Passing pocket
The passing pocket, usually referred to as the pocket, is a term used in American football to describe the area in the backfield created on a passing play where the offensive line forms a wall of protection around the quarterback. This allows him adequate time to find an open receiver and to pass the ball. The offensive line will drop back slightly, creating a U-shaped protected area for the quarterback to find an open receiver and pass the ball.
If the quarterback is unable to find an open receiver, he will attempt to run the ball himself, throw the ball out of bounds to prevent a sack and/or turnover, or if there is no lane, may collapse to the ground to protect the ball and try to avoid a fumble. Even with a well structured offensive line, the quarterback only has seconds to pass the ball within the pocket. Moving the pocket can help avoid a sack. When that fails, quarterbacks may scramble, either to gain more time for the wide receivers, to avoid a sack, or to rush the ball. Quarterbacks are judged significantly on their ability to make decisions based on the status of the pocket before it is collapsed by the defensive line, a skill called pocket awareness.
Quarterbacks who primarily operate within the pocket are known as pocket passers and are generally known for their focus on arm power, accuracy, pocket presence and their lack of mobility outside of the pocket. Pocket passers have been a fixture of quarterback play during much of the game's history and are often contrasted with dual-threat quarterbacks, who are adept at both running and passing the ball. Notable quarterbacks who were generally known as pocket passers include Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Dan Marino, Kurt Warner, and Drew Bledsoe.
Tackle box structure
The area between the two tackles on the offensive line is referred to as the tackle box. This area itself can be formed using different types of protections to keep the quarterback safe. The offensive tackles set the depth of the tackle box by kick sliding back to around six yards after the snap of the ball. The guards are next in depth and will drop back to around three to four yards and will defend the middle of the pocket along with the center. The different drop-back depths of the linemen helps to create enough space for the quarterback to go through his throwing motion. Sometimes tight ends and running backs may be used as extra blockers to solidify the pocket.Pocket protection packages
There are many different player personnel packages that can be used to protect the quarterback. For example, the pocket could be protected by five linemen, two tight ends, and two running backs. When two running backs are used, they do constitute the tackle box but they are typically used to clear any stray rushers that may get past the inner linemen. They are used to create more space for the quarterback to step into in order to make a good throw. There can be one or two running backs used along with one or two tight ends depending on the packages that are called for. Sometimes, running backs and tight ends will partially block an advancing defender quickly, or what's known as "chip blocking" an advancing defender, and then they will run their receiving route.Tight ends can do the same thing, which means that the tackles would then have to set the depth of the tackle box.