American football DB is short for “defensive back.” These players are in the last line of defense in between the offense and the scoring. Some DBs are also dynamic athletes who become fan favorites after they make plays.
In this sport, a DB (Defensive Back) is a player who is on the defensive team.
What are the Defensive Positions on the Field?
Defensive line is where the defense starts. The defensive line is responsible for defending the line of scrimmage and keeping the offense from penetrating the line of scrimmage. The defensive ends are the most important defensive players. They are usually the fastest players and are the most likely to rush the passer. Linebackers are the next most important defensive players, but they’re slower than defensive ends and typically occupy the space between the defensive line and the secondary. Defensive backs are a catch-all term to describe the secondary. They are players who specialize in defending routes after the catch and defending against screens and pass plays.
Why Are Defensive Backs so Important in a Football Game?
Some defensive backs may have a higher success rate at running back than receivers or defensive ends, but you still need to match talent on the back end of your defense to the personnel you’re facing.
I’ve covered the running back position above, but here is a look at the offensive line. The same rules apply here.
Popular Defensive Schemes
Defense is the best offense, because if you don’t have a good defense, you have no defense. In high school, you often see teams fielding a defense with as many as five linebackers. Teams with the nickel defense call the fifth defender a nickel back instead.
The dime defense is a defensive scheme that has six players on the defensive side of the ball, and is used to cover the deep middle of the field. The dime defense is a high-risk scheme that is used to catch opponents off-guard when covering passing plays. The nickel defense is a defensive scheme that has five defensive backs and is used to cover tight ends and the deep middle of the field.
The more backs a defense has, the less personnel they have to play defensive line. In order to offset a larger number of running backs, the more linebackers, defensive backs, and defensive linemen teams have to account for.
What Are The Different Types of Defensive Backs in Football?
If your football team has trouble covering receivers in the red zone, then you’ll need to change the defensive scheme. These defensive positions can be switched from cornerback to safeties to free safeties.
Cornerbacks
A cornerback may be employed on either the left of the line of scrimmage or the right of the line of scrimmage. They are able to play tight man to man or cover wide receivers at the line of scrimmage. They are the last line of defense to stop a pass.
The following information may be important to understand the way the defensive scheme is designed.
Safeties
Safeties, as the names might indicate, are generally found on the deep part of the field. They can be positioned anywhere from 10 to 15 yards downfield from the line of scrimmage depending on the play. They usually have the most information because of this positioning and are thus very important to the success of your defense.
They have the ability to make big plays and tackle. Strong safeties may be the most important player on the defense since there are often times when the offense will spread the field and a strong safety will have the chance to hit or even tackle a wide out from the opposing team.
Free Safeties
A free safety has to cover a very large area of the field, usually a sideline to sideline coverage, so they usually have to be very quick and agile in order to perform their duties. Free safeties have to be extremely fast in order to cover the field and stay with the receiver they are defending.
What Makes a Good Defensive Back in American Football?
Defensive backs are smart athletes who are usually faster than their opponents on run-and-attack plays. They are typically small athletes, but they have to have enough speed to keep up with receivers.
The above definition is for the general public. For coaches, the requirements are higher.
How Many DB’s are in the NFL Hall of Fame?
This week’s Defensive Back Hall of Fame entry is former Washington Redskins safety Dexter Manley. He played for eight different teams in his 14-year career.
Who Are Some of the Most Famous DB’s in the NFL Hall of Fame?
He had a lot of nice stats in football, but he was also a pretty nice person. He led the NFL in interceptions in 1992, but was also ranked 5th in the voting for most defensive player of the year. He was also one of the first two African-Americans to have a sports talk show on the radio and he even led the league in punt returns in 1991 and 1992.
In 2016, the 35-year-old defensive back was a finalist for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, given to the NFL player who best exemplifies character and leadership on and off the field. He was the second defensive back to be nominated.
The Steelers had a lot of success drafting players from Hawaii and other states with warmer, drier weather. Troy Polamalu, a native of Honolulu, was one of the biggest beneficiaries.
He was a three-time Pro Bowl selection, and played in almost a decade with the San Diego Chargers after being drafted by the Oakland Raiders. But his career ended with his work as a coach at the University of Miami, where he won multiple titles as a defensive coordinator.
Conclusion: What is a DB in Football?
In summary, defensive back players are among the most popular football positions in American football because of their athletic ability. These players are the last line of defense on the field, which means they have to be strong and fast to prevent touchdowns. When you watch your next American Football game, keep an eye out for the players in the defensive secondary and see what they are doing! Watch your next American Football game at the top or at the bottom of the page.
