nickel defense
Pass-heavy defensive alignment
A nickel defense is a football defensive formation that substitutes a fifth defensive back (the "nickel back") for a linebacker, typically used against passing situations.
The name comes from the five defensive backs—a nickel being worth five cents.
They went to a nickel defense on third and long.
The dime defense adds a sixth defensive back.
- dimeU.S. ten-cent coin
- blitzSwift, overwhelming offensive
- secondaryLesser in rank
- linebackerSecond-level defensive position
- cornerbackDefensive back covering receivers
pass rush · coverage · prevent · zone · third down · safety · tackle · quarterback · gridiron · fourth quarter · slot · formation · scheme · shotgun · receiver · interception · sack · pressure
- footballfootball, touchdown, field goal, quarterback, end zone
- defenseprotecting, protection, security, safety, guard
- defensive schemesman coverage, zone coverage, man-to-man, double coverage, press coverage
- formationsline, circle, triangle, ring, spiral
- football playsplay-action pass, slant, counter, draw, sweep