In American football, the dime defense is a defensive alignment that uses six defensive backs. It is usually employed in obvious passing situations. A dime defense differs from the nickel defense – from which it derives its name – in that it adds a sixth defensive back to the secondary.

What does it mean to throw a dime in football?

Interestingly, the term drop a dime has also evolved into an American basketball term, dropping dimes, which means giving an assist on a play. Also, the expression is increasingly seen in American football to mean to throw a pass accurately.

What are nickels and dimes in football?

A nickel back is a fifth defensive back and he replaces a linebacker, generally in passing situations. A dime back is a sixth defensive back and he’s going to replace either a linebacker or a possibly even a lineman in certain situations.

Why are good throws called dimes?

The passer is credited with an “assist” for this effort. The term in question seemed to have originated by persons “dropping dimes” to homeless persons to make a phone call if needed, as pay phones at the time cost 10 cents. Sadly, this form of charity was often done in a derogatory fashion as 911 calls are free.

What is a dime player?

The dimeback is considered a backup defender, typically played by a cornerback or safety. Dime backs are also called the “6th defender” and helps form the dime defensive scheme.

What is a nickel in football?

What is nickel package? Nickel means the defense will choose to substitute a fifth defensive back for the Will linebacker. The defense will then play with four down linemen, two linebackers and five defensive backs.

What does dropping dime mean?

In basketball, the term dropping dimes refers to an assist, in which a player will make a pass to a teammate which leads to scoring a basket. Putting a 10 cent coin into the payphone was known as dropping a dime. A dime may be an easy or difficult pass that would lead to a score in basketball.

What is a SAM linebacker?

The middle linebacker is designated “Mike” (or “Mac”) and two outside linebackers are designated “Sam” and “Will” according to how they line up against the offensive formation. If there is a strong call, the linebacker on the strongside is called “Sam”, while the linebacker on the weakside is called “Will”.

What’s a Tampa 2 defense?

The Tampa 2 is typically employed out of a 4–3 defensive alignment, which consists of four linemen, three linebackers, two cornerbacks, and two safeties. The defense is similar to a Cover 2 defense, except the middle linebacker drops into a deep middle coverage for a Cover 3 when he reads a pass play.

What is a cover 3 defense?

Cover 3 is a three-deep, four-under zone defense run out of both base and sub-package personnel at the NFL level. A scheme that shows up often in early down-and-distance situations to create an eight-man front, Cover 3 is a first-day-install defense.

Why are assists dimes?

A “ten” means “perfect”; thus, an assist may be called a dime because one player perfectly throws or passes the ball to his teammate leading to a score.

What does it mean to call a girl dime?

Dime is still used as a teenage slang synonym for a beautiful woman. This stems from the 1979 movie ”10,” starring Bo Derek, and is rooted in ”On a scale from 1 to 10, she’s a 10. ” She is now a dime.

What is a dime and nickel?

A dime is worth 10 cents and a nickel is worth 5 cents. Therefore two nickels are worth the same as one dime. Both the nickel and dime coins are silver in colour but the main difference between them is the size. Although the dime is worth more, it is smaller than the nickel coin.

How many linebackers are in a dime?

The Dime defense was traditionally used in obvious passing situations, as it helps defend against the pass because it involves having six defensive backs on the field and only one linebacker.