Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs (DBs) are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of scrimmage.[1] The defensive backs, in turn, generally are classified into several different specialized positions:
- Safety:
- Free Safety – most often the deepest safety
- Strong Safety – the bigger more physical safety, much like a small, quicker linebacker
- Defensive halfback (Canadian football only)
- Cornerback – which include:
- nickel back – the fifth defensive back in some sets, such as the Nickel formation
- dime back – the sixth defensive back in some sets, such as the Dime formation
- The seventh defensive back, in the exceedingly rare 'quarter' set, but often strong
- known as a dollar back or a quarter back (not to be confused with the offensive player who throws the ball)
The group of defensive backs is known collectively as the secondary.[2] They most often defend the wide receiver corps; however, at times they may also line up against a tight end or a split out running back.