The Dime Defenses

By Scott Carasik

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Overview

For the Dime defense, I am going to do the same as I did with the Nickel and just cover the 4-1-6 alignment as opposed to the 3-2-6 because the responsibilities are not too different in the 3-2-6 or the 4-1-6. The Dime defense is used by almost every defense and normally when they are expecting 4-5 WR sets or in a 3rd and long situation.

The defensive line will be in your traditional 1-gap 4-3 under alignment. The DE's will be lined up in identical spots on the outside shoulders of the OT's. The Nose Tackle is in the 1-tech lined up in the strongside A-gap. The Under Tackle is in the 3-tech in the weakside B-gap. There is one LB in a spot 5 yards back from the LOS and across from the Center. The four corners are lined up across from the WR's. The Safeties are 10-12 yards back and across from the OTs on either side.

Defensive Line Responsibilities

The roles for this scheme are very simple. In the run game, the players will cover the gaps in front of them in the running game and penetrate. In the passing game they will be stunting, rolling, and just plain out, shooting the gaps to get after the QB. The Ideal players for this scheme based on the roles in the 2011 draft:

Strongside DE - Da'Quan Bowers, played 4-3 DE at Clemson University

Nose Tackle - Marcell Dareus, played 3-4 DE at the University of Alabama

Under Tackle - Nick Fairley, played 4-3 DT at Auburn University

Weakside DE - Robert Quinn, played 4-3 DE at University of North Carolina

Linebacker Responsibilities

The Linebacker in this scheme is in charge of any sort of run that comes through. If there is a TE instead of a RB, his job is to man up. If there is a RB instead of a TE, he is supposed to play in a zone. If it is an empty set, he will likely be in a QB spy. The Linebacker in the Dime is normally the best all-around linebacker on your team. The Ideal players for this scheme based on the roles in the 2011 draft:

LB - Bruce Carter, played 4-3 OLB at the University of North Carolina

Secondary Responsibilities

The safeties will tend to play over the top coverage in either deep zones or will help out in bracket coverages of the top WR's. The Corners will tend to play man to man coverage more than zone but should be adept in both. The nickel and dime corners in particular need to be true playmakers who can get some interceptions and pass deflections. The Ideal players for this scheme based on the roles in the 2011 draft:

#1 CB - Patrick Peterson, played CB at Louisiana State University

#2 CB - Prince Amukamura, played CB at the University of Wisconsin

#3 CB - Aaron Williams, played CB at the University of Texas

#4 CB - Brandon Harris, played CB at the University of Miami

Free Safety - Deunta Williams, played FS at the University of North Carolina

Strong Safety - Rahim Moore, played FS at the University of California-Los Angeles