Big Nickel as Primary Defense

[xwalker]

Note:
- The term base defense means run downs defense to coaches.
- They still call that 'base' even if they play 70% Nickel.
- I'm using the term 'Primary Defense' to signify the alignment used on the highest percent of snaps.

The Cowboys play a high percentage of Nickel.
- Much of that is due to the Big Nickel.
- Kearse is a LB/DB Tweaner.
- They had 3 Safeties in the game on the majority of snaps vs the Vikings.
- 3 Safeties on the field for all snaps would add up to 300% of snaps by the Safety group.
- They were over 270% with regards to total Safety snaps for the Vikings game.

On snaps that they play 3 Safeties, if Kearse was listed as a LB, the percentage of Nickel and Dime would drop significantly.

Quinn had LB Deion Jones in Atlanta (6-1, 227).
- Neal made the Pro Bowl in 2017 playing a Safety/LB hybrid position.
- Kearse is listed at 6-4, 215.

It makes sense in the modern pass happy NFL to use big Nickel as the 'Primary Defense'.

MLB Dick Butkus would be a Linemen in the modern NFL.
- He wouldn't be covering Dalvin Cook on pass plays...
- Butkus was 6-3, 245.
- HoF OG Jerry Kramer was 6-3, 245.

 

[Frosty]

Note:
- The term base defense means run downs defense to coaches.
- They still call that 'base' even if they play 70% Nickel.
- I'm using the term 'Primary Defense' to signify the alignment used on the highest percent of snaps.

The Cowboys play a high percentage of Nickel.
- Much of that is due to the Big Nickel.
- Kearse is a LB/DB Tweaner.
- They had 3 Safeties in the game on the majority of snaps vs the Vikings.
- 3 Safeties on the field for all snaps would add up to 300% of snaps by the Safety group.
- They were over 270% with regards to total Safety snaps for the Vikings game.

On snaps that they play 3 Safeties, if Kearse was listed as a LB, the percentage of Nickel and Dime would drop significantly.

Quinn had LB Deion Jones in Atlanta (6-1, 227).
- Neal made the Pro Bowl in 2017 playing a Safety/LB hybrid position.
- Kearse is listed at 6-4, 215.

It makes sense in the modern pass happy NFL to use big Nickel as the 'Primary Defense'.

MLB Dick Butkus would be a Linemen in the modern NFL.
- He wouldn't be covering Dalvin Cook on pass plays...
- Butkus was 6-3, 245.
- HoF OG Jerry Kramer was 6-3, 245.

"
Just a quick question, is this the same defense that Mike Nolan was trying to institute or is this a Dan Quinn special?

 

[thunderpimp91]

"
Just a quick question, is this the same defense that Mike Nolan was trying to institute or is this a Dan Quinn special?

I don’t remember much big nickel under Nolan although that may have been because of our total lack of safety depth at the time. Nolan’s main fingerprint was playing a 3-4 look mixed with 4-3 responsibilities.

a lot of teams are trying to play the big nickel it’s just really tough to have the proper personnel to do so. The chargers really did it well a couple years ago when they drafted Derwin James. Not sure they were first but it’s the first I remember making it their base defense with a top unit.

 

[VaqueroTD]

Biggest upgrade Nolan vs Quinn were the safeties. It went so well so fast they cut Jaylon.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

@xwalker Even though it is a passing league nowadays, teams still have to stop the run. I agree the Big Nickel is the Cowboys' primary defense. It is much better suited to stop the passing weapons like crossing patterns and covering quick backs and TEs who are getting lighter and faster.

As long as the Big Nickel can stop or slow the running game down, it will remain the primary defense. A lot of stopping the run is on the front 4 DL and one or two LBs. I think this area is being overlooked by fans a lot. The Cowboys' front 4 have been pretty stout against the run. Keep the opposing team from getting into a running groove. Force them to try to pass against the Big Nickel.

I think the Big Nickel needs speedy LBs. Too bad Cox got hurt because I think he would have soon replaced LVE and provided even more speed.

 

[Oz-of-Cowboy-Country]

Seems like Nolan tried to keep J.Smith and LVE on the field as much as he could last year. So this big nickle thing, given that our offense is explosive, is of better design for this team.

Quinn has definitely been better than Nolan. He's the real difference maker on that side of the ball.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

Biggest upgrade Nolan vs Quinn were the safeties. It went so well so fast they cut Jaylon.

