In football, pick is another way to say interception, especially when a player returns an interception for a touchdown.
As with picking a fruit from a tree, a defender can intercept a pass intended for a wide receiver.
In case you are not familiar with the term, an interception is when the quarterback’s pass is intercepted by a defender.
It is almost always referred to as a pick six when an interception is returned for a touchdown.
A pick-six is a play that features an interception and earns the team six points.
This means that a play in which an interception is returned for a touchdown will earn you six points before the extra point is attempted.
The term pick can also be used in other sports
Picks in football are generally interceptions, but they can also refer to other things.
When a wide receiver gets in the way of the defender of an opposing team on a pick play, it is an offensive play.
As if you were guarding your teammate, you must put your body in front of the defender.
It makes it more difficult for the defender to keep close to your teammate.
Generally speaking, pick plays are executed by wide receivers against defensive backs. Two receivers will run routes very close to one another. As the routes intersect, one offensive player will block the defender’s path.
The defensive player covering the receiver had to go around the other receiver, resulting in separation.
It is often ruled illegal because offensive players cannot intentionally make contact with defenders.
What are the Picks?
In football, a pick is a play that is run by a player on the field.
Corner Backs
It is common for cornerbacks to be picked first during drafts. In football, some cornerbacks will line up wide from formations near the sidelines.
It is their primary responsibility to prevent quarterbacks from catching passes from wide receivers.
They will cover specific players or areas of the field on passing plays.
When the ball comes their way, they want to break up the pass to prevent the receiver from catching it.
There are, however, times when the cornerback is given a great opportunity to intercept a ball.
In a game with a lot of throws, cornerbacks have a lot of opportunities to earn a pick.
Because the players are far from the formation, sometimes they can turn those picks into pick-sixes.
Safeties
In football, safety is the next most likely position to record interceptions. They are the team’s last line of defense.
Their job is to keep the opposing team from completing deep passes down the field by lining up the furthest back from the offense.
It is common for the quarterback to throw an inaccurate pass when covering deep passes. With the safeties waiting deep in the defensive backfield, they will have a much better chance of getting to the ball before the wide receivers.
Furthermore, cornerbacks in man coverage will follow their wide receivers down the field, resulting in many deep throws being intercepted.
Having another defender to tackle if they miss lets the defenders take a little more risk when trying to get a pick.