In college football, every week we see the diversity different offensive systems utilize. This has forced defenses to expand their substitution packages so they can matchup with the offensive personnel on the field. It is almost impossible, unless you want to stay very basic, to keep the same personnel on the field defensively against multiple-formation offenses.
What we will do in this week's class is explain nickel, dime and quarter defensive packages. Every team obviously uses different terminology for their substitution groupings, but for our class nickel will mean five defensive backs in the game, dime will mean six DBs and quarter will mean seven.
Base defense
The majority of college teams use a standard defense that employs four defensive backs on the field. It really doesn't matter up front if you use a 3-4 alignment with three down linemen and four linebackers or a 4-3 alignment with four down linemen and three linebackers. In the figure below, the defense is aligned in a base 4-3 defense with a standard 2-deep scheme behind it in the secondary. As long as the offense has its regular personnel on the field, there is no need to substitute an extra defensive back to match up. Regular personnel for the offense refers to one tight end, two running backs and two wide receivers. We will use the standard 2-deep zone and man-under coverage to illustrate why it is sometimes necessary to sometimes employ substitution defense. In the drawing below, you can see a 2-deep zone coverage and the Will linebacker in his standard curl drop. This is a solid matchup for the defense because the linebacker is not moved out in space and is zone dropping against a running back.
In the second figure, you see a 2-deep, man-under coverage. Once again because the offense has kept its regular personnel in the game, the linebacker is matched up on the running back. This is not a great matchup for the defense, but it is one where the defense has a better than average chance of being successful.
What is nickel package?
Nickel means the defense will choose to substitute a fifth defensive back for the Will linebacker. The defense will then play with four down linemen, two linebackers and five defensive backs. The nickel will be the adjuster. He will adjust to the formation to matchup with the third wide receiver the offense has put in the game. Whether you choose to play zone or man coverage, the fifth defensive back gives you a matchup on the offenses third wide receiver. Defenses will also substitute their four best rushers on the field, if their best pass rush combination is up front.
Why use the nickel?
If the offense chooses to play with three wide receivers instead of two in their regular grouping, they force the defense to adjust a linebacker to cover down and to play out in space on the wide receiver. Using the standard 2-deep shell to illustrate our point, we will show why it's important for the offense to substitute a fifth defensive back in the game to be able to handle this matchup.
If you keep the linebacker in the game, it is very difficult to play zone coverage on the third wide receiver and basically impossible to man-to-man coverage on him. By putting a nickel back in the game for the Will linebacker, you allow him to adjust whether it is zone or man-to-man. Below are the different formations the offense can use and how the nickel adjusts to the third wide receiver.
What is the dime package?
The dime package refers to six defensive backs on the field at the same time. The defense now employs four down linemen, one linebacker and six defensive backs. It is a lot like the nickel package. The only difference is a sixth defensive back for the Sam linebacker. The nickel and dime now play the roles of the Will and Sam linebacker.
Why use the dime?
Defenses will go to a dime package if the offense uses four wide receivers and plays without a tight end. Obviously, it's a lot like the nickel. As the nickel matched up with the third wide receiver, the dime will match up with the offenses fourth wide receiver. This prevents having the Sam linebacker from having the play in space. Below, you see how the dime adjusts to various four wide receiver sets allowing the defense to play man or zone.
The quarter package (prevent)
The quarter package refers to seven defensive backs on the field at the same time. Obviously, this package is used in very long down-and-distance situations and also prevent at the end of the game. The defense will send in a seventh DB and take out one of the down linemen. The defense goes with three down linemen, one linebacker and seven defensive backs. Basically, it is the same as the dime package for all the underneath coverages and adjustments. The quarter simply plugs in to the deep part of the secondary, which allows the defense to have an extra deep defender and play 3-deep coverage. This is a maximum coverage as you have five defenders covering the underneath zones and three defenders in deep coverage. The underneath coverage plays exactly like it does in dime coverage. The tradeoff is you only have a three-man rush.
Victory defense
All defensive teams have a "victory" defense for the last play of the game. Basically the right and left safeties are aligned 25 yards from the line of scrimmage and the quarter at 30 yards. The important thing is not where you align them, but the techniques they use on the last play of the game. You predetermine, based on where the ball is thrown, who can leap and make a play on the ball. You also designate which defensive back is deeper than the deepest so nobody gets behind him. It is important that you have designated leapers so every defender doesn't go up and try to make a play on the football, leaving no one to tackle an offense player who could come up with the catch. The last play of last week's LSU-Kentucky game is an example of how important the victory defense is.
