Glossary
Cushion
DefenseTechniqueCBS
What it is
The distance a defender keeps between himself and the receiver — the thing he is trading for time.
Why it matters
Cushion is a budget, not a comfort: too much and every underneath route is open, too little and a double move has nothing left behind it. It is coached as a number tied to the call — a Cover 3 corner keeps more than a Cover 2 corner because he owns the deep third alone. The mistake to watch for is a defender losing cushion without knowing it, because the receiver closed it for him at full speed.
Also called
Programs call this cushion, buffer or keep the cushion. The Coach answers to any of them.
Related
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