I think the biggest upgrade is Odig, Golston, Bohanna, and Gregory's play against the run especially and also getting pressure on passing downs.

 

[VaqueroTD]

I think the biggest upgrade is Odig, Golston, Bohanna, and Gregory's play against the run especially and also getting pressure on passing downs.

Some good improvement on the DLine, no doubt, and it's critical, but we changed almost everything at safety, and it's Quinn's focus. Less LB, more Safety. That positions to me defines the difference Quinn made vs Nolan. Just overall leadership too. Kellen Moore is the fan darling, but Quinn is the player darling. It's pretty obvious the way the players speak of him. High respect.

 

[Jarntt]

For last week: 182 safety snaps; 168 CB snaps.
For the season it's a little bit the other way around: 1,077 safety snaps; 1,223 CB snaps. We'll see how this plays out for the year as our top 3 CBs have been mostly healthy while at safety we have had some guys miss time which may have skewed this a little and we may move towards more safety snaps. Also, part of this could be because even on many run downs we are playing only 2 LBs at times so you don't want to go 3 CBs on run downs if avoidable. IIRC we played 5 DBs to "start" the game last week - although it was 3 CBs with Lewis on the field, not 3 S's.

What I find interesting is that Kearse has played 100% of the snaps 3 games in a row and other than week 1 has played 93% or higher of snaps every week. I would have lost money betting against that before the season started. Most snaps on defense so far Brown (438), Kearse (418) and Diggs (414)

 

[BAT]

I think the biggest upgrade is Odig, Golston, Bohanna, and Gregory's play against the run especially and also getting pressure on passing downs.

Nolan did not play Gregory much last season preferring to play Aldon Smith and Griffen instead.

This brought murmurings of disatisfaction and claims of favoritism from Gregory and his camp.

Shows how good of an eye for talent that Nolan had. McCarthy as well.

DQ deserves ALL the kudos for reimagining and restocking this D.

 

[BAT]

Some good improvement on the DLine, no doubt, and it's critical, but we changed almost everything at safety, and it's Quinn's focus. Less LB, more Safety. That positions to me defines the difference Quinn made vs Nolan. Just overall leadership too. Kellen Moore is the fan darling, but Quinn is the player darling. It's pretty obvious the way the players speak of him. High respect.

Offensive players love KM too.

We hear them lauding him every week.

KM is not just a media darling or media creation.

And DQ has also received plenty of media attention himself, the last few weeks especially.

 

[xwalker]

@xwalker Even though it is a passing league nowadays, teams still have to stop the run. I agree the Big Nickel is the Cowboys' primary defense. It is much better suited to stop the passing weapons like crossing patterns and covering quick backs and TEs who are getting lighter and faster.

As long as the Big Nickel can stop or slow the running game down, it will remain the primary defense. A lot of stopping the run is on the front 4 DL and one or two LBs. I think this area is being overlooked by fans a lot. The Cowboys' front 4 have been pretty stout against the run. Keep the opposing team from getting into a running groove. Force them to try to pass against the Big Nickel.

I think the Big Nickel needs speedy LBs. Too bad Cox got hurt because I think he would have soon replaced LVE and provided even more speed.

Good post.

Big Nickel goes both ways.
- Sometimes they play it when they would otherwise play Nickel (i.e. Get bigger with Big Nickel).
- Sometimes they play it when they would otherwise play 4-3 or 3-4. (i.e. Get smaller with Big Nickel).

Comparison
- Nickel is a Ferrari.
- Base is an F-250.
- Big Nickel is an SUV.

Cox had only played 9 snaps on defense all season.
- LVE, Parsons and Neal were all on the field when Cox made the goalline play against the Giants QB.
- i.e. Cox was replacing a DB on the play, not a LB.
- Cox is the target player to replace Neal in 2022.
- While Cox made many splash plays in the preseason, he also made a high number of mistakes, primarily against the run.

I don't know why people think LVE can't run.
- He was excellent in coverage before injuries.
- The injuries have all been upper body.
- He still looks ok in coverage.
- I think watching Parsons makes other LBs look like they can't run.

 

[xwalker]

For last week: 182 safety snaps; 168 CB snaps.
For the season it's a little bit the other way around: 1,077 safety snaps; 1,223 CB snaps. We'll see how this plays out for the year as our top 3 CBs have been mostly healthy while at safety we have had some guys miss time which may have skewed this a little and we may move towards more safety snaps. Also, part of this could be because even on many run downs we are playing only 2 LBs at times so you don't want to go 3 CBs on run downs if avoidable. IIRC we played 5 DBs to "start" the game last week - although it was 3 CBs with Lewis on the field, not 3 S's.

