The Nickel Defenses

By Scott Carasik

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Overview

For the Nickel Defense, I am only going over the 4-2-5 alignment as I feel the 2-4-5 alignment and the 3-3-5 alignment aren't too much different in the responsibilities for any of the members. The Nickel defense is used by every team in some variation in a 2nd and long or any situation where they are expecting 3-4 receivers on the field.

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. The Linebackers are in indentical spots 5 yards back from the B-gaps. The seafeties are lined up in the traditional alignment with the FS 10-12 yards back and across from the weakside OT, the SS 8-10 yards back and across from the strongside OT. The Corners are matched up directly across from the WR's.

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 Linebackers are both normally in charge of identical intermediate zones or will be in man coverage on the tE or RB on their side of the field. They are also sometimes sent in blitzes to create some extra pressure. The Ideal players for this scheme based on the roles in the 2011 draft:

Strongside OLB "Sam" - Quan Sturdivant, played 4-3 OLB at the University of North Carolina

Weakside OLB "Will" - 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 corner in particular needs to be a true playmaker 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

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