Welcome to the Golden Age of the Nickel Defender
Welcome to the Golden Age of the Nickel Defender
One of the key components of a modern defense is the Nickel position, as sub-packages have become the new Base. I examine the NFL's Nickel position through the lens of Titans' DB Roger McCreary.
As more offenses transitioned into the NFL Spread era, the natural reaction for defenses was to get lighter. The NFL's use of ‘Base’ defense (4-3/3-4) has dropped in the last five years from ~27% to 21.2% this past season. During that time, most NFL defenses shifted to different versions of Nickel. In 2019, the average NFL defense used a five DB alignment on 55.5% of their plays. Today, that number sits at ~67% (PFF).
Nickel is the new Base. Only the Buccaneers and Steelers ran a traditional Base defense on more than a third of their snaps. As stated, the average NFL defense uses Base on one out of every five snaps.
Personnel on the defensive side of the ball has predictably gotten ‘smaller’ and more athletic, which is why teams are scouring the earth for hybrid defenders that can play in multiple positions on the field. The NFL goes through predictable cycles, and we are beginning to see the next phase.
Offenses are starting to use 12 pers. and 21 pers. (and even 13 pers.) at higher rates. These ‘bigger’ formations force the defense to make choices about personnel. The problem now is that the Spread has won, and we are not returning to the days of Neandertal ball or three yards and a cloud of dust. You don’t pay QBs like Patrick Mahomes half a billion dollars to hand the ball off to a RB.
The choices defenses must make rely on how they plan to fit the box. Passing the ball is still a premium, so coverage defenders are a priority. Pass rush and, more importantly, pressure rates are also a premium for the modern defense. Still, stopping the run must be emphasized.
Defenses must now weigh how they match up against their opponent’s personnel. A great example of this is the 49ers and Dolphins. Both teams utilize 21 pers., but in different ways. In San Fransisco, Kyle Shanahan has taken his father’s wide zone boot-action offenses and modified it to fit the Spread era.
Defenses must decide if they want to run a Base or a subpackage. Go light, and Shanahan will bully you in the run game, then use play-action to take the top off.
Shanahan also uses a collection of hybrid players to create mismatches. When utilizing a Base defense, the 49ers have multiple ways to attack slower defenders in the passing game. RB Christian McCaffery and WR Deebo Samuel can be used in almost every position on the field to get the defense into a bind. TE George Kittle is also a match-up nightmare, as the tweet from Field Vision Sports illustrates. He’s the #2 receiving threat on Go routes in the NFL.
The Dolphins offense, a derivative of the Shanahan system, has been built off elite speed. It’s the equivalent of a meme offense. Everyone is fast! Playing Base against them can spell disaster because few LBs can match up with their RBs. Get too many smaller defenders on the field; they can still run it down your throat. Welcome to the modern game.
One of the fulcrums of a modern defense is the Nickel position. The train of thought for defenses is to draft a few Edges and CBs every year, hoping you will hit on an elite one. Everyone at CB wants an outside ballhawk, but teams prioritize the Nickel position when scouting college players as we get further down the road.
The 2022 NFL Draft class of CBs may be one of the best, especially for Nickel defenders. Above is a list of all the starters from that class. The only true ‘bust’ so far is probably Kaiir Elam, who was drafted in the 1st Round and currently backs up the Bills’ 6th Round draft pick from that class in Christian Benford. Another name that was drafted high and is struggling to find playing time is Vikings 2nd Round pick Andrew Booth, who is behind starting CB Akayleb Evans (4th Round) on the depth chart.
From that group, there are four of the best Nickel CBs in the NFL. The Chiefs Trent McDuffie was an All-Pro pro this year. Kyler Gordon (Bears), Alontae Taylor (Saints), and Roger McCreary (Titans) are also all highly regarded. Kader Kohou (Dolphins) earned a spot on the NFL’s All-Rookie teams as an undrafted free agent Ni.
Outside, DaRon Bland and Sauce Gardner are All-Pros at CB. Derek Stingley (Texans), Martin Emerson Jr. (Browns), and ‘Riq Woolen are all considered elite man CBs, with the former two already considered some of the best CBs in the game. The ‘22 class is an all-timer regarding DBs.
Technically, a Safety, Kyle Hamilton, spends a lot of time in the Slot and is also from this class along with Quinton Lake (Rams). Hamilton is seen as a rising star who has the potential to become another Hall of Fame DB for Baltimore.
Primary Safeties from this class include Dax Hill (Bengals), Jalen Pitre (Texans), Jaquan Brisker (Bears), Nick Cross (Colts), Kirby Joesph (Lions), and Percy Bulter (Commanders). All have started in the NFL. Excuse me if I missed one.
The NFL is seeing the beginning of a golden age in DB play. The decline of man coverage, primarily because of offensive design and rules limiting contact down the field, has opened the door for more players to make an impact. Elite athleticism is still a premium, but DBs with a vast toolbox are required in the modern game. Zone has become the modis operindie in the league outside Cleveland and Dallas (now Washington).
The slot position has become a focal point for defensive success. Since coverage is a premium, CBs that can play near the box are valued more than a true Slot ‘cover man.’
Nickels have to understand more than just man coverage from the inside. They have to fit the box, adjust to motions, and play a vast amount of coverage techniques. A Slot CB that matches up near the box is a cheat code for a modern defense because they don’t have to change personnel.
One of the best examples of positional diversity from the ‘22 class is the Titans’ Roger McCreary. Though Tennessee is near the bottom of Nickel usage, that doesn’t mean he leaves the field. Along with the Chiefs’ McDuffie and the Ravens’ Hamilton, McCreary also starts in Base, moving to outside CB. Having that kind of elite skill set is why the Titans have one the best examples of a modern Nickel CB in the NFL.
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