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The original was posted on /r/cfb by /u/Junior-Air-6807 on 2024-09-07 01:54:42+00:00.
I see this parroted a lot in the in-game threads and I don’t think a lot of people know what this means. I saw it during the GT-FSU game and the LSU-USC game, along with basically any game where a team is attempting to establish the run but are having difficulty doing so.
I think a lot of people see a team struggle to run the ball, and they say that they’re running into a stacked box without actually counting the amount of players in the box. They either assume that no one is going to correct them, or they don’t know that what they’re saying isn’t true. Stacking the box means that the defense is bringing in extra players near the line of scrimmage to have a numbers advantage in the run game, and to pressure the QB on pass plays.
In the GT-FSU game, GT had 6 players in the box the majority of the game. Sometimes 7, and every now and then 8, but FSU actually passed on two of the very few plays that GT had 8 in the box. GT was just getting a lot of penetration from their line and their linebackers were playing their responsibilities beautifully.
Same thing with USC against LSU. USC generally had 6 players in the box. We generally have either one or two tight ends on the field at one time.They didn’t have a numbers advantage, their line was just handling our line and we weren’t getting any push. Now these are just two example from this year, but I literally see it mentioned all of the time. A lot of the time, the offense will have a heavy set on the field and so the defense will match that personnel and bring in extra bodies. This isn’t stacking the box either, it’s just… matching personnel. Do they have a better chance at stopping the run by doing this? Of course, but when the offense has 5 lineman on the LOS and 3 tight ends, and the defense comes out in a 4-4 or a 5-2, then that’s not stacking the box either.
So tomorrow, if you’re reading this, and you’re one of the people who likes to point out that there’s a stacked box, just do me a favor and count the players in the box real quick before the ball is snapped, before you make the post.