Words you'll hear on a broadcast
The box, the shell, press, rotation and the other defensive shorthand analysts use, explained.
Broadcasts are full of shorthand. Once you know a handful of words, the analysts' breakdowns start to make sense, and you'll start seeing what they see.
The diagram covers three of the big ones - the box, the shell and a rotation. The list under it covers the rest, and every word links to the glossary.
"The box" is the area near the ball: about as wide as the offensive line and tight end, and a few yards deep. Count the defenders in it - here, six. That's "six in the box". More defenders in the box means more help against the run, and fewer in coverage.
Read the play step by step
- The box: "The box" is the area near the ball: about as wide as the offensive line and tight end, and a few yards deep. Count the defenders in it - here, six. That's "six in the box". More defenders in the box means more help against the run, and fewer in coverage.
- The shell: The "shell" is how the deep defenders line up. Two safeties deep is a two-high shell. The corner on the left is in press, right on his receiver; the corner on the right is off, seven yards back.
- At the snap: The safeties rotate: the strong safety comes down toward the line, and the free safety runs to the middle. Two-high before the snap, single-high after it. When an analyst says the defense "rotated" or "disguised" its coverage, this is what they mean.
How to spot it
- "Eight in the box": the defense has brought a safety down near the line, usually to stop the run.
- "Pressure" and "sack": pressure is any time the quarterback is hurried or hit; a sack is when he's tackled behind the line with the ball.
- "Disguise": the defense lines up looking like one thing and plays another, like the rotation in the diagram.
- "Personnel": which players are on the field. Nickel means five defensive backs; dime means six.
- "Press" and "off": a corner right on the receiver at the line, or several yards back.
Key terms
Quick quiz
1 / 3An analyst says "they've got eight in the box." What does that mean?