prevent defense

American  

noun

Football.

1. the defensive strategy of adding a defender to prevent completion of a long pass or other long gain.

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Example Sentences

"In football parlance, we were in a prevent defense to not lose when we never had anything to lose because I don’t think we were ever ahead."

From Salon • Mar. 9, 2025

The requests were made to prevent defense counsel and/or their client from trying to “poison these proceedings” and intentionally turning the trial “into a circus.”

From Slate • Jan. 16, 2024

And it remains unclear whether renouncing the 2009 document will prevent defense lawyers in future cases from using similar victim-blaming concepts — just with alternative terminology.

From Scientific American • Oct. 16, 2023

So, one resolution down and the other in a prevent defense.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 5, 2021

District Judge Paul G. Gardephe to prevent defense lawyers from mentioning Daniels and Trump, but the judge said it would be impossible because it would otherwise seem “Avenatti suddenly became this incredibly public lawyer magically.”

From Seattle Times • Jan. 29, 2020