsify the testimony of the senses. To the extent that the senses show becoming, passing away, and change, they do not lie.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)
“The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.”
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)