Only Bet On The Nickel

Only Bet on the Nickel

Rick Flanders Defensive Coordinator Yale University New Haven, Conn.

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n behalf of the Yale University coaching staff and football team, I would like to thank the American Football Coaches Association for allowing us to be a small part in the AFCA Summer Manual. We are truly proud to be a part of such an outstanding organization. Over the last three years since Jack Siedlecki’s arrival at Yale University, we have gone from the bottom of the league to the top. Our first year, we gave up the most points and the most yards per game. This year, we led the Ivy League in both categories and believe that a firm commitment to a nickel package was fundamental in that turn around. With the help of our defensive staff, Shawn Halloran, Duane Brooks, Rob Neviaser and Kevin Cretella, we have taken that commitment and found ways to win games. Our base defense is a 3-4 front with a four-deep secondary. Within this regular personnel package, we have multiple fronts, stunts, coverages and base adjustments to anything an offense might show. We strive to be sound against everything from “empty” sets to unbalanced formations. We do not use multiple adjustments that tend to confuse the players. We believe that the multiplicity will come with our nickel or substitution teams. In our 10 game season, we had our nickel group (five defensive backs) on the field 40 percent of the plays (269 out of 687 total plays). We do not just use the nickel on third down or only in long situations. We try to match personnel a lot. If a team has three or four wideouts on the field on first down, they very well will be looking at a nickel defense. Nickel Slide Package Our starting point begins with the following four factors: 1. Basically a zone coverage defense. 2. Get four best pass rushers up front. 3. Play with three underneath defender (one must be a cover DB). 4. Play with a four-deep secondary. This package makes for better coverage capabilities than our base fronts because based on the offensive alignment, we might have five, six or seven players left in the box. The three underneath defenders “slide” to cover down on the three inside pass threats (See Diagrams 1 through 3). This package allows us to play coverage first, because all drop people are

• AFCA Summer Manual — 2000 •

Diagram 1: vs. Two Backs

Diagram 2: vs. One Back

Diagram 3: vs. Trips

aligned based on threats, not based on a front call like we do with regular personnel in our seven-man front. This also allows us to play any coverage concept that we have (robber, two-deep, quarters, man etc.) because we will never be outflaked by pass threats. For this package to be effective, you must practice it in all areas of the game. We play nickel slide in the inside run period of practice vs. the run sets we will face. Do not allow the players to think this scheme only matches against a pass team. We sell the concept of matching players not guessing run or pass. We play this concept in every game and we do not add or delete to this package based on opponent. The players believe it is a part of our base defense. As far as rushing the passer, we can only use the front four because we will not compromise the other seven players alignments to cover people down. In our opinion, that must be developed in another package. The slide concept also allows for a natural flow to a dime (six defensive backs) team. We usually only use this versus four or more wide receiver sets (Diagram 4).

Diagram 4: Dime

Nickel Red Package Our starting point begins with the following four factors: 1. Basically a man coverage defense. 2. Get four best pass rushers up front. 3. Play with two linebackers who are tied into the fronts and stunts. 4. Play with five defensive backs who must play man well. This package has no boundaries. We do some base things, but if we want to add something new (rush game, twist, take advantage of a protection tendency) game to game, it will be put into this package. We basically align the six people up front in three ways (see Diagrams 5 through 7).

Diagram 5: 3 Red

slide protections because there is a bigger question of who will rush and where. In three red stack and red bullet, we align five players on the line of scrimmage and try to get a man protection scheme. They will probably know who is coming, but we will look to get favorable match-ups. This also lends itself to quick two-man twist games. Every defensive staff needs someone to break down the opponents pass protection schemes and personnel. The nickel red package is our answer to his work and not making it go for naught! With the nickel red package, we mostly play a man-free coverage concept. We usually delegate a specific person to be free and match the other four defensive backs on the most dangerous pass threats. A linebacker is forced into man coverage, but we try to get the correct match-up for him. See Diagrams 8 through 10 for the man free match coverage. If we want to overload blitz and rush both linebackers, we use the same match look, but the free safety will pick up for the blitzing linebacker.

Diagram 8: vs. One Back

the man-free coverage, but to double or only help on one threat. (Most teams have that go-to-guy and I have worked in systems that had no answer to saying he will not beat us.) We only played that concept 14 times this season, but the main guy did not catch a ball in those situations. In conclusion, please take a hard look at this chart, which compares our nickel plays and our total defensive statistics. Hopefully, you’ll bet the nickel more this season.

Yale’s Nickel Impact Opponents Plays 3rd & 4th Down Con. Passing: Att./Comp./Pct./Int. Sacks

Season Totals 687 39/142 (27%) 319/184/58/14 34

Nickel Plays 267 (40%) 19/110 (17%) 195/89/45/11 11 I would also like to thank all those coaches who have influenced me these past 20 years to respect this game more now than when I first got started. It is the greatest team game of them all. Good luck this fall!

Speak Up For Football Diagram 6: 3 Red Stack Diagram 9: vs. Trips

Diagram 7: Red Bullet Diagram 10: vs. Two Backs

In three red, we like to overload blitz, which is helped by having two rushers on the second level. We tend to get more

The last concept that has been very good for us out of this package is to play

• AFCA Summer Manual — 2000 •

Coaches have many opportunities through media interviews, coaches’ radio and television shows, speeches, etc., to put in a good word about the sport and the profession. Always look to improve football’s image by saying something positive about the game. It will help all of those involved — players, coaches, officials, administrators and fans alike.