# Checkdown

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Checkdown
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Checkdown.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Checkdown
> Source revision: 1235600804
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|Type of pass in American or Canadian football}}
{{refimprove|date=November 2019}}
In [gridiron football](/source/gridiron_football), a '''checkdown''' [pass](/source/Forward_pass) is when the [quarterback](/source/quarterback) attempts to complete a short, accurate pass, typically to a [running back](/source/running_back) or [tight end](/source/tight_end), as a last option when the primary option(s) as designed by the play call are covered. The term means that the quarterback has "checked down" his list of receivers. Because the quarterback does not look for the checkdown pass until after they have scanned for open receivers down the field for about 3–4 seconds, the [defensive line](/source/American_football_positions) has had time to enter the backfield and so a checkdown pass is often thrown in the face of pressure from the defensive line. Alternatively, if the quarterback is inexperienced or the defensive team has sent a [blitz](/source/Blitz_(American_football)), with [linebacker](/source/linebacker)s and/or [defensive back](/source/defensive_back)s also looking to sack the quarterback, the checkdown may also turn out to be the quarterback's second or even first look.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingcharts.com/dictionary/nfl/checkdown.aspx |title=Checkdown |website=sportingcharts.com|access-date=July 24, 2019}}</ref>

A [screen pass](/source/screen_pass) and a checkdown are different, because a screen pass is designed primarily to go to the short route after drawing in pass rushers.

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Gridiron football plays}}

Category:American football plays

{{Americanfootball-stub}}

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Checkdown](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Checkdown) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Checkdown?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.