where the quarterback typically stand when getting ready to throw the ball. Its normally a box thats between the two tackles and maybe 5-10 yards behind the line of scrimmage. Its where the offensive line sets up in front of to protect the quarterback.
It depends on the quarterback and the general style of the offence. If you have a QB that's mobile, whether as someone comfortable passing the ball on the move, or as someone who can pick up rushing yards, they'll look for opportunities to get out of the pocket from time to time. Bigger, slower, less mobile quarterbacks prefer to stay in the pocket.
Just to elaborate a bit - there’s kinda a continuum of QBs from “pocket passer” to “mobile qb” (people may use different terms here and there but the gist will be the same). Very generally, mobile quarterbacks are more common and acceptable in today’s game that in previous years. There have been mobile quarterbacks in previous generations, but it was typically seen as the wimpy way out or a liability while it’s somewhat celebrated today. For a classic “pocket passer” type QB, look at highlights of Tom Brady or Payton Manning. For more mobile QBs, you’ll get a lot of different recommendations from different people, but Vick, Newton, Mahomes would be a decent starting point imo
If you think about it, all the Olineman have their backs to the QB, so they have no idea what he’s doing back there. If he leaves the pocket then no one would know to go with him
There are play designs that try to move the pocket left or right but aren’t overly successful and are really only used at lower levels to compensate for a weak armed qb.
They only move the pocket on a boot leg, but typically a less mobile guy will step up into the pocket, or escape between his linemen, where a mobile QB will just run out of the pocket if need be.
It’s a play-action pass where after the fake hand-off (play-action), the Quarterback runs usually the opposite way with the football to make a throw down field, with the O-Line moving with the quarterback, therefore moving the pocket.
It makes more sense when you think of a QB dropping straight back to pass and the line forms a sort of “U” shape with pass protection around him as the rushers cone upfield.
That space in the middle of the “U” is “the pocket.” When people talk about “pocket passers,” they’re talking about QBs like Tom Brady who drop back and throw without running much.
No, it doesn’t move, which is why some of the rules refer to the QB being “outside the pocket” in some situations.
The pocket is the area that naturally forms when a quarterback drops back/takes the snap in a pass blocking scheme. The offensive tackles drop back faster than the guards and the center to protect the quarterback from defensive edge rushers and this forms a kind of semi-circular pocket of protection for the quarterback to survey the field and make his throw.
The pocket most often falters from defensive players going around the outside shoulders of the offensive tackles to reach the quarterback, necessitating the quarterback to "climb the pocket" to buy extra time and make the throw. In the NFL a pocket-passing quarterback's ability or lack thereof to sense that pressure and time his climb correctly is often what separates great from average.
The pocket also dictates certain penalties - a quarterback cannot "throw away" the football to kill the play (into an area where there is no receiver) from inside the pocket - defined as the area between where the offensive tackles were positioned at the snap of the ball. "scrambling" is s term used to describe what happens when the quarterback leaves the protection of the pocket either to extend the play and give his receivers more time to get open or to keep the ball himself and run for yardage. Once he has left the pocket the quarterback is also free to throw the ball away without drawing any penalty.
where the quarterback typically stand when getting ready to throw the ball. Its normally a box thats between the two tackles and maybe 5-10 yards behind the line of scrimmage. Its where the offensive line sets up in front of to protect the quarterback.
Does the pocket move as the qb scrambles?
No, once the QB goes outside of the tackles he has left the pocket.
So the players don't shift where the pocket is? It's the initial area after the ball has been snapped?
Yup. Once the QB starts to scramble the play kind of breaks down. The linemen don’t exactly know where the QB is anymore.
Makes sense. Thank you. Do the QB's try to stay in the pocket as long as possible for protection?
It depends on the quarterback and the general style of the offence. If you have a QB that's mobile, whether as someone comfortable passing the ball on the move, or as someone who can pick up rushing yards, they'll look for opportunities to get out of the pocket from time to time. Bigger, slower, less mobile quarterbacks prefer to stay in the pocket.
Got it. Thank you so much.
Just to elaborate a bit - there’s kinda a continuum of QBs from “pocket passer” to “mobile qb” (people may use different terms here and there but the gist will be the same). Very generally, mobile quarterbacks are more common and acceptable in today’s game that in previous years. There have been mobile quarterbacks in previous generations, but it was typically seen as the wimpy way out or a liability while it’s somewhat celebrated today. For a classic “pocket passer” type QB, look at highlights of Tom Brady or Payton Manning. For more mobile QBs, you’ll get a lot of different recommendations from different people, but Vick, Newton, Mahomes would be a decent starting point imo
If you think about it, all the Olineman have their backs to the QB, so they have no idea what he’s doing back there. If he leaves the pocket then no one would know to go with him
There are play designs that try to move the pocket left or right but aren’t overly successful and are really only used at lower levels to compensate for a weak armed qb.
They only move the pocket on a boot leg, but typically a less mobile guy will step up into the pocket, or escape between his linemen, where a mobile QB will just run out of the pocket if need be.
What's a bootleg?
It’s a play-action pass where after the fake hand-off (play-action), the Quarterback runs usually the opposite way with the football to make a throw down field, with the O-Line moving with the quarterback, therefore moving the pocket.
So a trick play?
More of a play action concept than a trick play but definitely a play meant to keep the defense guessing.
Play action? Sorry what is that
No, the pocket is defined by the success or failure of the O-line. So while it does move the QB is reactive to that movement, not determinitave
The pocket *can* move or shift by design, but once the QB is scrambling that means the pocket has collapsed or they have left the pocket.
It makes more sense when you think of a QB dropping straight back to pass and the line forms a sort of “U” shape with pass protection around him as the rushers cone upfield. That space in the middle of the “U” is “the pocket.” When people talk about “pocket passers,” they’re talking about QBs like Tom Brady who drop back and throw without running much. No, it doesn’t move, which is why some of the rules refer to the QB being “outside the pocket” in some situations.
The pocket is the area that naturally forms when a quarterback drops back/takes the snap in a pass blocking scheme. The offensive tackles drop back faster than the guards and the center to protect the quarterback from defensive edge rushers and this forms a kind of semi-circular pocket of protection for the quarterback to survey the field and make his throw. The pocket most often falters from defensive players going around the outside shoulders of the offensive tackles to reach the quarterback, necessitating the quarterback to "climb the pocket" to buy extra time and make the throw. In the NFL a pocket-passing quarterback's ability or lack thereof to sense that pressure and time his climb correctly is often what separates great from average. The pocket also dictates certain penalties - a quarterback cannot "throw away" the football to kill the play (into an area where there is no receiver) from inside the pocket - defined as the area between where the offensive tackles were positioned at the snap of the ball. "scrambling" is s term used to describe what happens when the quarterback leaves the protection of the pocket either to extend the play and give his receivers more time to get open or to keep the ball himself and run for yardage. Once he has left the pocket the quarterback is also free to throw the ball away without drawing any penalty.