Nickle and Dime Players

[svendraconian]

I read through the Defensive Philosophy page - I finally learned some things about the game and I think I actually understand a little more 'behind the scenes' now.

One question that it does leave me with is - what am I looking for in a nickle?

The nickle replaces a LB. Either the SAM in a 4-3 or a ILB in a 3-4. That turns the defense into a 4-2 or a 3-3, both are fairly common in the NFL today, ubiquitous in college. So far I'm on the same page.

But where do those players actually lineup? What am I looking for personnel wise? Are they literally taking the place of a LB and aligning in the box - meaning I need a heavier player who can defend the run (A safety) or are they aligning out over the slot. Or do they align over a WR and bump the starting CB inside?

Do they have a role in run defense (more of a safety) or are they more of a corner and the SS is going to play in that spot. Does it just depend on what coverage I call?

REX always wants to be a more "true" cover guy in that spot. However, my real life experience is that the "nickle" they are talking about is a true hybrid type who can play the run and cover (think Jabril Peppers / Honey Badger ). In fact "real" NFL teams will often put the nickle back in coverage and move the SS up (Bob Sanders and Troy Polamalu are a prime example here).

Tldr; do I want a "safety" who can defend the run, or do a I want a corner?

[Sharkn20]

I read through the Defensive Philosophy page - I finally learned some things about the game and I think I actually understand a little more 'behind the scenes' now.

One question that it does leave me with is - what am I looking for in a nickle?

The nickle replaces a LB. Either the SAM in a 4-3 or a ILB in a 3-4. That turns the defense into a 4-2 or a 3-3, both are fairly common in the NFL today, ubiquitous in college. So far I'm on the same page.

But where do those players actually lineup? What am I looking for personnel wise? Are they literally taking the place of a LB and aligning in the box - meaning I need a heavier player who can defend the run (A safety) or are they aligning out over the slot. Or do they align over a WR and bump the starting CB inside?

Do they have a role in run defense (more of a safety) or are they more of a corner and the SS is going to play in that spot. Does it just depend on what coverage I call?

REX always wants to be a more "true" cover guy in that spot. However, my real life experience is that the "nickle" they are talking about is a true hybrid type who can play the run and cover (think Jabril Peppers / Honey Badger ). In fact "real" NFL teams will often put the nickle back in coverage and move the SS up (Bob Sanders and Troy Polamalu are a prime example here).

Tldr; do I want a "safety" who can defend the run, or do a I want a corner?

You want your best Safety there basically, so he can Stuff the run or Cover the quick slot WR. However is hard to find the balance as if it's a pass a CB would be better, but if it's a run a LB would be preferable. That's why I think your best Safety is tbe guy who better suits that position.

[yabanci]

I read through the Defensive Philosophy page - I finally learned some things about the game and I think I actually understand a little more 'behind the scenes' now.

One question that it does leave me with is - what am I looking for in a nickle?

The nickle replaces a LB. Either the SAM in a 4-3 or a ILB in a 3-4. That turns the defense into a 4-2 or a 3-3, both are fairly common in the NFL today, ubiquitous in college. So far I'm on the same page.

But where do those players actually lineup? What am I looking for personnel wise? Are they literally taking the place of a LB and aligning in the box - meaning I need a heavier player who can defend the run (A safety) or are they aligning out over the slot. Or do they align over a WR and bump the starting CB inside?

Do they have a role in run defense (more of a safety) or are they more of a corner and the SS is going to play in that spot. Does it just depend on what coverage I call?

REX always wants to be a more "true" cover guy in that spot. However, my real life experience is that the "nickle" they are talking about is a true hybrid type who can play the run and cover (think Jabril Peppers / Honey Badger ). In fact "real" NFL teams will often put the nickle back in coverage and move the SS up (Bob Sanders and Troy Polamalu are a prime example here).

Tldr; do I want a "safety" who can defend the run, or do a I want a corner?

Check the defensive philosophy part of the help file, it has diagrams where the nickel back lines up in each of the four fronts. Usually the nickel back is a cornerback, but it's not the same for every team. Some teams bring in a specialized slot corner off the bench, others like the Broncos move their outside corner into the slot and replace him outside with another corner off the bench, the Cardinals move Tyron Mattieu from safety to slot corner. Often it just depends on your personnel and what type of slot receiver the offense has (big, small, etc)

As for FOF8, I'm not sure yet which works better, a CB or S. In past versions it's been a CB but it might not matter much anymore.

Here's a good article on the subject, though it's a few years old:

Shaping the Slot: Defense | PFF (https://www.profootballfocus.com/shaping-the-slot-defense/)