What I find interesting is that Kearse has played 100% of the snaps 3 games in a row and other than week 1 has played 93% or higher of snaps every week. I would have lost money betting against that before the season started. Most snaps on defense so far Brown (438), Kearse (418) and Diggs (414)

Dime is both Lewis and 3 Safeties.

 

[VaqueroTD]

Offensive players love KM too.

We hear them lauding him every week.

KM is not just a media darling or media creation.

And DQ has also received plenty of media attention himself, the last few weeks especially.

You're right. Comes across too sharp. As the recent "Scribe" of the Zone though and recapping so many PCs and interviews, I do see a major difference in the player respect towards Quinn vs Kellen.

Some of that though is KM was already here last year, and the defense was looking for ANYONE to lead. Some of it is also some of these guys played with KM. Even Aikman said he would never want a Coach who was his former teammate. Turnover is so fast, KM eventually won't have anyone like that, but just another factor I would consider if I were him. Sometimes you have to erase the past and start over as the authority to bring out your true leadership.

 

[America's Cowboy]

Note:
- The term base defense means run downs defense to coaches.
- They still call that 'base' even if they play 70% Nickel.
- I'm using the term 'Primary Defense' to signify the alignment used on the highest percent of snaps.

The Cowboys play a high percentage of Nickel.
- Much of that is due to the Big Nickel.
- Kearse is a LB/DB Tweaner.
- They had 3 Safeties in the game on the majority of snaps vs the Vikings.
- 3 Safeties on the field for all snaps would add up to 300% of snaps by the Safety group.
- They were over 270% with regards to total Safety snaps for the Vikings game.

On snaps that they play 3 Safeties, if Kearse was listed as a LB, the percentage of Nickel and Dime would drop significantly.

Quinn had LB Deion Jones in Atlanta (6-1, 227).
- Neal made the Pro Bowl in 2017 playing a Safety/LB hybrid position.
- Kearse is listed at 6-4, 215.

It makes sense in the modern pass happy NFL to use big Nickel as the 'Primary Defense'.

MLB Dick Butkus would be a Linemen in the modern NFL.
- He wouldn't be covering Dalvin Cook on pass plays...
- Butkus was 6-3, 245.
- HoF OG Jerry Kramer was 6-3, 245.

Agreed. All thanks to the NFL making today's game a pass-happy league. Opposing Defenses are forced to cover the pass much more, hence more Nickle and Dime packages where these S/LB hybrid types are so important. It's why losing LB Jabril Cox to season-ending injury truly hurt our team. Also, for those who have said that S/LB hybrid rookie Israel Mukuamu is liable to get cut to make room to veterans coming back from IR, well, I bet that won't happen for this particular reason you created this thread. Mukuamu is one of those rare S/LB hybrid types who can hit/make tackles while covering very well. He is another Jayron Kearse but much faster. Mukuamu is also 6'4", 205 lbs and ran the 40 in 4.34 seconds when he started college. Kearse is slower (6'4", 215 lbs and ran the 40 in 4.62 seconds). No way will the Cowboys get rid of Israel Mukuamu. We're lucky to have him. He can play all over the defensive backfield similarly to Kearse. Best types to cover today's pass-happy Offenses, along with being able to stop the run. Hope Jabril Cox is able to fully recover for next year. He's another hybrid type of LB (6'3", 234 lbs and ran the 40 in 4.52 seconds) who can cover well, plus lay the wood in run stoppage.

 

[BAT]

Good post.

Big Nickel goes both ways.
- Sometimes they play it when they would otherwise play Nickel (i.e. Get bigger with Big Nickel).
- Sometimes they play it when they would otherwise play 4-3 or 3-4. (i.e. Get smaller with Big Nickel).

Comparison
- Nickel is a Ferrari.
- Base is an F-250.
- Big Nickel is an SUV.

Cox had only played 9 snaps on defense all season.
- LVE, Parsons and Neal were all on the field when Cox made the goalline play against the Giants QB.
- i.e. Cox was replacing a DB on the play, not a LB.
- Cox is the target player to replace Neal in 2022.
- While Cox made many splash plays in the preseason, he also made a high number of mistakes, primarily against the run.

