Quarterback sack facts for kids
A quarterback sack is an exciting play in American football. It happens when a defensive player tackles the quarterback behind the line where the play started. When this happens, the offensive team loses yards instead of gaining them. It's a big win for the defense!
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What is a Quarterback Sack?
A quarterback sack is when a defensive player tackles the quarterback before they can throw the ball or run past the line of scrimmage. The line of scrimmage is an imaginary line where the ball is placed at the start of each play. If the quarterback is tackled behind this line, their team loses yards. This is called a "loss of yardage."
How Does a Sack Happen?
Defensive players, often called defensive ends or defensive tackles, try to get past the offensive players (called the offensive line) to reach the quarterback. This is called "rushing the passer." If they succeed in tackling the quarterback before he can make a play, it's a sack!
Why Defenders Rush the Quarterback
Defenders want to sack the quarterback for a few reasons:
- To stop the offense from gaining yards.
- To force the offense into a difficult situation, like needing to gain a lot of yards on the next play.
- To make the quarterback feel pressured and perhaps make a mistake, like throwing an interception or fumbling the ball.
Why Are Sacks Important?
Sacks are important because they can change the momentum of a game. They show that the defense is strong and can stop the offense. For the offense, a sack means they are now further away from scoring.
Impact on the Game
- Loss of Yards: The most direct impact is losing yards, which makes it harder to get a first down or score.
- Loss of Down: A sack also counts as one of the four downs an offense has to gain ten yards.
- Team Morale: A big sack can really boost the spirits of the defensive team and their fans, while making the offensive team feel frustrated.
Famous Sacks and Records
Some players are known for being very good at sacking quarterbacks. They are often strong, fast, and smart about how they get past the offensive line.
NFL Sack Records
In the National Football League (NFL), there have been many amazing sack artists. One famous record belongs to Michael Strahan, a defensive end for the New York Giants. In the 2002 season, he made 22.5 sacks, which is still the most sacks by one player in a single NFL season!
Images for kids
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Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers being sacked by Seattle defensive end Patrick Kerney in 2009.
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A BYU quarterback being sacked by Air Force.
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A quarterback under pressure.
See also
In Spanish: Quarterback sack para niños
