Running the Nickel Defense

Depending on the opponent, a football team might never use a basic defensive formation. In 2011, many teams attempts more passes than runs, especially at the higher levels, which has lead to a rise in the nickel defense. However, running a nickel defense does not guarantee success against passing plays because a team needs quality players to fill the roles in a nickel package.

  1. Identification

    • The base defense in football consists of two outside linebackers, two linebackers on the inside and a tackle surrounded by two ends -- called a 3-4 formation. A team can substitute a linebacker with another tackle for a 4-3 formation. In either the 4-3 or 3-4 formation, the team has two defenders behind the line called cornerbacks and two defenders behind the cornerbacks called safeties. The nickel formation takes the 4-3 position, removes the inside linebacker and substitutes him with a cornerback for a total of five defense backs.

    Function

    • Coaches often play a nickel defense against teams that like to pass. In the National Football League, teams frequently substitute the fullback position -- usually a large and muscular player used to break through a tough defensive line -- for an extra receiver. Linebackers tend to have a large amount of bulk and little agility, so a quality wide receiver can evade a linebacker. Thus, a team defending against three wide receivers tends to make more stops with a nickel formation than a basic defense. Teams sometimes call the fifth defensive back a "nickelback."

    Variants

    • Some situations call for even greater pass protection than what a basic nickel formation provides. For example, a team might run a nick 5 zone -- where the best defensive backs align with the opponent's best receivers. A team can run a dime defense for maximum pass protection. In the dime formation, the team takes out one of the two remaining tackles and substitutes him for a second nickelback.

    Tips

    • Defending against a passing team with the nickel defense requires tall, strong and fast players to fill the cornerback slot. For example, the Pro Football Hall of Fame lists former Pittsburgh Steeler Mel Blount at 6 feet, 3 inches tall and 205 pounds as the prototypical cornerback. Running the nickel has some disadvantages, such as leaving the defense more vulnerable to a running play.