I don't know why people think LVE can't run.
- He was excellent in coverage before injuries.
- The injuries have all been upper body.
- He still looks ok in coverage.
- I think watching Parsons makes other LBs look like they can't run.

There is no doubt that LVE is no where near the player he was prior to the neck fusion.

Looks stiffer in the hips and loss of lateral agility.

At his best when not hesitating and attacking downhill, at his worst in space.

 

[Mr_437]

I was big on the hybrids this past draft, so I was happy to get Jabril Cox, but I really liked JOK and the guy from USC... imagine JOK playing Kearse position.

There was a play where DQ had all 4 safeties on the field...wild stuff going on considering how the position looked last season.

Agreed. All thanks to the NFL making today's game a pass-happy league. Opposing Defenses are forced to cover the pass much more, hence more Nickle and Dime packages where these S/LB hybrid types are so important. It's why losing LB Jabril Cox to season-ending injury truly hurt our team. Also, for those who have said that S/LB hybrid rookie Israel Mukuamu is liable to get cut to make room to veterans coming back from IR, well, I bet that won't happen for this particular reason you created this thread. Mukuamu is one of those rare S/LB hybrid types who can hit/make tackles while covering very well. He is another Jayron Kearse but much faster. Mukuamu is also 6'4", 205 lbs and ran the 40 in 4.34 seconds when he started college. Kearse is slower (6'4", 215 lbs and ran the 40 in 4.62 seconds). No way will the Cowboys get rid of Israel Mukuamu. We're lucky to have him. He can play all over the defensive backfield similarly to Kearse. Best types to cover today's pass-happy Offenses, along with being able to stop the run. Hope Jabril Cox is able to fully recover for next year. He's another hybrid type of LB (6'3", 234 lbs and ran the 40 in 4.52 seconds) who can cover well, plus lay the wood in run stoppage.

Interesting...on Mukuamu he'd have to gain some weight, and attitude to play SS. I bet they keep him too, but it'll be interesting to see where they play him. 2 cents: I like Coyle as a FS or SS.

 

[darthseinfeld]

Note:
- The term base defense means run downs defense to coaches.
- They still call that 'base' even if they play 70% Nickel.
- I'm using the term 'Primary Defense' to signify the alignment used on the highest percent of snaps.

The Cowboys play a high percentage of Nickel.
- Much of that is due to the Big Nickel.
- Kearse is a LB/DB Tweaner.
- They had 3 Safeties in the game on the majority of snaps vs the Vikings.
- 3 Safeties on the field for all snaps would add up to 300% of snaps by the Safety group.
- They were over 270% with regards to total Safety snaps for the Vikings game.

On snaps that they play 3 Safeties, if Kearse was listed as a LB, the percentage of Nickel and Dime would drop significantly.

Quinn had LB Deion Jones in Atlanta (6-1, 227).
- Neal made the Pro Bowl in 2017 playing a Safety/LB hybrid position.
- Kearse is listed at 6-4, 215.

It makes sense in the modern pass happy NFL to use big Nickel as the 'Primary Defense'.

MLB Dick Butkus would be a Linemen in the modern NFL.
- He wouldn't be covering Dalvin Cook on pass plays...
- Butkus was 6-3, 245.
- HoF OG Jerry Kramer was 6-3, 245.

The more we see of Wilson, the less we may see of Neal. Kearse may take that role over soon. Considering they just gave him the sticker, I dont see them taking him off the field

 

[xwalker]

I was big on the hybrids this past draft, so I was happy to get Jabril Cox, but I really liked JOK and the guy from USC... imagine JOK playing Kearse position.

There was a play where DQ had all 4 safeties on the field...wild stuff going on considering how the position looked last season.


Interesting...on Mukuamu he'd have to gain some weight, and attitude to play SS. I bet they keep him too, but it'll be interesting to see where they play him. 2 cents: I like Coyle as a FS or SS.

Mukuamu has only played/practiced Safety with the Cowboys.

Mukuamu is 6-4, 205.

Kearse is 6-4, 215.

Mukuamu will likely be at least 210 next season.

Coyle looked like the worst player on the field the in the the 1st couple of preseason games.
- He looked much better in later in the preseason.

 

[xwalker]

There is no doubt that LVE is no where near the player he was prior to the neck fusion.

Looks stiffer in the hips and loss of lateral agility.

At his best when not hesitating and attacking downhill, at his worst in space.

I've seen in man coverage on TEs with no problems.