Conclusion
College football has become a game of matchups - much like the NFL. If you choose to play a 3-4 or a 4-3 defense with four secondary players, it is important to have a substitution package so you can match up with multiple offensive formations.
But not all college football teams play substitution defense. Some teams choose to keep their base defense on the field at all times -- even against spread formations. These teams do this because the base defense gets more practice time and more repetitions. They also feel it keeps the defense's best 11 players on the field -- there is a reason they are the starters. This is a sound philosophy, but it limits what kind of defense you can play. In this scheme, the defense must play zone coverage or all-out blitz because the linebackers can't play man-to-man on the wide receivers. Proponents of substitution defense like it because it provides excellent matchups and gives more players an opportunity to contribute in some role on your team.
Q & A with Bob Davie
Thanks for all of the terrific responses and knowledgeable questions this week. Please keep sending in the questions and we'll tackle as many issues as we can this season. Here are a few of your questions regarding special teams:
I have seen some teams run what seems to be a designed rollout on punts. It did not look like a run/punt option, so what is the benefit of that play?
Graydon Simkins
Tacoma, Wash.
Bob Davie: The biggest advantage to the play is it rolls you away from the rush. It also totally disorients punt return teams. The angles created from these punts makes it very difficult to set a wall and hold up the punt team.
I enjoy seeing a score resulting from a successful swinging gate. It seems many teams will line up in it and go to their kicking formation. Unfortunately, if it is run, a procedure penalty is called. What is the defense's call and how do they stop it?
Alberto Arechiga
Austin, Texas
Bob Davie: The swinging gate can be used not only in an extra point situation, but also as a play upfield to catch a defense napping. The offense is often caught with not enough men on the line of scrimmage when attempting an odd formation. There are also some procedural things with the center snap and if you go on a quick count, the offense may not be set long enough.
The biggest problem the swinging gate causes a defense is the practice time spent getting aligned to it. The defense will just slide over to even up the numbers.
Send in your Football 101 questions. Bob Davie will answer a few of them next week.
Editor's note: As architect of top defenses at Texas A&M and Notre Dame, Bob Davie is recognized as a top X's and O's coach. This season, Coach Davie analyzes offensive and defensive schemes as part of his season-long course on football for ESPN.com. Each week, he breaks out the chalkboard and break down the X's and O's in college football.
It's fantastic to delve into the intricate world of college football's defensive strategies! Understanding defensive packages like nickel, dime, and quarter formations is crucial in today's game, given the diversity of offensive systems. The goal is simple: adapt the defense to match up against the offense's personnel.
The base defense typically consists of four defensive backs, fitting various alignments like 3-4 or 4-3 setups. This works well against regular offensive formations with one tight end, two running backs, and two wide receivers. The 2-deep zone or man-under coverage is effective when matched against these standard setups.
However, when offenses introduce additional wide receivers, the defense faces mismatches. This is where the nickel package shines. By substituting a fifth defensive back for a linebacker, it ensures better coverage against the third wide receiver. Whether it's zone or man coverage, the nickel back handles this matchup effectively.
Moving further, the dime package goes a step beyond by incorporating six defensive backs. It's similar to the nickel but tailored for offenses fielding four wide receivers. The dime allows for improved coverage against the fourth wide receiver, preventing linebackers from being exposed in space.
In extreme scenarios, the quarter package emerges with seven defensive backs, usually used in long-yardage or end-of-game situations. It mirrors the dime package's underneath coverage but introduces an extra deep defender for a 3-deep coverage scheme. However, it comes with a tradeoff—a reduced three-man rush.
Lastly, the article touches upon the victory defense, a specialized strategy for the final play of the game. Here, safeties align deep to prevent long passes, ensuring designated defenders leap for the ball while others secure tackling positions.
The piece provides insights into various defensive adjustments and the rationale behind their use, emphasizing the evolving nature of defensive tactics to counter diverse offensive formations. It also highlights the contrasting philosophies in college football—teams opting for base defenses to maintain practice consistency versus those employing substitution defenses for better matchup advantages.
This comprehensive breakdown reflects an in-depth understanding of defensive strategies, showcasing how different defensive packages cater to the ever-changing landscape of college football offenses.
