dime

Defense

also: dime package · quarter package

Six defensive backs. The package past nickel, used when the defense has decided the offense is throwing and has stopped pretending otherwise.

Defense

dime, the package

A sixth defensive back comes on, normally for a second linebacker. The name continues the coin joke: nickel is five backs, dime is two nickels and therefore six.

Beyond dime some programs use quarter, meaning seven defensive backs, which is a professional and college situation more than a high school one. The tradeoff is stated by the personnel itself: a defense in dime has traded its ability to defend a run for its ability to cover, and a good offense's answer is usually to run at it.

Also calleddime package
Not to be confused withnickel, quarter package

Where you will hear it

  • pass-defense packages at high school level and above

By level

Rare below high school, and rare in high school programs without the roster to field six defensive backs who can actually cover. Where it appears at youth level it is usually a goal-line-of-the-air situation rather than a real package.

Related terms