What is meant by "8 in the box"

[ncbama]

There are a lot of terms I don't understand about today's game. I see terms like "stacking the box" and "8 in the box" etc. but I have no idea what that means. I had assumed that it meant an 8 man line, but that is one dimensional whereas a "box" is three dimensional. Another is "coming out empty."
I don't need a complete glossary of terms, but it would help to know what the above means.

Thanks

 

[BayouBama75]

Coming out empty mean no backs in the back field with the QB
I have always considered the box to be within 3 yards of the LOS and between the ends/tackles

 

[RedStar]

It means there's 8 guys in the "box" just behind the defensive line and in front of the safeties. When you see that many guys in that area, it generally means they're anticipating a running play.

What context do you mean when you say "coming out empty?"

 

[Honden]

" Come away empty" would refer to an unsuccessful trip to the red zone ( within the opponents 20yd line.

I have never heard the term " Come OUT empty ", but assume that ( as answered before ) it could refer to an empty backfield.

I too see "8 in the box" as something like a 4-4-3 defensive alignment, possibly even a 5-3.

 

[twofbyc]

Coming out empty mean no backs in the back field with the QB
I have always considered the box to be within 3 yards of the LOS and between the ends/tackles

pretty much it...inside of a line 2-3 yds from the LOS (somewhat parallel), and perpendicular from the DE (rectangle, not a box...and might even be a trapezoid :biggrin...at least, that's the way I always thought of it.

 

[davefrat]

tried to diagram it and it came out all wrong...sorry.

 

[crimsonaudio]

Most commonly it's bringing a safety up to help stop the run, so you have your 4-3 or 3-4 alignments with the safety up in the box for run support. It can also men bringing a corner over and 'compressing' the LB corps in order to hit the gaps, but typically refers to bringing a safety up.

If you have little / no passing attack or have a very good running attack, it's common for the defense to stack an 8 or 9 man box to force you to throw. Very difficult for even the best running teams to get past an 8-9 man front (see last week's game).

 

[BayAreaBama]

If you are referring to situations like when Coach Saban says Florida has formations where they are "in empty," he is referring to there being no backs in the backfield.

 

[MidWest Falcon]

There are a lot of terms I don't understand about today's game. I see terms like "stacking the box" and "8 in the box" etc. but I have no idea what that means. I had assumed that it meant an 8 man line, but that is one dimensional whereas a "box" is three dimensional. Another is "coming out empty."
I don't need a complete glossary of terms, but it would help to know what the above means.

Thanks

To clarify even more.

There are usually 7 players in the "Box". Bama runs a 3-4 scheme so that means we have 3 "down" lineman and 4 linebackers which equals a total of 7. Most teams run your typical 4-3 defense which means 4 down lineman and 3 linebackers. When a defense is anticipating a run a saftey will shift down to almost linebacker depth, which now puts 8 in the box. Hope that cleared that up.

Everyone has addressed the "Empty" formation. No back in the back field....but Florida also runs some funky formations where there are backs but they are not a threat to run the ball....so it's still an empty formation (these backs are usually "H" backs that in a 3 point stance in front of Tebow)

 

[AlistarWills]

"The Box" is also known as the "Tackle Box" and is referenced in offensive terminology as well. "The Tackle Box" is offensive tackle to offensive tackle and 5 yds on either side of the line of scrimmage. You'll see it referred to in relation to intentional grounding calls because the QB has to be out of "the box" to avoid just randomly throwing the ball down field to avoid a sack. In reference to your question, it involves packing 8 men inside the tackle to tackle box and within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage in order to stop the run.

 

[BamaFlum]

DE DT DT DE
SS LB LB LB LB

That is eight men in the box, or at least one version of it.

 

[cbi1972]

DE DT DT DE
SS LB LB LB LB

That is eight men in the box, or at least one version of it.

That's nine.

 

[briancm]

You could add to your list the Auburn "Cluster Fork" formation. That is where the wide outs line up with thier backs to the defense and then when the ball is snapped, everyone runs in a different direction.

 

[UAME]

Just to pile on:

Most offensive blocking schemes for running plays account for the tackle box to be defended by 7 men. And, for example, let's think of a Bama's single back offensive formation with a TE and H-back (really a 2nd TE) and 2 WRs. On a running play, the QB doesn't block, and the 2 WRs aren't in the "box" - so we will assume that the defensive backs defending those 2 WRs won't be in the "box" either. That then leaves the RB to carry the ball and 7 offensive blockers (5 OL, 2 TEs) to block against the defensive alignment in the box. Using the "hat-on-a-hat" mentality, the offense has enough blockers to account for 7 defenders. If the 8th man comes into the box, then he is going to be unblocked.

That is one reason for the success of these Wildcat offenses. Coach Saban refers to it as "creating an extra gap." What he means is that the QB position is eliminated and in effect adds another blocker - in practice, this might just mean that McElroy lines up wide and pulls a defender out of the "box" to respect the threat of another receiver - but it has the same effect as making a block in that the defender can't make a play "in the box."

 

[runtheoption22]

Not including the deep safety, there are technically 8 in the box here.

 

[MidWest Falcon]

Not including the deep safety, there are technically 8 in the box here.

Exactly :hurray:

 

[Hal Bennett]

When I played high school ball, back in the dark ages (late fifties), I never heard the term "Box," and I don't remember it coming in until maybe ten or fifteen years ago.

What we heard back then WAS "eight men on the line of scrimmage."

Our head coach, Jim Bain, was second string quarterback at Mississippi State, and he taught us to run and PASS the ball.

When he left before my 11th grade year, a new coach came in, and we didn't throw one pass until the last game of the year. Meanwhile Jim Bain had moved eight miles away to coach our rival. When our game with that rival team came up about the fifth game of the season, Jim put eight men on the line. He had a little loud-mouthed, one-armed linebacker backing up the line, and two defensive backs behind him. Our coach STILL never had us pass the ball. They beat us 38-6.

Years later I called Jim up, and when I brought up the subject of his successor never having us pass until the last game, Jim said, "He had three plays." I knew what he meant -- quickie on the left side, fullback up the middle on the belly series, and left halfback off right tackle on the belly series.