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In American football
American football

American football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, is a competitive team sport known for mixing strategy with physical play....
 and Canadian football
Canadian football

Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played chiefly in Canada in which two teams of twelve players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide , attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area ....
, defensive backs 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.

The defensive backs, in turn, generally are classified into several different specialized positions:

The group of defensive backs is known collectively as the secondary.






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Encyclopedia


In American football
American football

American football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, is a competitive team sport known for mixing strategy with physical play....
 and Canadian football
Canadian football

Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played chiefly in Canada in which two teams of twelve players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide , attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area ....
, defensive backs 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.

The defensive backs, in turn, generally are classified into several different specialized positions:

  • Safety
  • Cornerback
    Cornerback

    A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American football and Canadian football football. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers....
    , which include
    • nickel back, the fifth defensive back in some sets
    • dime back
      Dimeback

      In American football, a dimeback is a cornerback who serves as the sixth defensive back on defense. The third cornerback on defense is known as a Nickelback ....
      , the sixth defensive back in some sets
    • The seventh defensive back, in the exceedingly rare 'quarter' set
      • 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. They most often defend the wide receiver core, however, at time they may also line up against a tight end or a split out running back. They are usually the smallest, yet quickest on the field.

See also

  • American football positions
    American football positions

    In American football, each team has 11 players on the field at one time. However, because the rules allow unlimited substitution between plays, the types of players on the field for each team differ depending on the situation....