backfield

back·field | \ ˈbak-ˌfēld

How to pronounce backfield (audio)

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Definition of backfield

: the football players whose positions are behind the line of scrimmage also : the positions themselves

Examples of backfield in a Sentence

a tackle made in the backfield The team has a strong backfield.

Recent Examples on the Web Releasing the two-time Pro Bowl selection would yield $3.5 million in savings, and the Falcons could draft a replacement to join Ito Smith in the backfield. — Michael Middlehurst-schwartz, USA TODAY, "NFL cut candidates: 13 notable players who could be on chopping block in 2020 offseason," 11 Feb. 2020 All four Chiefs in the backfield spun around before the snap. — Washington Post, "Super Rally: Mahomes, Chiefs win Super Bowl with late surge," 3 Feb. 2020 All four players in the backfield spun, presnap, to their right and Damien Williams took a direct snap and gained four yards for the first down. — Dan Labbe, cleveland, "Chiefs use play from 1948 in Super Bowl LIV win," 3 Feb. 2020 The defense has no choice but to move along with the shuffling line, trying to penetrate the wall of blockers that Shanahan has set in motion and get to the running back in the backfield. — John Hirschauer, National Review, "Kyle Shanahan’s Revolution," 2 Feb. 2020 Oh, and Kansas City has Damien Williams and LeSean McCoy in the backfield. — oregonlive, "Super Bowl 2020: 5 reasons why Kansas City will defeat the San Francisco 49ers," 1 Feb. 2020 The Eagles caught lightning in a bottle with the two doppelgängers in the backfield this season, combining for 2,501 yards, 21 touchdowns, and a long trail of roadkill in their wake. — BostonGlobe.com, "Almost daily, Dillon will text Bailey little bursts of motivation to prepare the sophomore for the stage he’s about to step on.," 2 Jan. 2020 Ehlinger’s exit would position redshirt freshman Casey Thompson as the leading candidate to start in 2020, with true freshman Roschon Johnson potentially moving back into the quarterback room after an effective season in the backfield. — Nick Moyle, Houston Chronicle, "Texas QB Sam Ehlinger weighing all his options, including the NFL," 29 Dec. 2019 Lewis' film shows a player explosive off the ball with good pad level, productive at the point of attack and constantly in the backfield. — Zach Osterman, Indianapolis Star, "Insider: Three IU football recruits to watch," 18 Dec. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'backfield.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

16 Feb 2020

Cite this Entry

“Backfield.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backfield. Accessed 19 Feb. 2020.

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